|
New federal transportation bill authorized The United States Congress has approved a five-year transportation funding bill worth $241.4 billion that will provide more than $1.123 billion annually to fund transportation projects in Michigan and create 61,500 new jobs across the state. The legislation, called the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (or, SAFETEA-LU) is an extension of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21, which was enacted in 1998. It authorizes surface transportation projects such as highways and highway safety and transit projects through fiscal year 2009. Local elected officials will continue their active role in deciding which projects will receive this funding by working through SEMCOG as the metropolitan planning organization. SAFETEA-LU includes some 5,700 line-item projects, including $100 million for the downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor rapid transit project. More details on the 600-page legislation will be forthcoming. SEMCOG doesn't expect firm numbers for another four-to-six weeks, but is excited that the new bill has been passed. Once we know more, we will explain at a SEMCOG University or some similar meeting. Watch Regional Update for further details. Contact: Carmine Palombo, SEMCOG Director of Transportation Programs.
Advisory council appointments announced SEMCOG advisory council chair and vice chair appointments for 2005-2006 were recently made by SEMCOG Chairperson Gregory Pitoniak, Mayor of Taylor: Bylaws and Legal Committee: Chair — Joan Flynn, Vice Chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners. Community and Economic Development Advisory Council (CEDAC): Chair — Susan Rowe, City of Wayne Councilwoman; Vice Chairs — Alan Anderson, Wayne County Community College District Trustee and Robin Beltramini, Troy Mayor Pro Tem. Data Center Advisory Council (DAC): Chair — Robert Hison, Mayor of St. Clair Shores; Vice Chair — Vicki Barnett, Mayor of Farmington Hills. Education Advisory Council (EAC) — Chair: Floreine Mentel, Monroe County Commissioner; Vice Chairs — Debbie Macon, West Bloomfield Township Trustee and Max McCullough, Vice President of the Macomb Intermediate School District. Environmental Policy Advisory Council (EPAC): Chair — Kathy Vosburg, Macomb County Commissioner; Vice Chairs — Gordon Allardyce, Orchard Lake Village Councilmember and Philip Cavanagh, Wayne County Commissioner. Finance and Budget Committee: Chair — Steve Manor, Howell Mayor Pro Tem; Vice Chairs — Ken Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council Mayor Pro Tem and Pam Wall, St. Clair County Commissioner. Transportation Advisory Council (TAC): Chair — Gretchen Driskell, Mayor of Saline; Vice Chairs — Patrick Sutka, Wyandotte Councilperson and Trudy Swanson, Ypsilanti Mayor Pro Tem. Two task forces will continue. Gordon Allardyce, Orchard Lake Village Councilman will chair SEMCOG's Air Quality Task Force. Gerald Dywasuk, Orion Township Supervisor is the new chair of SEMCOG's Local Government Finance Task Force. Advisory councils, committees, and task forces play important roles at SEMCOG. They direct regional plans and policies, recommend positions on state and federal legislative and regulatory proposals, and guide SEMCOG Executive Committee and General Assembly action. Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.
Public comment sought on Great Lakes water diversion The Council of Great Lakes Governors recently released draft Implementation Agreements to Annex 2001 for public comment. These Implementation Agreements could result in new regulatory requirements for municipal drinking water supplies. Michigan will hold several public meetings around the state on these draft Implementation Agreements; one is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, 2005, at 1:30 p.m., at the Michigan Library and Historical Center (Lansing). Additional information, including copies of the draft Implementation Agreements, can be found online at www.michigan.gov/deq. Comments should be submitted by August 29, 2005 to the Council of Great Lakes Governors at annex@cglg.org or to the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes at deq-annex-2001@michigan.gov. Contact: Ted Starbuck, Senior Planner, SEMCOG Environmental Programs.
SEMCOG launches seventh step in water quality public education campaign — Save water It has been a very hot summer. Demand for water is high. Ironically, that is when it is most important to save water. With every resident of Southeast Michigan using an average of 77 gallons of water every day, SEMCOG and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water urge residents to save water. This is the seventh of the Seven Simple Steps to Clean Water as part of the "Our Water. Our Future. Ours to Protect." public education campaign aimed at improving water quality in Southeast Michigan. Here are some suggestions: Water wisely. Generally, lawns need about an inch of water a week. Over watering lawns results in plants that are less tolerant of heat and drought, and more prone to disease. Avoid over watering by using a rain gauge and watering only when necessary, instead of on a fixed schedule. Improve your aim. Adjust sprinklers to water only the lawn and plants— not the driveway, sidewalk, or street. Use mulch. Place a thick layer of mulch (e.g., four inches) around trees and plants. This helps retain water, reduce weeds, and minimize the need for pesticides. Sweep it. Clean sidewalks and driveways with a broom, instead of a hose. You'll save water and keep unwanted pollutants out of the storm drain. Put rainwater to work. Use rainwater to water plants. Direct downspouts toward plants and green areas or collect water with rain barrels for use later. Mow high. Make your lawn cheaper and easier to maintain by mowing high (three inches is recommended). Longer grass has deeper roots and requires less water. Posters and tip cards on saving water have been mailed to SEMCOG member governments. Materials and additional information can be found on SEMCOG's Web site — www.semcog.org. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
Some facts about our hot summer and Ozone Action days As noted in the story above, it has been a very hot summer. As of July 31, Southeast Michigan has had 34 days with temperatures exceeding 85 degrees; 20 of those have been more than 90 degrees. However, halfway through the 2005 season, Southeast Michigan has had just five Ozone Action days (three in June and two in July). The average number of Ozone Action days per season is 11. Although temperature is one factor in forecasting Ozone Action days, other factors also considered are cloud cover (or lack of), wind speed and direction, rainfall, and existing ground-level pollutants. Ozone Action information is accessible from SEMCOG's Web site — www.semcog.org; clicking the logo on the home page tells whether or not it is an Ozone Action day. Clicking that logo will also take users to a link to the Midwest Haze Cam, which shows real-time visibility as well as levels of ozone and fine particulates. Contact: Anita Blasius, Manager, SEMCOG Public Outreach.
|
|||
