State of the County Address

February 25, 2009

Good evening!

            It is my pleasure to stand before you for the first time to report on the state of Genesee County Government in 2009.

As I begin I want to say “thank you” to my colleagues on the Board of Commissioners.  I am proud of the work done by the members of this board, particularly during the development and passage of the 2008-2009 budget.  The task was extremely difficult because of the effects to county government brought on by the local and national economic recession that hit in mid-2008.

But by working together, we got the job done and again, as always, we balanced our budget.  I will talk more about the County’s budget shortly.

As always, thanks are due to County Elected Officials, to our Department Heads, and to our employees who work day-in and day-out to provide Genesee County citizens with quality services.  It is my pleasure to recognize those County-Wide Elected officials who are with us tonight.

Also, allow me to recognize our state and local elected leaders who are here tonight.

The path between city hall and the county administration building has become overgrown during these past several years, but the one-way sign pointed east has been taken down and that path is again seeing some recent traffic.  In this week alone the Mayor and I have visited on at least two occasions and more talks are scheduled as the City of Flint and Genesee County again explore ways to work together to tackle mutual problems.

Mike Brown, Flint’s new mayor, is here this evening.  Welcome, Mike, and best wishes as you begin your service.  Please stand and be recognized.

Nothing in our lifetime has prepared us for what we are seeing in today's economy. 

Not since the Great Depression have we seen the total economic meltdown that we are now experiencing.

The stock market has lost nearly half its value in a matter of less than one year.  Business and industry are suffering.  The mortgage industry is in free fall with a rescue package that passed congress its only salvation.  Our American auto industry is struggling to survive. 

The result of all of this economic chaos is that families and individuals are suffering, not just here but all over America. 

Last week alone some 60,000 new claims for unemployment were initiated nationwide. 

Unemployment nationally is at 7.6% and in Michigan the unemployment rate stands at 10.6%.  The figure is much higher in Genesee County and even higher in the City of Flint.

Millions of our citizens are without health care as business drops coverages because of lack of affordability.  And yesterday, Delphi salaried retirees lost their health care benefits.

Property values are falling. Every day more families lose their homes. 

The real estate market is deeply depressed with foreclosed properties representing the largest number of sales across Genesee County, the State of Michigan and the nation.  The price of existing housing has hit a 15 year low.

But reduced prices have finally begun to bring out new customers who are looking for a housing bargain.  The Genesee County Association of realtors reported that in 2008, purchases of existing homes soared as more than 5,700 existing homes were sold.

The current state of the economy means that more is being expected from government at a time when there are fewer dollars available for local governments to provide those needed public services.   The Genesee County Board sees this when we try to balance our budget.

The main responsibility of the County Board of Commissioners is to pass a balanced budget.  It is a requirement under state law and it is the right thing to do.  But every year seems to bring more problems with our budget.

The 2007 budget was very difficult to balance. 

We started with a $10 million deficit. 

After much haggling the number of county employees was reduced by 38 positions and services to the public were reduced.  Every department, every department, every department of county government saw a reduction in funding.  Then came 2008.

In 2008, the Board of Commissioners adopted a new way of dealing with our budget responsibility.   Instead of the Board building a budget from scratch, the Controller now works with department heads and together they develop a budget for the bBoard to review, make changes and adopt. 

This has streamlined the budget making process, but the job continues to be very difficult.

In 2008, the Board started again with a $10 million deficit.  Again, much intense discussion took place as we made difficult decisions.  In the end, we balanced our budget.   And again we did away with another 28 county positions.

Then, in November 2008 we found out that Genesee County taxable values had fallen further than even our conservative analysis had anticipated.  As a result, we are now fixing a $1.75 million hole in this year’s budget.  That fix is nearing completion.

In spite of all of these problems county employees continue to provide Genesee County citizens with needed government services, and we are doing our jobs more efficiently and effectively. 

Indeed, I am hopeful for our future, and I believe Genesee County government has a positive role to play in creating a brighter future for our community.  Allow me to explain.

Genesee County has a host of valuable resources including our location at the intersection of two major interstate highways, with an international airport, and major rail lines running throughout the area.

Advanced education and training opportunities are readily available, and we have a vibrant cultural community.  State of the art health care is easily accessible, and we have highly competitive land and building costs.  By fostering these assets, county government can enhance our citizen’s lives.  This is called economic development, and economic development must be first on our agenda.

We have already started to take advantage of our transportation resources by working to develop an intermodal transportation hub in Genesee County. 

Bishop International Airport received a number of local, state, and federal grants totaling more than 18 million dollars to purchase property, for site development, and for construction of new facilities, as their part of the intermodal transportation hub.  

            They are in the process of completing construction of a cargo ramp and improved dock and loading areas at the fed-ex facility at bishop to handle increased traffic.  In 2008, Bishop International Airport has invested some 12.7 million in grant and airport funds to improve facilities as the intermodal transportation hub develops.

These improvements have created construction jobs for the area and have kept current jobs in place.  New jobs will follow as the process continues and grows.   

Working together to market our area to the nation and to the world is a commitment that we all must make.  Economic development efforts in Genesee County are led by the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

They look to local government to partner with them in this important work.  Genesee County is playing its part in that effort. 

The Regional Chamber will soon appear before the Board’s Economic Development Committee to update us on their 5 year Economic Development Strategic Plan and we will play our part in helping that plan to succeed.   

Indeed, Genesee County is a prime player in Downtown Flint’s economic development.  We have a huge stake in this effort. 

Not only is Genesee County an owner of a long list of downtown properties, but we bring hundreds of county employees into downtown every day.   County employees shop at downtown businesses, and pay Flint city income taxes.

Beyond our employees, citizens who require county services come regularly into Downtown Flint.     

The Genesee County Land Bank, under the guidance of County Treasurer Dan Kildee, is making a major impact on our community through redevelopment of distressed properties acquired by the land bank.  We look at his efforts at redevelopment of the Durant Hotel, Berridge Hotel and the Genesee Business Center as real success stories that have provided new business opportunities in Flint. 

Over the past several years we have watched downtown redevelopment with new buildings replacing old, with new business moving into those buildings, and with new opportunity to continue to expand business of all kinds in Downtown Flint.

University of Michigan-Flint built a new dorm facility bringing hundreds of new people to live on campus in Downtown Flint.  Other planned student housing projects will bring even more students and others into the downtown area.

The need for entertainment venues, eating establishments, and other businesses catering specifically to this new and younger population will help to spur new business development in Downtown Flint.  That has been the plan and it appears to be working well.

Genesee County Government and other municipalities within Genesee County and across our region are continuing to study the need for expanded and improved water resources.  The availability of water resources at a reasonable cost is important criteria when considering the long term economic development prospects of Genesee County and our region.

As everyone in this room knows, we have been purchasing water from the City of Detroit.  The current system is old and in desperate need of rebuilding.  We know that we are going to build a new water pipeline.  The only question is, will that pipeline be owned by the City of Detroit, or by a regional water authority in which we are a partner, and not just a customer.

That decision has yet to be made and all of Genesee County’s local governments that have a stake in this process, and other municipalities outside of Genesee County, will be working together to make that decision.  The goal is to provide our citizens with the widest availability of the highest quality water at the lowest possible cost. 

This Board of Commissioners has been working together to develop a list of goals and objectives that we would like to see accomplished during 2009.  To my knowledge, the Board of Commissioners has never before come together as a group to identify such a set of goals.  Several weeks ago the board met in public session at the Regional Chamber of Commerce to talk about what we wanted to see come out of this year’s efforts.  The conversations were helpful in that we talked frankly about what we as individuals wanted to accomplish. 

We then took those individual objectives and developed a set of board goals to which we are all committed to work to achieve.

I believe that this simple process has helped us work better as a team.  So what are we going to be doing?

In 2009, among a host of issues and challenges that come to us on an ongoing basis, we will be hiring a new Human Resources Director.  Since the HR Director left in early January, two individuals have been handling our Human Resources duties.  

They are doing well.  We planned for this change, and have had some budget savings through the current operation of the department.  However, negotiations start with all of our County unions in early 2010 and we need to have an HR Director in place who understands the workings of county government to lead these negotiations.  We plan to have that individual on board by June 1, 2009.

We also plan to hire a new Public Health Officer.   Our former Health Officer left Genesee County in September, 2008.  Since that time, John McKellar, a former Division Director with the Health Department, has assumed those duties and he has done an outstanding job of leading the department.

 A Subcommittee of the Board of Commissioners is meeting to initiate this process.  We will fill this position in an orderly way.

The Board of Commissioners is reviewing the senior millage issue to make sure that a fair distribution of millage dollars is provided. 

A Subcommittee has been appointed to make this review and report to the Board on any changes that they believe need to be made.

A “Governance” Subcommittee will soon start meeting to determine how to proceed with a decision regarding the development of a new management system for county government. 

A Subcommittee of the Board is already working with Jeff Wright, Genesee County Drain Commissioner, to formulate a position as to how to proceed with a potential water pipeline project. 

In late 2007, the Board of Commissioners passed an Emergency Medical Services Ordinance. 

The new ordinance builds a system that is designed to provide more equal access to service for all county residents, provides for direct dispatch of ambulances, and is cost effective.  

            An EMS Subcommittee will be appointed to review that ordinance, and work with all of the stakeholders.  They will determine if a set of provisions of the ordinance can be agreed upon by all of those involved and be put into practice as soon as possible

The recently passed federal stimulus package provides funding for a wide variety of projects. 

Genesee County has already submitted a long list of projects that are ready to go.  The Board has some ideas for projects that we would like to see funded but which have not been given to the state as part of our initial list of “shovel ready” projects.  A subcommittee will continue that review process.

These are the goals and objectives that the Board is committed to accomplishing in 2009. 

Some will be easier than others, but all of these matters are important to the Board and to Genesee County residents.

For many years there has been discussion regarding the possibility of connecting the I-475 and US-23 expressways to provide additional expressway access to county businesses and residents.

The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission has been working on this project in cooperation with the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The study has been funded and a consultant is about to come on-board to begin this important feasibility study that we hope to have completed in 2009.  The study will also review any additional improvements that need to be made in the freeway system.

The Planning Commission is also overseeing the neighborhood stabilization program that was approved by congress in 2008.  Genesee County will receive more than $7.5 million for this effort.

The Planning Commission is partnering with the Genesee County Land Bank, lenders, contractors and foreclosure counseling agencies to carry out the specific functions of the program.  Local units of government are also working with the Planning Commission to identify those areas within our community where this program can most effectively be targeted. 

As you can see, much is happening within Genesee County Government.  Yet there are also a long list of programs and projects that are happening within our departments that are making our efforts to serve the people of Genesee County more effective and efficient.  Let me share some of those success stories with you.

Document storage and retrieval has always been a big issue for local government. A long list of County departments and agencies must store and retrieve copies of public records upon request. 

Over the past several years, local government has been allowed by the state to start copying and digitally filing records that are much more easily accessible when needed. 

County Clerk, Michael Carr and Registers of Deeds Melvin McCree and Rose Bogardus have led the way in this new effort, making digital document storage and retrieval within their offices a top priority. 

Now the County has gone further into the process by developing a digital document management system that will eventually be rolled out to every department of the county.

Sheriff Robert Pickell initiated an Elder Abuse Prevention Program in 2007. 

In 2008, the program followed up on some 400 complaints made by seniors and others that ranged from misdemeanors to assaults to murder.   The task force provides education on prevention of elder abuse, and provides information on the reporting process for elderly victims in Genesee County.

A GPS tracking system for Alzheimer's and dementia patients is in full swing.  This effort is a huge step in protecting the safety of those elderly who may wander away and expose themselves to serious injury or worse.

            The Sheriff’s Posse is a multi jurisdictional team made up of the law enforcement personnel from Genesee County, City of Flint, Lapeer County Sheriff and Flint Township. 

The Posse targets mid and upper level drug traffickers.  This concept is successful because it takes out the supplier and not just the thug on the street.

The Posse works closely with the FBI and the Prosecutor. 

They were successful in taking down the most violent area wide gang whose business was drug dealing and intimidation.  This gang was responsible for 15 homicides.

In 2008, the Posse initiated an unprecedented investigation involving pharmacists and physicians operating a controlled substance distribution ring.  Nineteen search warrants were executed, millions of dollars were seized, and thousands of pages of paper evidence were collected.  Some of those involved were operating on an international level with ties to Middle East countries.

In 2008, Prosecutor David Leyton reorganized his office by creating a special crimes division.  This new division focuses on those criminals in our community who represent the greatest threat to our citizens.

Through a joint effort with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, a mammoth prosecution was undertaken of 40 members of the “Pierson Hood Gang.” They had been inflicting havoc on citizens in our community for more than five years through the commission of dozens of murders, violent assaults, weapons violations, drug distribution activities, terrorism and intimidation.

The aggressive pursuit of these gang members has taken drugs, guns and thugs off the streets and has had an immediate impact on the safety of our citizens.

In 2008, Special Crimes Division attorneys tried 15 complex murder and violent assault cases, and won all 15 trials.

The Prosecutors Office works to combat high profile cases. But they also target elder abuse, home invasions, car thefts, auto insurance fraud, and a host of other categories of crimes perpetrated upon citizens all over Genesee County. 

Genesee County Circuit Court is a leader in developing specialty courts to address the needs of adults and youth. 

Judges Beagle, Gadola and Yuille preside over drug courts designed to encourage those caught in the grip of drug use to seek treatment and return to the community as productive citizens.

Judge Beagle and Judge Newblatt preside over innovative courts relating to truancy, and maltreated infants and toddlers, known as baby court.

Judge Theile created PACT Court, designed to bring fathers and mothers together to work out their differences so that visitation and consistent support are reinstated.

The courts continue to use technology advancements to serve the public more efficiently.  In 2008 over 36,000 citizens were selected to be available for jury service in Genesee County courts.  Circuit Court has a 2-day jury service term, with reporting requirements now posted on the web, as well as available evening call that minimizes inconvenience for those called to serve.

Finally, our historic Genesee County courthouse received a new addition to its public art collection with the addition of the Lavarne Ross historical mural series.  This series of paintings was relocated from Delphi East, where future generations can appreciate them.

The 67^th District Court is also using technology to provide more efficient service.   They are moving forward with enhancements to video conferencing for court hearings.

67^th District Court was the first court in Michigan to use video equipment for arraignments.  With the enhancements the court will be able to conduct arraignments, pre-trials, pleas and sentencings with incarcerated defendants in the jail, and will allow for some video testimony.  This new technology will make the court more efficient by processing cases in a timelier manner.

The Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission continues to provide our citizens with a parks system that is second to none.   In 2008, Genesee County Parks completed a barrier free, non-motorized trail. 

This new trail enables people who use wheelchairs, bicyclists, walkers, runners and in-line skaters to travel safely through a beautifully wooded natural area from the City of Linden through Linden County Park and all the way to Owen Road. 

The trail was funded using grant dollars from MDOT, our Planning Commission’s Tip Program and matching funds from the Parks Commission.

The Genesee County GIS department continues to partner with 32 of our 33 local units of government as together we develop our graphic information system.   More than 150 workstations across Genesee County in cities, townships, fire and police departments, and 9-1-1 agencies continue to use the second phase of our imagery system on a very regular basis.  The system allows many workers to do their jobs more efficiently.

Our Management Information System department continues to improve its services and offer new opportunities for county employees to become more efficient and productive.

MIS is working with Probate Court, Friend of the Court, Prosecutor’s Office and the Genesee County Clerk to implement the new document management system.  They are working to develop a “paperless” process for dealing with the Board of Commissioners’ committee agendas and resolutions.

They are also looking at new applications for the Medical Examiner’s Office, Controllers, and Human Resources Department.

Genesee County has 40,000 veterans in our area, and of that total, the Genesee County Veterans Services Department provides direct services to 24,000 local veterans, spouses and dependent children through their very successful “outreach program.” 

In the last couple of years the workload for the office has more than doubled because of the weak local economy.  In 2008, the Department of Veteran’s Services expended more than $62 million for claims made in the Office of Veterans Services for compensation, medical benefits and insurance. 

The Genesee Valley Regional Center houses troubled youth, both male and female, of our community.

Since 2000, when Genesee County took this program over from the state, that program has served hundreds of Genesee County youth at half the cost of the old state program. 

The buildings housing GVRC are aged and need to be replaced. 

The County has included within our request for stimulus dollars a project to rebuild and modernize Genesee Valley Regional Center.

The Genesee County Road Commission is not the usual county department, yet we have a close working relationship with the Road Commission.

As just one of its efforts to modernize its operations, the Road Commission has updated its communications and public relations efforts.   During the Miller Road reconstruction project, they improved their website by offering a dedicated Miller Road page, developed an e-mail notifier, and provided a regular e-mail update, “the blast,” to inform motorists and businesses of the progress on the project. 

They also provided frequent press releases to keep motorists and merchants along Miller Road informed.   Numerous public meetings and personal visits with business owners, school administrators and public officials, was also a part of the new strategy. 

The Road Commission’s efforts at improving their information flow and press relations was the key to a successful project with a minimum of complaint.

And for their efforts, the Road Commission earned two distinguished awards, and we applaud them for the improvements that they have made.

Finally, our Genesee County Emergency Management/Homeland Security Office continues to work with all of our local units of government, as together, we plan and prepare to meet any disaster that may befall us. 

And our Genesee County hazardous materials response team continues to be a great asset for our community.  Fire, law enforcement and emergency medical response personnel from across Genesee County work together as part of the team.  In 2008, this unit responded to 14 different calls for assistance.  The Hazmat Team goes to a problem, and brings that problem under control.  A private clean up company is then called in to clean up the problem.  And the polluter pays the bill.

We are very fortunate to have such a team in place right here in our community.

While times are challenging, we have the will to make things better.  Genesee County has seen tough times before.  And we have always met and overcome the challenges.  We can do no less now.

The Genesee County Board of Commissioners renews its pledge to work with other local units of government, with public and non-profit agencies, with our business community, with labor, and with other outstanding community leaders to find solutions to the many issues that affect our citizens.   For as we work together, we make Genesee County a better place to live, work and raise our families.

Thank you!