[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6346962,"mediaKeyId","2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b","parentId",2246266,"title","Washtenaw commissioners weigh housing senior millage within OCED vs. stand‑alone aging office","audioSeconds",2986,"startMs",941000,"endMs",3927000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b&start=941&end=3927","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b/thumbnail_941000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346962/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Washtenaw-commissioners-weigh-housing-senior-millage-within-OCED-vs-standalone-aging-office","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346962-84a9cf31eeeba87bb699e68265bc9c72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213587&Signature=S200ViG4t9mU33ln82~tWzPPNbC7CzZe7S0s82zMiygDhrtbPajpUpTZiIugakx82onk4jQQh1Day063st0ivSUnv1QJfy1S6ZNlTpIeeQodV9No5tXlsM~l~FHwVQwUNZmyXqp2miNXbIC-gjRmSwypNuTtjK6L6mEBl~zd8W5M7qeKgOIHY~hfUgPYpykuswKwhz1r7onQUCjBQ188r86CkdjUj38IirR1S-hf-gFrUz-nveaPxV3OHXS9APQfsUvkjdMo6nofMeNKu4mxiCYfbTqFDuoqFEUcn2fUzEZsqmrbDIsGkXzY6LFJ-AMZBmYbVfpQaLvSE-uklN4KNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-06T10:50:33Z","article","Washtenaw County commissioners, staff and nonprofit providers debated how to administer a newly approved older‑adult millage, with OCED officials proposing a senior services division inside their existing department and several commissioners and community members pressing for clarity on staffing, sustainability and how much money should be passed directly to community providers.

The county's Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) presented a plan to create an aging services division within OCED, arguing it would reduce overhead and move funds into the community faster than building a new department from the ground up. OCED said it already operates related programs including senior nutrition, housing rehabilitation and weatherization and could add a division administrator and targeted staff to run senior millage programs.

Why it matters: Commissioners and nonprofit leaders said seniors face urgent needs for nutrition, minor home repairs, and recovery supports; they want funding to reach community providers quickly while also ensuring long‑term program stability and public accountability.

OCED's case
OCED staff described operational and contracting experience they said would help distribute millage funds quickly. Ellis Johnson of OCED said OCED already runs the county's senior nutrition and home improvement programs and that existing contractor relationships, grant processes and a call center could be leveraged for the millage. Aaron Craft and Heidi Johnson, who oversee housing rehabilitation and weatherization programs, said roughly half of their clients are seniors and that OCED has the contractor base and systems to launch a senior minor home repair program immediately.

Nonprofit providers and public comment
Several nonprofit leaders urged the board to use millage funds both to expand services and to stabilize existing providers facing funding losses. Heather Williams identified herself as CEO of a local treatment provider and spoke with Wendy Kalinski (Home of New Vision), Anna Byberg (president, Dawn Farm) and Ray Ryan (executive director, Packard Health) on a joint public comment asking the county to include sustainability for substance use disorder providers in opioid settlement planning; they later explicitly urged that senior nutrition and other aging services be administered efficiently.

Marty Popic, OCED senior nutrition program specialist, described existing capacity: \"We have 100% coverage of Washtenaw County for home delivered meals with no wait list. We have never had a wait list,\" he said, and said local millage dollars could expand meal variety, medically tailored meals and social programs to address isolation.

Commissioner concerns and options
Commissioners generally supported housing the millage within OCED but raised recurring concerns: whether the county should hire new staff or route most funds to community partners; how to avoid making positions dependent on a single dedicated revenue source; and how to preserve the public accountability that voters expect.

- Several commissioners supported creating an aging services division inside OCED with a division administrator and some dedicated program staff, while also directing more funds outward to nonprofit providers.
- Commissioners warned against using millage funds to simply replace federal grant funding that could later be cut. OCED staff said about 36 of 45 OCED positions are federally funded, and that the department would need to plan for staffing and budget risks if federal funding declined.
- Commissioners requested a staffing gap analysis. OCED said it expects to need at least a division administrator and additional supervisors for direct delivery programs such as home rehabilitation (roughly 3 line staff and 1–2 supervisors were cited as an initial estimate for direct home rehab work).

Next steps and timeline
The county administrator and OCED staff said they will return with more detailed staffing, budget and program options. Commissioners also discussed using some millage funds for early pass‑through payments to address immediate needs while designing a longer‑term structure.

The board did not take a final vote on structure at this session; commissioners directed staff to provide more detailed staffing and budget estimates and to continue community engagement with nonprofit partners and the Commission on Aging.

Ending
Commissioners praised the participation of local providers and asked staff to bring a more detailed plan, including a staffing gap analysis and funding breakdowns, to a future meeting so the board can decide whether to house the millage in OCED or in a newly created office of aging.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Meeting February 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Washtenaw County commissioners, staff and nonprofit providers debated how to administer a newly approved older‑adult millage, with OCED officials proposing a senior services division inside their existing department and several commissioners and community members pressing for clarity on staffing, sustainability and how much money should be passed directly to community providers.","taxTitle","Washtenaw County, Michigan","taxId",2833,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6346952,"Votes at a glance: Washtenaw County working session actions, Feb. 2025",1319,7315000,8634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b&start=7315&end=8634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b/thumbnail_7315000.jpg","/articles/6346952/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Washtenaw-County-working-session-actions-Feb-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346952-1c428397eeb518dd8cc48d8157d000bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213587&Signature=fhLgNldffLLYXPiIxUxtmn~oy4dRjWNW~AwJq5iivhB0Zy~qrRdrSwiVI~lUvWKotFZiZrz~p7SfDv~TdQa8Bkbk0R-6~xuOjd7JYO-P1zBa2BZHEVYMQmFSSf0g1VBraJZvM4ZBIU-WNd0MakB4a-GIJRA2xxifZnAxnfL~viD4jzzNh0Xg2RdLj5l4VoT3kyYbCDS9niGdOoH4nQuYzCDdnxsEw6Cffv5uiCtHP91faapmR4nQeVeVmN92J5s1yn3jrfTNTuxdXgYdW4NpsCO6jltf0QhnaP5EedLIWdyJbIP8e-pT0TfZKXrzmBxziw0oeuPVzHdfJSgXdItbzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its working session, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners recorded several procedural and final actions, including setting a public hearing on historic preservation ordinance updates, ratifying grant applications, confirming appointments, and approving a reclassification of a Board communications position. The board also voted to enter closed session to discuss negotiation strategy.

Key actions and outcomes
- Set public hearing for amendments to Washtenaw County Historic Preservation Ordinance (first reading advanced; roll call vote recorded).
- Ratified grant applications for highway and traffic safety programs (secondary road patrol and strategic enforcement programs) and cybersecurity and opioid grants; these applications were advanced or ratified as part of consent and first‑reading items.
- Approved multiple appointments and confirmed several single‑reading resolutions honoring departing staff and community leaders.
- Approved a reclassification for the Board communications and operations manager position.
- Voted to enter closed session to discuss negotiation strategy; motion passed on roll call.

How the board voted
Where individual roll calls were recorded in the transcript, the clerk read commissioners' names and recorded affirmative votes; for several consent and first reading items, the board approved by voice vote or roll call as shown in agenda minutes. (Individual vote tallies and member names are recorded in meeting minutes and the transcript roll calls.)

Context
Several votes advanced items that had previously been discussed in committee or in earlier meetings. Most approvals were procedural or budgetary and did not change county policy without further board action (for example, the historic preservation ordinance amendments were set for public hearing before final reading).

Ending
Several items will return to the board for final action or implementation steps; the board directed staff to proceed with follow‑up tasks where appropriate.","The Board advanced multiple routine and time‑sensitive items at its working session: motions to set hearings, multiple appointments and resolutions, grant applications, and a reclassification of a communications manager position were approved; the board also entered a closed session on negotiations.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6346957,"Washtenaw steering committee recommends RFP and oversight to spend opioid settlement funds after needs assessment",2067,3728000,5795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b&start=3728&end=5795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246266-e7d91b62393de6ee666a6b730d187a9b/thumbnail_3728000.jpg","/articles/6346957/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Washtenaw-steering-committee-recommends-RFP-and-oversight-to-spend-opioid-settlement-funds-after-needs-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346957-8fa6546d6f9aa316d3bd8569964bab9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213587&Signature=CLaN9K0cQEfsSaduudQ~Xu33Ek6RbZVrYrLK2t3IKuZo~Yk1aSjzWhSEZ9BBMtQJYr8Gg~Ms-Tv9PyHPueCoyh~bWtbrEzoDz~UmEoEmzJ3OCi83NIGbLwwC3gadBERD2S3xHGVrwfR2ZdXMBhANEYtmA-O8-n3FPBpOyneMAZiWUVSYc85WiNLvCjMt-slTxN5Kip2vXHbfANlLvapja9FQ2DbseUgm79SKaI5xxRMHrH~eT6AS4fNTlrNWm0Manw1bdtE5E7Lif4ed9XGhvj8nCtSJPbBR8pIyvOT~gjZMnUUror9jy5~CJQUx7FUiB9GO3t0E2YiHeX7-SGEroA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washtenaw County health department leaders and an opioid settlement steering committee presented the results of a yearlong needs assessment and recommended issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to distribute opioid settlement funds, with an advisory committee to oversee grants and a public dashboard to track outcomes.

The county anticipates receiving $16,385,290 from national opioid settlements over 18 years, and officials reported $4.6 million available as of the most recent accounting. Steering‑committee members described a process designed to balance speed and community engagement: they conducted a quantitative review and focus groups, used technical assistance from the Michigan Association of Counties and Michigan State University, and solicited input from providers and people with lived experience.

Why it matters: Exhibit E in opioid settlement documents limits allowable uses to opioid remediation activities (treatment, prevention, harm reduction, recovery supports). The steering committee emphasized evidence‑based programming, provider stabilization and local data to guide spending.

Findings from the needs assessment
Michigan State University and public health staff led a mixed‑methods needs assessment that combined public health surveillance, strategic plans and focus groups. Steering committee members said they conducted 188 participant sessions including 65 substance‑use service providers and 123 people with lived experience. Common themes included:

- Housing and basic needs: \"Everybody mentioned housing,\" the presentation said; stakeholders flagged both recovery housing and housing for people actively using as priorities.
- Harm reduction and stigma: Gaps were identified in syringe service reach, naloxone distribution, and provider and community training to reduce stigma.
- Systems and recovery orientation: Respondents asked for stronger local coordination, data sharing and an integrated recovery‑oriented system of care.
- Youth prevention: The WISD student and parent survey and local partners signaled the need for youth‑directed prevention and parent education.

Steering committee recommendations
The steering committee recommended: (1) issuing an RFP that funds evidence‑based opioid remediation strategies consistent with Exhibit E; (2) establishing an independent review panel to score proposals; (3) creating an ongoing advisory or oversight committee to monitor funded projects; and (4) building transparency via a public dashboard that reports allocations, outputs and outcomes.

Timeline and proposed uses
Officials proposed releasing an RFP in April–May, convening a scoring panel, and bringing funding recommendations to the Board by late spring so awards can be made and services supported quickly. Proposed program areas include expanding warm handoffs and recovery services, treatment for criminal justice–involved individuals, syringe service expansion, medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) access, housing for people in recovery and supports for co‑occurring disorders.

Officials emphasized provider stabilization
Public comment earlier in the meeting highlighted nonprofits that lost state and Medicaid funding and asked the county to use settlement funds to sustain proven local providers. Steering committee members said sustainability of local providers and immediate gaps identified in focus groups informed the recommended priorities.

Next steps and oversight
Steering committee members said they will finalize the needs assessment report and return to the board with a recommended RFP, a proposed advisory committee structure, and a public accountability plan. The health department offered to provide staff support for oversight, reporting and recurring needs assessments.

Ending
Commissioners praised the data‑driven process and asked staff to return with formal RFP language and oversight recommendations in March so the county can begin distributing funds this spring.","County health department and steering committee presented a yearlong needs assessment and recommended an RFP‑based distribution process, emphasizing housing, harm reduction, and recovery supports; officials proposed an advisory body and public dashboard for ongoing monitoring.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Washtenaw commissioners weigh housing senior millage within OCED vs. stand‑alone aging office

Votes at a glance: Washtenaw County working session actions, Feb. 2025

Washtenaw steering committee recommends RFP and oversight to spend opioid settlement funds after needs assessment