Wayne County Commission approves bond pledge, confirms appointments and committee reports

The Wayne County Commission on July 17 approved a resolution pledging limited-tax full faith and credit for the North Branch of Big Swan Creek Intercounty Drainage District 2025 drain bonds and adopted a series of committee reports and appointments, including the confirmation of a new management and budget division director.

Commission business moved in bundles: the commission approved the Committee on Public Services report (items 1–14) on a single motion, approved the Committee on Ways and Means report (items including a confirmation of a budgeting and planning division director), and approved reports from Health and Human Services, Public Safety, and Government Operations. Several appointments to county boards were also confirmed.

The commission voted to pledge Wayne County’s limited-tax full faith and credit for the North Branch of Big Swan Creek intercounty drain financing after a short staff presentation. Elizabeth Pereira, assistant division director, Environment Services Division, said the project is a maintenance effort involving Washtenaw, Monroe and Wayne counties and that Monroe and Washtenaw counties had already approved the financing. The motion was moved by Commissioner Anderson and supported by Commissioner Mirecki; the chair announced "Motion carries." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for that vote.

As part of the Ways and Means report, the commission confirmed the appointment of Philip Whitfield of Detroit to the position of division director of budgeting and planning in the Management and Budget Department. John Wallace, Wayne County chief financial officer, described Whitfield’s background, saying Whitfield had been the director of finance for the City of Ferndale, has more than 25 years of management and budget experience and has worked with Oracle. The Ways and Means report was moved for approval by Committee Chair Kenlock, and the chair announced the motion carried.

The Health and Human Services report (two items) was moved and approved; Commissioner Knoosick recorded an abstention on item 2. The commission also approved Government Operations items that included a staff update that Oracle had submitted a cooperation agreement renewal to the state and that IT expected confirmation that the coop would move forward.

On new-business appointments, the commission approved the appointment of Commissioner Joseph Palamara to the Wayne County Airport Authority Board (moved by Vice Chair Potem Badum, supported by Commissioner Garza) and the appointment of Commissioner Wilson to the Wayne County Land Bank Corporation board (as recorded on the screen, moved by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry, supported by Commissioner Clemente); the chair announced both motions carried.

The commission adopted a resolution rescinding Wayne County Commission Resolution No. 2022-43, which had authorized the establishment of a Wayne County Commission Youth Council. The rescission resolution directs that no similar activities shall be permitted effective 07/17/2025. The motion was moved by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry and supported by Commissioner Kinloch; Commissioner Anderson asked to be recorded as abstaining. The chair announced "Motion carries."

Most actions were approved on single motions with the chair announcing "Motion carries" in each case. Recorded abstentions named in the transcript include Commissioner Knoosick (abstention on Health and Human Services item 2) and Commissioner Anderson (abstention on the youth council rescission). No recorded roll-call tallies were provided in the public portions of the transcript.

Votes at a glance (items explicitly recorded in the public transcript): - Resolution pledging limited-tax full faith and credit for North Branch of Big Swan Creek Intercounty Drainage District 2025 drain bonds — moved by Commissioner Anderson, supported by Commissioner Mirecki; outcome: approved ("Motion carries"). - Committee on Public Services report (items 1–14) — moved by Commissioner Morecki, supported by Commissioner Wilson; outcome: approved. - Committee on Ways and Means report (including confirmation of Philip Whitfield as division director of budgeting and planning) — moved by Committee Chair Kenlock; outcome: approved. - Committee on Health and Human Services report (items 1–2) — moved by Commissioner Scott, supported by Commissioner Morecki; outcome: approved; Commissioner Knoosick abstained on item 2. - Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security report (items 1–3) — moved by Commissioner Garza; outcome: approved. - Committee on Government Operations report (items 1–7) — moved by Commissioner Clemente, supported by Commissioner Wilson; outcome: approved. IT staff reported Oracle had submitted a coop renewal to the state and staff expected confirmation. - Appointment: Commissioner Joseph Palamara to Wayne County Airport Authority Board — moved by Vice Chair Potem Badum, supported by Commissioner Garza; outcome: approved. - Appointment: Commissioner Wilson to Wayne County Land Bank Corporation board of directors — moved by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry, supported by Commissioner Clemente; outcome: approved. - Resolution rescinding Wayne County Commission Resolution No. 2022-43 (Wayne County Commission Youth Council) — moved by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry, supported by Commissioner Kinloch; outcome: approved; Commissioner Anderson recorded an abstention.

The public transcript records motions, the names of movers and supporters for those motions, and announcements that motions carried. It does not contain roll-call vote tallies for most items; where members recorded an abstention that was noted on the record.