Finance Committee: quick outcomes — interns, festival sponsorships and health grants
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Summary
Short committee outcomes: two seasonal law‑clerk intern positions authorized for public defender; county sponsorship renewed for Madison Heights Juneteenth; an amendment accepted for wastewater surveillance/local health grants; county accepted a Sustain Our Great Lakes grant for Southfield Oaks restoration.
The Finance Committee moved a series of shorter items and grant acceptances during the meeting. Key short outcomes:
- Law clerk internships: The committee approved creation of two seasonal law clerk intern positions to support the Public Defender’s Office. Pete Menna, who manages the county indigent defense system, said the positions will be funded through an existing grant and that HR requires positions to be budgeted before hiring interns. The motion passed.
- Madison Heights Juneteenth Festival: The committee approved a sponsorship request to support the Madison Heights Juneteenth celebration. Local organizers — including Commissioner Anne Erickson Gull, Kevin Wright and board member Michael Howard — described the event’s regional draw, volunteer base and community sponsorship model. Motion approved.
- Emerging Rest local health department grant (wastewater surveillance): The committee accepted an amendment adding approximately $2.17 million to expand lab capacity for community disease monitoring, including flu, RSV and COVID surveillance at long‑term care centers and congregate housing sites. Presenters said the majority of funding is federal pass‑through and that the funds will support reagents and staffing to analyze wastewater samples.
- Sustain Our Great Lakes grant: The committee accepted $300,000 from the Sustain Our Great Lakes (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) program to support ecological restoration at Southfield Oaks (former Beachwood Golf Course) to reconnect floodplain and restore wetlands. The grant will be paired with county ARPA funds and park capital funds.
Procedural note: Committee members asked that staff include more detailed exhibits for each item in future packets; the committee approved all items and forwarded them to the full board where final approval or contract execution will occur.
Ending: Staff said they will confirm precise grant amounts and any necessary budget amendments in the full board packet and will provide requested project details on request.
