Lapeer County health department wins specialty‑court and environmental grants; immunization waiver software tabled for December
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Summary
The board accepted several health‑related grants — mental health court ($67,552), drug court ($43,732) and an EGLE environmental health renewal ($176,428) — and approved a paid space arrangement with Elder Law of Michigan; commissioners tabled a $1,000 annual immunization waiver education software decision until December to review content.
The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners approved multiple grants and contracts for health and court programs but delayed a decision on state‑provided immunization waiver education software pending further review.
Nicole Hutchinson, the county’s specialty court coordinator, reported that the mental health court grant increased to $67,552 from $65,969 last year and that the drug court grant rose to $43,732. “This year, they awarded us $43,732,” Hutchinson said of the drug court funding. Hutchinson explained the grants are reimbursement grants and can be back‑dated to Oct. 1; she said the grants will help programming and partially offset coordinator salary.
The board also authorized acceptance of an Environmental Health grant with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for $176,428 to support permitting and inspections for commercial wells, campgrounds and public swimming pools.
The health department presented an arrangement with Elder Law of Michigan to use private space at the Emily Senior Center in exchange for $2,400 annually; the department said the service provides one‑on‑one legal counseling for seniors (estate planning, Medicare navigation) and is a net benefit.
Commissioners questioned MDHHS’s new immunization waiver education software — a University of Michigan platform the state contracted to provide to local health departments — and several expressed concern the program could be “reeducation” or persuasive rather than neutral. “I would actually move that we table this until we’re able to to actually review these programs,” Commissioner McMahon said; the board voted to table the software item and asked health staff to return to the December Committee of the Whole with authority to act after members review the modules.
The board approved the grants and Elder Law arrangement by voice votes and scheduled the immunization program for a fuller review.
