Cooperation key to ‘State of Macomb’

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — On the evening of Dec. 4, leaders and luminaries from throughout the region gathered inside the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts to address the State of Macomb County in 2024.

Democratic Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel began the bulk of the address with the theme of partnership being the No. 1 tool to get things done.

“Now that (the election) is over, can we just set aside the Blue vs. Red and the Rs and Ds?” Hackel said. “I’ve said this many times before and I think it’s starting to catch on in light of what I’ve been hearing recently: It’s time to stop reaching across the aisle. Let’s forget reaching across the aisle. It’s time to get in the aisle and get things done on behalf of the people. And the way we get things done in Macomb County is not through partisanship, it’s through partnership.”

Examples of partnerships between the county and its stakeholders were discussed in relation to six categories: economic development, quality of life, roads and infrastructure, health and community services, public safety and education.

Macomb County Planning and Economic Development showcased various projects throughout the county that were receiving country support: the redevelopment of Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, the overhaul of downtown Mount Clemens and the creation of General Sports and Entertainment’s new headquarters in Utica.

Related to economic development is the country’s financial position, which Hackel touted as strong due to the 14th consecutive year of a balanced budget and the recent increase in the county’s bond rating by Moody’s to “Aa1 with a positive outlook.”

“To quote the release, ‘The outlook is positive because the county will maintain robust finances and it benefits from prudent budget management,’” Hackel said.

Republican Don Brown, who at the time of the speech served as the chair of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, said he believed this economic performance showed off the best examples of how the board and county executive have been able to partner on various matters.

“My board has a saying, ‘one team, one mission,’ and Mark Hackel is part of that team and understands that,” Brown said. “He’s worked together with everybody to raise everyone’s boats … We don’t agree on everything but when we don’t, we sit down to figure it out and talk about it. We’re working very well together. The financial picture he highlighted shows the result.”

Brown resigned from the county board on Dec. 12 and took a position as Macomb County’s deputy public works commissioner

Hackel’s next segment, quality of life, focused on the ways the county was supporting plans and programs to make Macomb County a desirable place to be. The Green Macomb and Blue Economy initiatives were highlighted as prime examples. Green Macomb’s goal is to expand the county’s tree canopy. The Blue Economy initiative is focused on developing and protecting Lake St. Clair, with its original mission of removing logjams in the Clinton River and eliminating Lake St. Clair beach closures.

Providing Harrison Township with a $1 million grant to build the Digger Odell Memorial Bridge over the Clinton River Spillway was Hackel’s biggest example, in terms of expense, of a community-led quality-of-life project receiving county support.

Roads and infrastructure were the next point of discussion. Much of the information about road projects was reviewed from the country’s “state of the roads” address, with Innovate Mound serving as a key example of a project that required partnerships between county and local — as well as state and federal — governments to be completed.

With the county owning the primary roads in townships, Republican Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet made it clear that county-municipality partnerships on road projects were not just important but required.

“The township doesn’t run its own roads, but we’re required to pay for a good chunk, usually about half, of road projects,” Drolet said. “Coordinating with the county and roads is not an option — it’s a necessity. We’ve had a great relationship with the county.”

Macomb Township’s work with the county and state, notably state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, has allowed for the funding of various road projects in the township.

South of Macomb Township is Clinton Township, where newly elected Democratic Supervisor Paul Gieleghem, the township’s former treasurer, has long been adamant that the mechanism for road funding needs to be changed. Gieleghem was no less spirited about the issue as he stepped into the Lorenzo Cultural Center for the Taste of Macomb reception after the address. It’s an issue Hackel would also like Lansing to address.

“Mark is absolutely correct that we need a lot more dollars from the state and a fair (funding) formula to meet the needs of our population,” Gieleghem said.

Health and community services focused on the various programs and initiatives the county operates to aid senior citizens. Examples included the Meals on Wheels program and the newly established Macomb County Elder Justice Alliance, which involves 80 organizations working together to combat elder abuse. A new community impact fund in the 2025 budget will see the county work with Advancing Macomb to target grants and philanthropic dollars for nonprofit development, parks and public spaces, small business innovation, senior citizen advocacy and childhood achievement.

Public safety showcased the central intake and assessment center project at the Macomb County Jail, as well as a mention of the Department of Justice L. Anthony Sutin Award, given this year to Hackel and Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham for their community policing efforts.

Finally, a focus on education highlighted the county’s work with the Macomb Intermediate School District, local districts and Macomb Community College to advance educational programs throughout the county.

“Our way of doing things (in Macomb County) is just sometimes different,” Hackel said. “We believe in doing things together, not alone. We believe in bringing people in, not shutting them out. We believe in lending a hand, not pointing a finger. We also believe in giving credit where credit is due and not assigning blame. As I hope that I have shown you, we truly believe in the power of partnership.”