Photo Gallery: Oakland County Commissioners at Work for You

 
Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett thought it would be a great idea to celebrate Women's History Month (March) by holding a reunion of all women who formerly served on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.  Many of those who are still living attended and had a great time seeing old colleagues.  The reunion was held before the regular Commission meeting March 3rd.  Each woman was presented with a plaque commemorating their service, and with a red rose.  A good time was had by all.

The eldest attendee was Anne Hobart, who served in 1973.  Lillian Moffitt also served in 1973, and was represented at the event by her son, David, seen in the back row.  Mrs. Hobart, who now lives in Clare County, is pictured in the front row, center, in the multi-colored jacket.  Click here to read a short history of accomplishments of some of the women who served on the Board of Commissioners.

There are seven women currently serving on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
They are, from left to right:  Marcia Gershenson, District 17; Helaine Zack, District 22; Janet Jackson, District 21; Mattie McKinney Hatchett, District 10 (organizer of the event); Christine Long, District 7; Shelley Goodman Taub, District 16; and Sue Ann Douglas, District 12.

For more on this event, check out the Michigan Women's Forum. 

 
Oakland County Commissioners Jim Runestad, Tom Middleton, Brad Jacobsen, and Jim Nash (pictured left to right), and Dave Coulter (not pictured) participated in this year's "Walk for Warmth" program at the Palace of Auburn Hills. They joined more than 1000 people in the 20th annual event.  "Walk for Warmth" raises money to help the needy pay their utility bills.

 
The commissioners (and all attendees) were greeted by live bands and belly dancers, who spurred them to walk a little more quickly, and all had the opportunity to shoot some hoops on the home floor of the Detroit Pistons.  No word on whether any of the commissioners hit a three-pointer.

 
Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Commissioners (right, back row), presented proclamations commending four judges who held leadership positions with the Sixth Circuit Court in Oakland County. 

Judge James Alexander stands next to Chairman Bullard.  Judge Alexander a Family Division judge who served as chief circuit judge pro tempore until stepping down January 1st. 

In the front row are Judge Elizabeth Pezzetti, a probate judge who serves as the presiding judge of the Circuit Court's Family Division.  Next to Judge Pezzetti is Judge Linda Hallmark, who was the chief probate judge and presiding judge of the Circuit Court's Family Division from 2000 to 2004.  Judge Wendy Potts is at right.  She was Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court for three terms, until being succeeded by Judge Nanci Grant on January 1st.

 
All of the attorneys on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners pose with probate judge Linda Hallmark (center, holding plaque).  From left, Commissioners David Potts, Helaine Zack, Tim Greimel and Tim Burns.  To the right of Judge Hallmark are board chairman Bill Bullard, Jr. and Commissioners Kim Capello and Steve Schwartz.

 
Oakland County Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub serves as the Government Liaison for the "Complete Count" Census Committee.  She is working diligently with the Committee to get all Oakland County citizens counted for the upcoming census.

At the January 20, Board meeting she gave away census goodies like census magnets, literature,shirts and bags to public officials and the public in attendance.

 
Pictured left-to-right are: Oakland County Commissioners Helaine Zack, Eric Coleman, Honoree Specs Howard and Commissioner Janet Jackson.

Soutfield Commissioners honor longtime Southfield resident and businessman, legendary broadcaster and educator Specs Howard at the December 9th Board Meeting.

The board members honored him for his 62-year career in broadcasting and in celebration of Specs Howard School of Media Arts which celebrated its 40th Anniversary in January, 2010.

 
Oakland County Commissioners Honor Clarkston 9th grader Brooke Huisman for her award-winning Patriot Week Essay.  She was presented with proclamations from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Circuit Court.

Pictured (left-to-right) Oakland County Commissioner Thomas F. Middleton, Brooke Huisman, Oakland County Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Michael D. Warren, Jr., and Oakland County Board Chairman Bill Bullard, Jr.

 
Oakland County Commissioners Honor Estin Baldwin, a young author who wrote the book  "Skate It." He is one of the youngest authors in Oakland County and Michigan.  

Pictured are Oakland County Commissioners Helaine Zack, Marcia Gershenson, front and center honoree Estin Baldwin.  In back are Commissioner Eric Coleman, Estin's mother and Women's Commissioner for Oakland County Sunsaria Baldwin, and Oakland County Commissioner Janet Jackson. 

This 10-year-old author has a series of upcoming book signings throughout the area.

Oakland County Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett shares a moment with Channel 7 talk show host Chuck Stokes, who moderated the Tri-County Summit leadership panel at the 2009 Tri-County Summit.  The event was held on Friday, September 18, 2009 in Dearborn, Michigan, at Henry Ford Community College.  In the background at the far left is Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

Commissioners and local leaders from the Tri-County area met to discuss a myriad of issues affecting the region.  A leadership panel consisting of Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Macomb Board Commission Chair Paul Gielegham, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano was moderated by Channel 7's Chuck Stokes.  

Oakland County received the baton from Wayne County to host the 2010 Tri-County Summit in Oakland County.

 
Pictured left to right: Les Pulver of Plante Moran, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Budget and Planning Richard Walker chat with Oakland County Commissioner Jeff Potter at the Annual Tri-County Summit held at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, Michigan on Sept. 18th. Oakland Officials joined elected officials and leaders from Macomb, Wayne, Oakland counties and the City of Detroit to discuss various issues relating to regionalism, transportation and the economy.

 
Pictured during a break at the Tri-County Summit are Wayne County Commissioner Burton Leland and Oakland County Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub.

Oakland County Commissioners share a moment with Wayne County Officials at the 2009 Tri-County Summit held Friday, September 18, 2009 at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn.

Pictured left to right:  Wayne County Board Chairman Ed Boike,; Oakland County Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett, Oakland Commissioner Thomas F. Middleton;  Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano; Oakland County Board of Commissioners' Vice Chairman Michael Gingell, Oakland County Commissioner Janet Jackson and Oakland County Commissioner Eric Coleman.

 
Oakland County Commissioners Tim Greimel (left) and John Scott (right) honor Matchan Nutrition Center with a Proclamation celebrating the center's 25th Anniversary.  Robert Harper, Chairman of the Board, accepted on behalf of the Matchan Center. 

The Proclamation thanked the dedicated volunteers and the Matchan Center for their years of valuable service in the Greater Pontiac Community.  Matchan Center feeds the needy and provides a variety of social, spiritual, educational, employment and community services which have made a positive impact in the lives of so many people in Oakland County.

Oakland County Commissioners Tim Greimel, Board Vice Chairman Michael Gingell and Sue Ann Douglas present a proclamation celebrating Rochester College's 50th Anniversary to College President Dr. Rubel Shelly at a special student and faculty assembly in the college's auditorium on September 29, 2009. They each shared a personal story about their experiences on the campus over the years.

      MY HOME, MY FUTURE:  Seminars with advice on how to avoid home foreclosures.

 
Commissioner Jim Runestad (District 6) makes a point at the My Home, My Future Seminar in White Lake on September 21.

Topics at these frequent seminars include budgeting, credit, choosing the right mortgage when refinancing, steps to stop the foreclosure process, and how to find assistance when homeowners need it.  Also participating was the Oakland County Community & Home Improvement Division.

 
Commissioners Jim Runestad and Thomas Middleton (District 4) pose with Oakland County Community & Home Improvement Division Housing Counselor Lon Shook and the Lighthouse of Oakland County Financial Counseling Manager Greg Stearn at the My Home, My Future Seminar on September 21 in White Lake.

District 5 Commissioner John Scott makes a point at a July 21st Seminar in West Bloomfield to provide information to homeowners in danger of losing their homes.  This My Home-My Future Home Ownership Retention Seminar was co-sponsored by Commissioners Scott, Marcia Gershenson, and Shelley Taub.

OAKLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLD FIRST OF FOUR NIGHT MEETINGS OF 2009

 
Oakland County Commissioners are holding once-monthly evening meetings to see if more members of the public attend.  Meetings are normally held on Thursday mornings.  There were quite a few citizens who took advantage of the opportunity, and used it to address the Board.  Their concerns included health insurance for the poor and the Friend of the Court advisory board.

 
Commissioners Helaine Zack (District 22), Janet Jackson (District 21), and Eric Coleman (District 23) honor the Southfield Community Foundation's Executive Director Warren Goodell, Southfield Centers for Youth Executive Director Lauren King and Southfield Centers for Youth Board of Directors Chair and owner of Griffin Properties Scott Griffin with proclamations for their work in creating the state-of-the-art "field Zone" Youth Center which has provided area youth a positive learning and recreational environment.

 
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson presents the first trienniel budget to Oakland County Commissioners at their first evening meeting of 2009.  As he laid out the facts, he told Commissioners to expect to face more belt-tightening for the next several years because of declining property values and tax revenues.  One proposed budget cut eliminates county cars for elected officials.  Another cut would be one staff person for each Oakland County judge.  The county executive explained that a three-year budget makes the county better able to prepare for serious financial vagaries and downturns.

Mr. Patterson explained to the Board of Commissioners why he believes the budget he presented will stay balanced despite inevitable vicissitudes in County revenues due to the volatile Michigan economy.  Another budget reduction includes across the board 2.5% pay cuts for all county employees.  Oakland County Commissioners will begin consideration of the annual budget next week.

An online marriage license application, which saves couples a trip to the courthouse to apply for a marriage license, was among five programs that earned national recognition for the Oakland County Clerk & Register of Deeds Office.  Presenting proclamations commending Clerk Ruth Johnson and her staff were Oakland County Commissioner Eric Coleman (D-Southfield), left, and Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett (D-Pontiac).  Oakland County Clerk Johnson (R) is in the middle.

 
Pictured left to right at the Silver Tsunami Meeting held by the Senior Coalition for Oakland County are: Judy Muhn, Area Manager for United Way of Oakland; Oakland County Commissioner and Senior Coalition Chairperson Helaine Zack; Kurt Metzger, Director of Detroit Area Community Information System; and Jim McGuire, Director of Area Agency on Aging (AAA-1B).

The public meeting focused on how the next 25 years of aging baby boomers will impact the economic, social, health and quality of life, and what impact aging seniors will have on housing and economic development, as well as on families and communities across Oakland County and the region.

Jim McGuire, Director of the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, enlightens the audience at the June 19th meeting on the difficulties that will face Oakland County as Baby Boomers begin to retire.

 
Oakland County Commissioner Tim Burns with 3rd graders from Barnard Elementary School during the annual Troy and Clawson Flag Day Ceremony that the Commissioner sponsors.  The students performed a wax museum skit of famous American historical figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Harry Houdini, Helen Keller, and Rosa Parks.

 
During the Flag Day event, Commissioner Burns presented awards to the Oakland County Volunteers of the Year from Clawson and Troy.  Mike Kerr (Troy), Eva Joyce Burns (Clawson), Adam Campbell (Troy) and Howie Airriess (Clawson).  Each honoree received a commemorative plaque from Oakland County and a United States flag flown over the nation's Capitol in their honor.

The Commissioners also commemorated Mr. Kelser's historic contributions to college sports on the 30th Anniversary of the 1979 Michigan State Spartans' first NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.  The 1979 team featured Kelser and Magic Johnson as the starting guards, and the Championship game featured the first matchup of Johnson and Larry Bird.  The excitement generated by that game spawned  March Madness as we know it today, and remains one of the most-watched college basketball games in history.

As a former academic All-American and NBA player, Greg Kelser currently works as a sports analyst for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network, where he will celebrate 23 years in broadcasting.  A Franklin resident, Mr. Kelser has hosted youth basketball camps in Southfield and West Bloomfield.  From June 22 - August 3, he will host camps at West Bloomfield High.

 
Deputy Oakland County Executive Phil Bertolini talks about the future of Oakland County's economy with attendees at a Town Hall meeting in South Lyon, arranged by Commissioner Jeff Potter (District #8), right.  Mr. Bertolini detailed the impact of the changing Michigan economy on future jobs and taxes, as well as structural changes that will keep Oakland County moving forward.  Seated, looking on, are South Lyon Council Members Patricia Maida and Harvey Wedell.

Tenth District Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett (middle, brown suit) stands with participants in the 2009 Law Day Event.  With the Commissioner, left to right, are: Brian Young, ASAC, FBI; Daniel Bateman, Inspector Michgan State Police; Lt. Bryan Flye, Pontiac Police Department; Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard; Commissioner Hatchett; Chief Val Gross, Pontiac Police Department; Executive Sergeant Kevin Braddock, Pontiac Police Department; Col. Terry Fobes, Pontiac Summit; S. Robin Shoemaker, ATF Assistant SAC; and Eric Strauss, Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office.  Not Pictured: Jim Mitchell, Journalist and author of a book on Sri Lanka.

 
Youth in Government Day, an annual event for almost 30 years, gives area students a chance to see and participate in the inner workings of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.  Among the participants this year were students from the Milford area.   Pictured are: Milford High School Kyle McGrath with students Jordan Adams, Michelle Hier, Jill Turner, Ashley Micallef, Kari Boyd, Erica Hartwig, Alex Chouinard, Andy Golicz, Alyx Pikus, Nate Kesto, Navin Mohanan, Emily Ribick, Kate Schick, Joe Presutti, Olivia Ghislain and Julia Slintak, Commissioner Christine A. Long and Board Chairman Bill Bullard, Jr.  More pictures of the day's activities can be seen here.

Commissioners whose commission districts were included in the congressional district of
former U.S. Representative Joe Knollenberg honored the 8-term congressman upon his retirement from politics.  The former Representative's wife Sandi and commissioners from
both parties shared the camera lens with Mr. Knollenberg, who let everybody know that his days of community service are not over.

This is the program from the Inauguration of the 2009-2010 Oakland County Board of Commissioners.  Pictures of the swearing-in ceremony follow on the next page.

During the Oakland County Fire and Ice Event in Rochester, Oakland County Commissioner Sue Ann Douglas served coffee and hot cocoa in the Rochester Fire Hall
at the Youth Assistance Spagetti Dinner fundraiser.  Commissioner Douglas is a Youth Assistance Board member.

Michigan's National Guard and Oakland County Commissioners are working to apprise
area families of servicemen and women of the services available for them. 
Pictured left to right:  Michigan National Guard State Chaplain Colonel Heavener,
Commissioner Jim Nash, Oakland County HSCC Coordinator Pamela Barckholtz, and Michigan National Guard Colonel Bartolacci.
 
An Oakland County Military Service Guide will be developed as a result of these efforts.  Included will be free membership in the Oakland County Boy's and Girls Club
being offered to service families for their children.  Additionally, child care services are among the various services available to military personnel throughout the county and metropolitan area.

Photo Gallery, continued... >>