December 12, 2000

Ingham County Board of Commissioners

P.O. Box 319

Mason, MI 48854

Dear Commissioners:

I am pleased to report to you on the significant accomplishments which have occurred this year. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the hard work and cooperative efforts of the entire Board of Commissioners, county wide elected officials, judges, department heads, staff, and those persons we appoint to our many Boards and Commissions. I extend to you and to them congratulations on a great year.

Ingham County government provides many services to our 282,000 residents. Services are provided in the areas of health and other human services; law enforcement and judicial administration; recreation; economic development; the recording of personal and property records, and others. On a daily basis, these services are provided by capable and dedicated employees under the leadership of elected officials, department heads and agency boards. We have a history of excellent labor relations which was typified this year by the peaceful negotiation of several labor contracts, by the stability of our workforce, and by the cooperative approach taken to address rapidly rising health care costs. Our financial management skills were recognized this year with an upgrade in the county's credit rating associated with the sale of bonds for the new courts building, by ongoing organizational analysis, and by the peaceful development of the next years budget which maintains vital county services in areas of importance to our citizens. Through ongoing investment in technology, we continued to make our work more productive and our services more accessible.

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In addition, we have also continued to move forward in areas long identified as

important to our citizens. Accomplishments of note this year include:

•increasing access to health care for the uninsured in our county through our support of the Ingham Health Plan;

•participating in the planning for an organized system of care for the uninsured on a regional basis;
•expanding recreational opportunities through the opening of the Ken Hope Soccer Complex and the development of Hawk Island Park;
•improving the administration of justice through the construction of a new consolidated courts building; and
•promoting and expanding sentencing alternatives such as probation residential services for non-violent adult offenders and short term residential placements at Camp Highfields for juvenile offenders.

Several county commissioners and other elected officials who are leaving at the end of 2000 must also be acknowledged for their contributions to Ingham County. Commissioners Jean McDonald, Paul Pratt, Anne Smiley, Virgil Bernero, Wally Juall; and Alfreda Schmidt have all provided valuable service to their constituents and to our residents. County Treasurer Don Moore has overseen the operation of the Treasurer's Office for 25 years and provided a valuable return for Ingham County taxpayers. Judge Harrison and Judge Stell have contributed greatly to the administration of justice in the Ingham County Circuit Court.

A warm welcome is extended to newly elected commissioners Victor Celentino, Lisa Dedden, Deb DeLeon, Curtis Hertel, Jr., Amy Krause, and Chris Swope. A welcome is also extended to our new County Treasurer Eric Schertzing, and to Circuit Judges Baird and Manderfield.

2001 promises to be an exciting year as several issues from this year and before will continue to require the attention of the county board. Consideration of the proposed no-smoking regulation and the plan to provide an organized system of health care for the uninsured; implementation of the solid waste plan; improvements to the 911 emergency dispatch system; continued focus on alleviating regular jail and youth detention center overcrowding; occupying the

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December 12, 2000

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new courts building; and planning for the renovation of the Grady Porter Building are all examples. In addition, there will be many continuing opportunities to discuss issues of regional and county importance, including economic development, access to health, water quality, and land use growth trends.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Board Chair this past year.

Sincerely,

Mary Stid, Chairperson

Ingham County Board of Commissioners

GWA/MS/njh

2000 Overview

The year 2000 has been eventful and productive for Ingham County government. Appreciation is extended to all of the commissioners, elected officials, boards, department heads, and staff who have worked hard to provide the many county services to our residents. In addition to continuing to provide these services on a daily basis, Ingham County has also continued to move forward in areas long identified as important to its citizens. Examples of significant progress in these areas include:

•Increasing access to health care through support of the Ingham Heath Plan - With the support of the County Board of Commissioners, the Ingham Health Plan was created in 1998 to increase access to primary health care for Ingham County residents who are unable to do so by conventional means. In late 1998, with county financial support, the IHP was able to implement a program providing access to primary care, although not hospitalization. Nearly 8,000 residents were enrolled in the first year of operation, and nearly 13,500 will be enrolled by the end of 2000.

In addition, the Board is considering final approval of a resolution tonight which will enable the IHP to develop and implement a subsidized health insurance program on a pilot basis for small employers. This program, with costs shared by the IHP, participating employers, and their employees, will provide coverage for an additional 3,000 residents. In addition to primary care, this program will also include a limited hospitalization component.

•Developing a system of health care for the uninsured - With the endorsement of the County Board of Commissioners and the active participation of the Health Department, grants were received in 1998 to support development of a comprehensive system of health care for the uninsured in our region. This effort is now guided by the Capital Area Health Alliance, with primary staff support provided by the Health Department. After numerous meetings, discussion drafts, and proposals shared with the many stakeholders over a two year period, an action plan for an Organized System of Care in the Capital Area was adopted by the CAHA Board of Directors in November, and is to be released early next year. It is expected that the plan will serve as a blueprint for developing a comprehensive strategy for addressing this complex and important issue.
•Enhancing public health - In early 2000, the County's Board of Health recommended adoption of a local public health regulation on smoking in public and private workplaces and restaurants. The County Board's Human Services Committee conducted public hearings on the proposed regulation, and received extensive comments in favor and opposed. While no action has yet been taken, the proposal has significantly increased public discussion of this important public issue.
•Expanding recreational opportunities - In 1994, the Board of Commissioners committed funds for the purchase and development of an old gravel pit into another major county park. Under the leadership of the County Parks Board, plans were completed and grant funding was obtained, enabling the development of Hawk Island Park in late 1998. As 2000 ends, the Parks Board has advised that Phase I development of the park, located in south Lansing, should be completed sufficiently to permit limited winter activities in 2000 and limited summer activities in 2001. Completion of Phase II, which will include a swimming beach, bathhouses, a concession stand, and additional fishing docks and picnic areas, however, will not be complete until the summer of 2002.

•Expanding recreational opportunities - Recreational opportunities associated with the fast growing sport of soccer were also officially expanded in 2000. In a cooperative venture with the City of Lansing, opportunities for playing soccer were significantly increased with the opening of the Ken Hope Soccer Complex on the site of the old Aurelius Road landfill. The complex provides six premier fields, with expansion to 10 possible, and is an excellent example of regional cooperation and an adaptive reuse of a natural resource.
•Improving administration of justice - After many years of discussion, the County and City of Lansing agreed in 1996 to finance and construct a courts building consolidating the Circuit courts within the City of Lansing. As the year 2000 comes to a close, construction proceeds on time and within budget, with opening scheduled for July 1, 2001. A "Move-In" task force has been formed to address the many issues involved with occupying the new building, and early in 2001, the county will begin to consider options related to the renovation of the adjoining Grady Porter Building. Until the renovation is well underway, it will not be possible for the two buildings to share the common entrance provided.
•Fostering appropriate development of youth - Initiated by the Board of Commissioners in 1994, the Youth Violence Prevention Coalition continued in 2000 to work on strategies to reduce incidents of juvenile violence. This year the YVPC received a $15,000 prevention planning grant, a $75,000 Comprehensive Strategies Planning grant, and submitted an application for a third round of funding relating to the Minority Over-Representation Project. The YVPC was also instrumental in launching a public relations campaign increasing awareness of youth violence within our homes and community.
•Expanding appropriate sanctions for youth and adults - The problems associated with a regularly overcrowded jail and youth detention center continue to attract the attention of the county government in 2000. In spite of efforts to develop alternative and more effective sanctions for adults and juvenile offenders, overcrowding continues. Increased use of mixed sentences of jail and probation or other sanctions such as tether, community service, and probation residential centers have increased the alternatives available to the courts, but gaining their acceptance by criminal justice agencies, the courts, and the public, makes quick progress difficult in both the adult and juvenile systems. For the adult system in 2000, efforts to expand the use of alternatives included the sponsorship of provider exhibits by the Community Corrections Advisory Board to further educate criminal justice agency personnel with available alternative sanctions; continued communication with Judges and Probation officers to encourage consideration of the alternatives; and gaining approval to expand probation residential services by 40 beds. For the juvenile system, similar communication efforts have been undertaken, and 12 short term residential treatment beds at Camp Highfields have been added. Meanwhile, the county's expenditures for child care related placements continue to increase significantly.
•Promoting environmental protection - After more than a year of discussion and review, the County Board of Commissioners and more than 2/3 of the municipalities in the county adopted an update to the Solid Waste Management Plan. The state is still reviewing the plan and its approval is expected by year's end. Perhaps the most significant change is that waste generated in Ingham County will now be able to be disposed of at some 16 disposal facilities instead of the current four. Competition should be enhanced to the benefit of county residents.

In addition, although not without controversy, the Board of Commissioners also approved a funding mechanism to help assure implementation of the plan goals, including enforcement, education, and the promotion of recycling. Implementation of the plan and the funding mechanism is anticipated to begin early in 2001.

•Enhancing Public Safety - A renewal of the special millage for 911 services was easily approved by county voters at the August primary election. The proceeds of the millage will cover most of the cost of operating the three dispatch centers in the county and provide a significant amount of funds to upgrade the center's capabilities. These centers provide for police, fire, and emergency services telephone answering and dispatch capabilities throughout the county.

The County established a 911 Advisory Committee in 1998 to make recommendations to the County Board on needed improvements to the emergency telephone answering and dispatch capabilities in the county. Since then, the 911 Committee has been working on a proposal to upgrade capabilities within the county primarily through migration to the 800 MHZ system offered by the State Police. Unfortunately, after much consideration, the committee is recommending that the proposal to do so be rejected and that the county solicit proposals for a locally owned proprietary system and allow Motorola to resubmit the State Police/Motorola System proposal.

•Fostering Economic Development - 2000 was the first full year for operation of a reorganized Economic Development Office. With a focus on promoting economic development throughout the county, activities in 2000 include sharing of a retention specialist with the City of Lansing; developing relationships with the other economic development entities in the county, and meeting service obligations to municipalities who contract for specific services from the EDC.

•Promoting cost-effective operations and use of technology on an ongoing basis - In addition to these highlighted efforts, the ongoing business of the county continued on course in 2000. The ongoing service responsibilities of the county-wide elected officials, judges, boards, department heads and staff all continued in the normal excellent fashion. The county remained financially strong, with revenues and expenses aligned; a budget for 2001 was adopted which maintains the current levels of service, and slightly reduces the property tax millage; negotiation of labor contracts and the completion of negotiated wage studies continued on course; technology projects continued, and buildings and facilities were kept in good repair.

One unexpected event of concern was notification of the employees health insurance premium increase of more than 40%, occurring at the end of the annual budget process. Thanks to the cooperation of the employer and labor representatives on the Health Coalition, a labor/ management committee, alternatives were developed which reduced the premium increase by more than half and which enabled most employees to avoid premium cost sharing. Approval of these alternatives are on tonight's agenda.

Implementation of the Integrated Justice Information Systems project continues, with substantial completion, at last, expected by year's end. Planning continued - slowly - for migration to the state's computer system for child support enforcement (CSES), but with no migration date yet set. A reorganization separating the Purchasing and Properties Department into a Purchasing Department and a Facilities Department was approved, and a review of the Management Information Systems Department was undertaken as part of the process of replacing the Director. A study of the possible renovation of portions of the jail was undertaken to determine the feasibility of constructing a work-release center.

2000 also marks a transition time for several county commissioners, for County Treasurer Don Moore, and for two Circuit Court Judges. Commissioner Jean McDonald, who with more than 20 years of service has the most longevity of current commissioners; Commissioner Paul Pratt; Commissioner Anne Smiley; Commissioner (and now Representative -elect) Virgil Bernero; Commissioner Wally Juall; and Commissioner Alfreda Schmidt have all provided valuable service to all county residents. County Treasurer Don Moore has overseen the operation of the Treasurer's Office for 25 years and provided valuable service as well. Judges Harrison and Stell have contributed greatly to the administration of justice in the Ingham County Circuit Court.

With the transition of these county officials comes several new faces. A warm welcome is extended to newly elected commissioners Victor Celentino, Lisa Dedden, Deb DeLeon, Curtis Hertel, Jr., Amy Krause, and Chris Swope. A welcome is also extended to our new County Treasurer Eric Schertzing, and Circuit Judges Baird and Manderfield.

2001 promises to be an exciting year as several issues from 2000 and before will continue to require the attention of the county board. Consideration of the proposed no-smoking regulation and the plan to provide an organized system of health care for the uninsured; implementation of the solid waste plan; improvements to the 911 emergency dispatch system; continued focus on alleviating regular jail and youth detention center overcrowding; and occupying the new courts building and planning for the renovation of the Grady Porter Building are all examples. In addition, there will be many continuing opportunities to discuss issues of regional and county importance, including economic development, access to health; water quality, and land use growth trends.

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