A Note from Commissioner Beeman

Greetings! Thank you for subscribing to the Washtenaw County District 3 newsletter. It is my honor to serve you and provide updates on the issues impacting Bridgewater Township, Freedom Township, Lodi Township, Manchester Township, Village of Manchester, City of Milan, City of Saline, Saline Township, Sharon Township, and York Township.

The Broadband Task Force continues to meet as we work to fully connect every resident within Washtenaw County with reliable, high-speed internet access. In late 2021, the RFP process was completed and a contract was awarded to DCS Technology Design for project management services. The DCS team is working with county staff and the taskforce to determine the best path forward. The service provider contract negotiations are still on-going. This is a multi-year project; however, we are committed to connecting residents as quickly as possible.

We have much to be thankful for as we continue to move in the right direction in the battle with COVID-19. Case and hospitalization numbers remain lower than they did earlier this year, and more residents are choosing to vaccinate against COVID-19 every day. For local information on COVID-19, how to obtain KN95 masks, or accessing vaccinations, please visit the Washtenaw County Health Department website. As always, please connect with your primary care physician for all medical advice.

To receive timely updates outside of this newsletter, please follow the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Please reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns via [email protected]

Shannon Beeman
Commissioner, District 3

Making Strides to Connect All of Washtenaw County to High-Speed Internet

In September 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved an investment of $15 million in County general funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to address issues of broadband connectivity in Washtenaw County. The goal of the investment is to operationalize the recommendations of the county’s Broadband Taskforce and connect every household in Washtenaw to high-speed broadband internet. The need for access was exasperated during the Covid-19 pandemic as the need for telemedicine, virtual school and remote work was made glaringly apparent. Because of this investment, the County is on track to become one of the first counties in the state with every household connected to broadband internet.

County Administration and staff have been working to operationalize the broadband allocation. In late 2021, an RFP process was completed and Washtenaw County contracted with DCS Technology Design for Project Manager services. The DCS team began working with county staff and the Broadband Taskforce to get up to speed and plot out next steps. Contract negotiations for service providers are on-going as of March 2022.

More information about the county’s broadband work may be found here. An updated timeline will be shared once contracts are complete and that information becomes available.

Launching A New Budget Cycle

One of the primary topics of the Board’s Working Session meetings during the first quarter was the start of a deep dive into the Washtenaw County Quadrennial Budget. The goal is to ensure commissioners and the community have a good understanding of what is currently funded by Washtenaw County. The Commissioners view this step to educate and inform as crucial ahead of numerous discussions and input opportunities to develop budget priorities for the next Quadrennial budget.

At the March 16th Working Session, County Administrator Gregory Dill presented a high-level overview of the revenues and expenditures of the county’s general fund. He also laid out a timeline for additional presentations and conversations across several policy areas, including Public Safety & Justice, Health & Human Services, and more.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Working Session presentations to learn more. Working Session meetings are currently held virtually and in-person on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm. Learn more by going to the Board of Commissioners' Meetings page.

There is an opportunity to give public comment at these meetings. However, it is encouraged to either leave a public comment using a written comment portal on the website or by attending the Board of Commissioner’s full meeting which happens immediately after the working session.

Other Updates from the First Quarter

Click each title to read the full update: