A Note from Commissioner Sanders

Happy Spring Pittsfield Township residents,

I’m excited to send you a message with updates and encourage you to help me remain in touch with you by sharing your email addresses with me ([email protected]). Since the last newsletter, I have been hard at work for you.

I successfully lobbied for a better communication outreach tool for Commissioners and the result is this wonderful newsletter created by our Communications and Operations Manager. I have fielded and made inquiries on behalf of Stonebridge residents who have shared concerns with me about drainage issues. I have insisted on a transparent process for sharing and receiving input regarding how the county will utilize the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to Washtenaw County. I have received and distributed KN95 masks to residents with the help of the township administration, Trustee Linda Edwards-Brown and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Rho Delta Zeta Chapter with yet another 20K available for distribution (Click here to see a photo from the giveaway). I created, advocated and received unanimous BOC support for the Mobile Support Services Initiative (information will be added here) to provide mobile services to our residents who are most in need and logistically challenged. And additionally, I advocated for millions of the ARPA funds to be allocated to 48197-48198 community organizations that provide support services to residents as well as for creating processes that will support, train and offer technical support which will allow for maximum use of these funds and ensure a foundation of sustainability of services after the ARPA funds are exhausted.

I am currently seeking District 4 (AAPS/YCS/Lincoln Consolidated/Saline/Charter/Private) high school students for a civics project that will begin in May 2022 and run through December 2022, with the possibility of an extension through June 2023. Contact me for additional information: [email protected]

CORRECTION DATE FOR TOWN HALL - In the last monthly newsletter from the Board of Commissioners, it stated that I would be holding a virtual townhall on April 27th. However, that is the same date as the next Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees meeting. Because I want you to have the opportunity to be engaged and involved in both, I have rescheduled my town hall for Tuesday, April 26th from 6-7pm. Register and submit questions you want me to address by clicking here.

Finally, as I enter the final year of my first term, I feel proud of the work done so far and I hope to be able to continue this good and effective work on behalf of District 4 – Pittsfield Township - in the future. Thank you for your support and confidence in my abilities to be your servant-leader.

I wish you all a happy and joyous spring!

Caroline Sanders
Commissioner, District 4

The Creation of the Community Priority Fund

On March 2nd, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the second usage of American Rescue Plan funds. This package approved the launching of a mobile service support initiative that will connect resources and providers to neighborhoods, an investment in the health departments' efforts to respond to COVID and address longstanding social determinants of health, and the creation of a Community Priority Fund.

The Community Priority Fund (CPF) is a strategic initiative funded by the Board of Commissioners to increase equitable, community-informed allocations of ARPA funding, and to support full, ecosystem development for organizations that have not been previously eligible to contract with Washtenaw County. This fund will support innovative programs across a number of topic areas, including community violence intervention, addressing educational disparities, expanding early childhood education, providing direct assistance to households, and addressing housing and homelessness. All programs are required to support low access to opportunity areas, primarily in the 48197 and 48198 zip codes.

The County's Racial Equity Office opened a portal for interested organizations and businesses to submit their proposals in March that closed last week. The next step of this process will be for county staff, a community advisory board, and the county administrator to review proposals and provide recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. More updates will be provided on the County's website in the coming weeks and months.

Health Department Continues Serving Our Community

During the first three months of the year, we crossed the two-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 cases in Washtenaw County. Entering 2022, we are in a very different spot, but are still responding to the ongoing health and economic impacts of the pandemic. The Board has continued to receive regular updates from Health Officer Jimena Loveluck and support the actions of the Health Department.

Some of the news activities of the Health Department include:

Hosting a series of virtual community events about the latest COVID-19 news in English and Spanish.
Partnering with local groups to bring free KN95 masks and test kits to community members. From Jan-Feb 2022, we gave out over 113,000 KN95 masks and over 28,000 at-home tests! Read more about this initiative here, and watch this video with highlights from the events!
Hosting ongoing COVID-19 vaccine clinics
Health Officer Jimena Loveluck being honored as the United Way Washtenaw County Woman of the Year. Check out this great WEMU 89.1 interview where Jimena talks with David Fair about her background in HIV/AIDS work and how those experiences prepared her to lead our county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Releasing their 2020 Annual Report
Putting out ongoing communications about the latest COVID-19 prevention/transmission guidance and information https://www.washtenaw.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2035

At their March 2nd meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a second expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funds, which included a substantial investment in the Health Department. The goal of the investment is to continue building a strong and equity-driven health department. This investment highlighted a number of different goals, including leading with data for equity and investing in healthy people, places, and neighborhoods. This will include hiring additional community health workers and public health nurses. While many of these positions and updates from the Board’s investment will occur later this year, they are actively hiring for other positions as well. Click here to learn more!

Other Updates from the First Quarter

Click each title to read the full update: