A Note from Commissioner Beeman
Greetings,
The Board of Commissioners has been working diligently to support our community as we re-emerge from the pandemic. 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. From allocating ARPA funds to getting broadband fiber in the ground, I am working hard to support the residents of District 3.
The Broadband Task Force continues to meet as we work to ensure every resident within Washtenaw County has access to reliable, high-speed internet. In recent weeks, the first speed test was completed for the first customer connected to the first completed leg of Washtenaw County ARPA-funded GAP Filling Fiber on Steinbach Road in Lima Township. The test proved the goal of 100Mb down by 20Mb up is being met with the newly installed fiber. Freedom Township and Manchester Township will not be far behind as Washtenaw County works to connect every resident – in District 3 and beyond – to reliable and affordable internet. To learn more, visit the Broadband Taskforce webpage: https://www.washtenaw.org/2867/Broadband-Task-Force
This month, the Manchester Township Planning Commission has voted down a proposed solar farm, which is a similar outcome to recent decisions in Bridgewater Township and Saline Township. While green energy is welcomed in Washtenaw County, local zoning ordinances in the area currently dictate the location of larger solar farms. Washtenaw County is working closely with residents to create a collaborative vision for carbon neutrality by 2035. Discover Resilient Washtenaw by visiting https://www.resilientwashtenaw.org, or you may wish to connect with the Washtenaw County Environmental Council: https://www.washtenaw.org/2845/Environmental-Council
We are currently at a medium-level of spread of COVID-19 in Washtenaw County. I wish to thank every resident who masked up and rolled up their sleeves to help us achieve this goal. Currently, the 6-month and up COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and is available through the Washtenaw County Health Department as well as local pediatric offices or pharmacies. For more information on COIVD-19 in Washtenaw County, visit: https://www.washtenaw.org/3095/COVID-19
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].
Sincerely,
Shannon Beeman
Washtenaw County Commissioner, District 3