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Oakland County Joins Regional Partnerships for Water Infrastructure and Broadband

(Oakland County, Feb. 26, 2022)

Pontiac, MI – The Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to establish two partnership groups with Macomb and Wayne Counties at its meeting on Feb. 3. The Macomb County Board of Commissioners and Wayne County Commission have both adopted similar resolutions. The partnership groups, which are called the “Regional Partnership for Broadband Infrastructure and Equity” and the “Regional Partnership for Water Infrastructure,” will establish a framework to address a wide range of internet and broadband accessibility and water infrastructure challenges facing the Southeast Michigan region.

“With these groups, we have the opportunity to ensure equity on a much larger scale than if we were working independently,” Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) said. “The social and economic challenges associated with internet accessibility and water infrastructure don’t recognize our local boundaries, so it is up to us to work in a way that improves life for our residents now and creates sustainable solutions for the future.”

The three counties will form two steering committees with voting representatives from each Commission to provide direction and oversight. The committees may also include subject matter experts and non-voting members representing county departments. The two groups will gather studies and create recommendations for action, which will culminate in a presentation to be made at the 2022 Tri-County Summit.

“The important regional collaboration of the Tri-County Summit continues with formation of these two key work groups, led by motivated County Commissioners seeking solutions to fundamental problems facing our region,” Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chair Don Brown (R-Washington Twp.) said. “Access to broadband for education and commerce as well as water infrastructure are fundamental to the continued success of SE Michigan. I’m looking forward to their reports.”

The groups are a result of the 2021 Tri-County Summit, which was hosted by all three counties on November 12, 2021, to gain insight and collaborate on finding regional solutions to shared issues.

“We relaunched the Summit with great success in 2021 and we look forwarding to building on our momentum and expanding our scope,” said Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell (D-Detroit). “Our topic areas are very appropriate and timely and cross over all of our communities.”

For more information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc or call 248-858-0100.