Oakland County Executive Biweekly Newsletter
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Bottle Deposit Returns to Phase Back In
Treasury: Bottle Deposit Returns to Phase Back In; Bottle Return Facilities to Resume Operations on June 15
Contact: Ron Leix 517-335-2167
Today, Treasury issued a Notice Regarding Phased Reestablishment of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Return Program. Beginning June 15, 2020, some retailers must reopen their bottle return facilities and resume the collection of returnable beverage containers and refund of customer bottle deposits. This applies to retailers with bottle return facilities located at the front of the store or housed in a separate area and serviced exclusively by reverse vending machines requiring minimal or no person-to-person contact.
Retailers reopening their bottle return facilities must ensure those facilities comply with all state-mandated safety protocols and restrictions, including the most recent state-mandated safeguards to protect workers.
In addition, retailers may take any or all of the following steps:
- Limit the number of beverage containers that may be returned by a single individual per day to a deposit refund amount of $25, pursuant to MCL 445.572(10).
- Establish special or limited hours of operation for bottle return facilities.
- Limit the number of available and operating reverse vending machines.
- Periodically close bottle deposit facilities as needed for cleaning and supply management.
- Implement such other procedures or restrictions as each retailer may determine are necessary or advisable to promote safety and/or efficiency.
During this initial phase, retailers must limit the volume of weekly returned beverage containers to no more than 140 percent of their average weekly collection volume for the period April and May 2019.
Consumers have the option of recycling their returnable beverage containers if they choose not to return them to a bottle deposit redemption facility.
Treasury will issue further guidance regarding additional phases of the reestablishment of the bottle deposit program in the near future.
The collection of returnable beverage containers was temporarily suspended via Executive Order No. 2020-21, issued by Governor Whitmer on March 23, 2020. The temporary suspension supported Michigan’s fight against the coronavirus by permitting grocery stores and other retailers to immediately shift employees from container collection and deposit redemption duties to other areas where they were more urgently needed, and to protect the health and safety of retailers, their employees, and all Michigan citizens.
Questions regarding the phase-in of the reestablished bottle return program can be directed to [email protected].
To stay informed on the latest information from Treasury follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Bridge beam setting to close Rochester Road
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, [email protected]
Bridge beam setting to close Rochester Road under I-75 starting Wednesday in Oakland County
Fast facts: – Starting Wednesday morning, crews will begin setting bridge beams on the southbound I-75 bridge over Rochester Road. – Rochester Road will close under I-75 daily starting at 9 a.m. and ending by 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4. – The northbound I-75 exit and entrance ramps at Rochester Road will be closed at the same time for safety reasons.
June 2, 2020 — Weather permitting, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) contracting crews will be closing both directions of Rochester Road under I-75 to set bridge beams 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily on Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4. During the beam setting operation, the northbound I-75 exit and entrance ramps at Rochester Road will be closed for safety reasons.
During the closure, detours for Rochester Road will be posted in each direction using Livernois, Maple, and Big Beaver roads. Northbound I-75 traffic can exit at 14 Mile or Adams roads. Access to northbound I-75 will be maintained at Crooks Road/Corporate Drive.
Follow I-75 modernization progress on the web at www.Modernize75.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Modernize75 or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Modernize75.
ESSENTIAL WORK: This road construction project is an essential function. Transportation workers in the field follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines to limit their risk of getting sick. |
Auto Insurance Refunds Due to COVID-19
Governor Whitmer, Department of Insurance and Financial Services Announce Order Requiring Auto Insurance Refunds Due to COVID-19
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) today announced that DIFS Director Anita Fox has ordered all auto insurers in Michigan to issue refunds or premium waivers to consumers as a result of insurance companies’ reduced risk due to extreme reductions in driving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Michiganders have been staying safe and staying home and they should see the benefit in reduced auto insurance rates during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Every family is feeling added financial pressure due to this virus, and this order will provide some much-needed relief to drivers.”
DIFS Order No. 2020-10-M sets a deadline of June 10, 2020, for insurers to submit filings that include the refund or premium waiver amount, information on how that amount was determined, and how consumers will receive payments. It also requires communication plans to inform customers about the refund and the options available to those with long term changes in driving habits, for example those who have been laid off or are telecommuting.
“This order will ensure all insurers are issuing appropriate refunds or premium waivers to their customers,” said Fox. “Consumers may realize additional savings by modifying their policies to reflect their current driving habits. Drivers should contact their agent to discuss garaging a car or making other changes to save on their premiums.”
DIFS can assist consumers with questions or disputes that cannot be directly resolved with their insurer. Contact DIFS Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 833-ASK-DIFS (275-3437) or by emailing [email protected].
The premium waivers or refunds are in addition to any savings resulting from the upcoming changes to Michigan’s auto insurance law, which has shown reductions to statewide average premiums for Personal Injury Protection medical coverage for policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2020. Visit Michigan.gov/autoinsurance for more details on changes to the law, a schedule of weekly town halls, and instructional videos on how to fill out new forms.
Information around the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
$300k+ In Grants Available For Oakland County-Based Manufacturers
$300k+ In Grants Available For Oakland County-Based Manufacturers That Provide Goods Or Services To Help Small Businesses Re-Open From COVID-19 Crisis
Pontiac, Michigan – “Saving Business, Saving Lives” grant applications are now available to Oakland County-based manufacturers who can provide materials or services needed by small businesses to safely re-open from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant applications are accepted beginning today for manufacturers or companies who can help play a role in the re-boot for thousands of Oakland County small businesses either through the manufacture of essential items such as sanitizers, protective equipment and barriers or touchless technologies, County Executive David Coulter said. The fund has more than $300,000 to distribute.
“As many of our small businesses prepare to re-engage with customers, they will find a vastly different environment than the one they knew several months ago,” Coulter said. “Customers and employees alike are concerned with their health and safety and want businesses to take the necessary steps to keep them protected as they regain their confidence. These grants will provide vital goods and services to our small businesses to help reassure customers their health and safety is a priority.”
Coulter, with support from the Board of Commissioners, has aggressively supported small businesses through the allocation of nearly $14 million to 3,500 small businesses seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants averaged nearly $4,000 from the small business stabilization fund. The “Saving Businesses, Saving Lives” grant is included in the nearly $14 million fund.
The county last week began distributing 10,000 “Oakland Together” COVID-19 safety toolkits which include facemasks, no-touch thermometers, gloves and sanitizer to give small businesses essential materials for reopening and customers confidence they will have a safe experience. The toolkits were available to small businesses, faith-based and nonprofit organizations.
With Oakland County and Michigan moving into Phase 4, this round of grants expands the search to companies that can play a role in helping Oakland County businesses reopen by providing unique processes, products and services that will help Oakland County’s small businesses reopen.
The “Saving Business, Saving Lives” grants extend the health and safety theme. Previous funding rounds were successful in helping companies produce personal protective equipment such as face shields and masks for first responders and health care workers. Nearly $520,000 was awarded to 13 companies.
The new grants also coordinate seamlessly with Phase 4 of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Safe Start for reopening the state’s economy as coronavirus cases continue to decline in Oakland County and the state.
“With Oakland County and Michigan moving into Phase 4, this round of grants expands the search to companies that can play a role in helping Oakland County businesses reopen by providing unique processes, products and services that will help Oakland County’s small businesses reopen,” Coulter said. “We are incentivizing businesses to help other businesses successfully reopen during this pandemic.”
Eligible products, processes or services include:
- Barriers and partitions
- Sanitizing services
- Disinfectant and hand sanitizer
- Fogging disinfectant systems for large areas
- Signage
- Portable stations (sanitizing and hand washing)
- Gloves
- Diagnostic tests or test kits for SARS-CoV-2
- Temperature testing equipment
- “Touchless” technologies
- Social distancing products
Companies must be based in Oakland County. Preference will be given to companies that manufacture or produce in Oakland County and Michigan. Companies should have the capability to produce a significant volume of the product or service within 30-90 days.
Eligible use of funds includes:
- Procuring necessary equipment to manufacture supplies
- Logistics, shipping, technology upgrades
- Other costs related to operationalizing new product lines.
Interested companies can apply for a grant at https://forms.oakgov.com/146. The deadline is June 15 at 12 a.m. For questions: [email protected].
Each grant application will be reviewed by a panel. The panel members are:
- Manager Alain Piette, MI-SBTDC Technology Team
- Dr. Carmine Jabri, co-founder of E.M.M.A. International Consulting Group, Inc.
- Jaideep Rajput, director of commercialization for Beaumont Health Services
- Michael W. Long, Ph.D., executive director of Oakland University Mobilization Zone
- Julie Killian, CPA, Clayton & McKervey
- Dan Radomski, director, Lawrence Technological University Centrepolis Accelerator
County Commissioners Janet Jackson, D-Southfield; William Miller, D-Farmington, and Michael Spisz, R-Oxford, are participating in an advisory role.