by Becky Andrus | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020
CONTACT: Diane Cross, MDOT Office of Communications, [email protected]
Northbound M-24 closing at Drahner Road as work begins in downtown Oxford in northern Oakland County
COUNTY:
Oakland
COMMUNITIES: Orion Township
Oxford Township
Village of Lake Orion
Village of Oxford
ROADWAY:
M-24 (Lapeer Road)
START DATE:
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
7 a.m.
PROJECT COMPLETION DATE:
Late fall 2020
PROJECT DETAILS:
Beginning Monday, the next phase of work will begin in downtown Oxford and requires closing northbound M-24 from Drahner Road to Harriet Street through late fall. The work at the M-24/Drahner Road intersection will now move to the west side of the intersection for approximately a month. This will close through-traffic and prohibit left turns from northbound M-24 to westbound Drahner Road; traffic will be detoured to eastbound Drahner Road. Southbound M-24 traffic will have one lane open from Harriet Street to Drahner Road and will not be able to go westbound on Drahner Road; traffic will be detoured to westbound Burdick Road.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing $33 million to reconstruct and resurface parts of M-24 in Oakland County. The project limits along M-24 are between Goldengate Street in Orion Township to Harriet Street in Oxford Township, with the villages of Oxford and Lake Orion also being affected.
Project map
TRAFFIC DETAILS:
Northbound M-24 has one lane open from Goldengate Street to Drahner Road through late fall. Beginning Monday, northbound M-24 will be closed at Drahner Road and detoured. Traffic will be detoured via eastbound Drahner Road to northbound Oxford Lake Drive, then northbound on Glaspie Street/Oxford Road to westbound Ray Road, then back to M-24.
Southbound M-24 will have one lane open from Harriet Street to Goldengate Street through late fall.
Work beginning Monday will block access from southbound M-24 to westbound Drahner Road through June. The detour is southbound M-24 to westbound Burdick Road, then southbound Pontiac Street back to Drahner Road.
Eastbound Drahner Road will be detoured via northbound Pontiac Street to eastbound Burdick Street, then southbound Glaspie Street to southbound Oxford Lake Drive, back to Drahner Road.
Westbound Drahner Road will be detoured via northbound Oxford Lake Drive to northbound Glaspie Street, then westbound Burdick Street to southbound Pontiac Street, back to Drahner Road.
Once the Drahner Road intersection is completed, work will be performed at the M-24/Burdick Road intersection, along with other side streets. Stay informed about this project at www.RestoreM24.info; e-mail updates can be requested at the website.
SAFETY BENEFIT:
Extending the center left-turn lanes, improving the pavement surface, adjusting lane widths, and consolidating driveways will increase motorist safety by reducing the number of crashes in this area.
These bridge repairs will provide a smoother driving surface and will extend the life of the structure.
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.
by Becky Andrus | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized
Media Contact:
Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, May 29, 2020
AG Nessel Supports Legislative Effort to Re-engage Economy Safely
LANSING – As Michigan begins to re-engage its economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, Attorney General Dana Nessel is stating her support for several bills that were recently introduced in the Michigan Legislature aimed at improving workplace safety.
Sens. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit; Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield; Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit; Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids; and Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, last week introduced bills in the Legislature aimed at protecting workers and public health as Michigan begins to reopen its economy. Similar bills were introduced in the House by Democratic representatives.
“I fully support the steps my partners in the Legislature are taking to ensure workers are safe when they return to work, and the bills they have introduced deserve strong consideration for adoption,” Nessel said. “This pandemic has strained Michigan’s economy, and we all understand the significance of re-engaging our workforce and the important role those hard-working employees play for the financial health of our state. But we must make certain that as we reopen our economy, we do so in a way that maintains protections for employees and ensures Michigan’s economic recovery from this public health emergency is not unnecessarily prolonged.”
- Senate Bill 928 (McCann): Presumes essential workers who test positive for COVID-19, without knowing their time of infection, contracted the virus during their employment and are therefore eligible for workers’ compensation benefits;
- Senate Bill 929 (Chang): Encourages collaboration among MIOSHA and other state regulatory agencies to create general industry standards to mitigate COVID-19 exposure in the workplace and increases MIOSHA fines and penalties to strengthen accountability;
- Senate Bill 930 (Santana): Protects employees from adverse action if they report unsafe work conditions to MIOSHA;
- Senate Bill 931 (Moss): Protects employees from adverse action if they are unable to come into work for a number of reasons related to COVID-19; and
- Senate Bill 932 (Brinks): Requires employers to obtain, publicly post and make readily available to employees a list of testing sites from their local public health department.
Michigan has had nearly 5,400 deaths from COVID-19 and more than 56,000 confirmed cases, according to the latest figures. The sweeping pandemic led to the closure of nonessential business operations throughout the state, though some regions and economic sectors are beginning to reopen as the spread of the virus slows.
More information on COVID-19 and Michigan’s plan to re-engage its economy can be found here.
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by Becky Andrus | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2020
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
MDHHS issues Requests for Proposals for
Children’s Trust Fund Direct Service program
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and its Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) have issued a Request for Proposals (RFPs) to deliver services to prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Direct Service – Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Program is open to local or statewide public, private or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. The program funds community-based, secondary direct prevention programs and services designed to promote strong, nurturing families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Grants funded through the program should target families that have risks or challenges in their lives that, if left unattended, could result in parenting and child development difficulties, creating a risk of child abuse or neglect.
“Prevention is the key to keeping children safe and in their homes with their families,” said JooYeun Chang, executive director of the MDHHS Children’s Services Agency. “MDHHS wants to reduce the risk of child abuse or neglect and lessen our reliance on placing children in foster care. These grants will allow local and statewide organizations to help achieve that goal.”
A total of $400,000 is available through this RFP. CTF anticipates issuing up to eight awards.
Funded applicants will receive ongoing technical assistance from the MDHHS-CTF Direct Service project coordinator. Technical assistance will include help with program start-up, reporting requirements and barriers to program implementation.
Applicants must submit applications for initial review and endorsement by a CTF local council. The deadline to submit applications electronically through the MI E-Grants program for this initial review is June 24 by 3 p.m. Applications endorsed by local councils will be forwarded to MDHHS by July 1 by 3 p.m. The program period is Oct 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.
For more information or to apply, visit the MI E-Grants website and select “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete RFP can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Childrens Trust Fund Direct Service” link and selecting the “DS-2021” grant program.
by Becky Andrus | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES ISSUE ORDER TO CLOSE PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS – Closure to include pools in recreational centers, apartments, and hotels
WAYNE COUNTY – the City of Detroit Health Department, Wayne County Public Health Division, Oakland County Health Division and Macomb County Health Department each issued Public Health Orders requiring all swimming pools licensed by each jurisdiction to remain closed indefinitely.
These orders are issued under the Michigan Public Health Code to safeguard Southeast Michigan residents from potential transmission of COVID-19. Pool operators will be required to continue scheduled maintenance in accordance with the Michigan Administrative Rule.
With temperatures rising, swimming pools have potential to attract large groups. As regional leaders, we are committed to doing the right thing, and closing pools is the right thing to do to protect the health and safety of residents and prevent the spread of the virus.
This effort is also intended to help reduce the potential of a summer spike in new COVID-19 cases that could prevent schools from opening in the fall.
Although pool water poses a low risk of transmitting COVID-19, it is difficult to maintain social distance in and around pools, as well as in the associated facilities- enclosures, deck areas and sanitary facilities.
Licensed pools include those in apartments, condominiums, and hotels. Other recreational pools include, but are not limited to dive pools, wave pools, and water slide pools. Therapy pools used strictly for treatment in healthcare settings are excluded from this closure.
Upon re-opening, pool operators must contact their respective Public Health Authority for an opening inspection to ensure the health and safety of residents, including the required water sample analysis.
Public health agencies continue to encourage residents to do their part to protect themselves and others by practicing social distancing and following basic prevention steps:
- Wash hands with soap & water frequently; use hand sanitizer when soap & water are not available
- Cover your mouth and nose with your inner elbow when you cough of sneeze
- Wear a mask while out in public areas
- Stay home if you are feeling sick
For a copy of the orders and more information on COVID-19 Response:
by Becky Andrus | May 29, 2020 | Uncategorized
Contact: Matt Helms 517-284-8300
Michigan’s regulated utilities have agreed to extend, through mid-June, the shutoff protections, flexible payment plans and other options they’ve offered to help customers struggling to pay utility bills because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Utilities, including the state’s two largest Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, have extended protections for vulnerable customers through June 12, 2020, following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of her Stay Safer at Home order through that date. Filings with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) were made by utilities this week in Case No. U-20757 to extend these protections and provide more certainty for customers.
The MPSC in April directed regulated electric and natural gas utilities to file affirmations that certain minimum customer protections were in place. The MPSC’s regulatory jurisdiction does not include municipally owned utilities or rural electric co-operatives, but most of these utilities have observed the call for minimum protections and assistance, which include:
- Suspending disconnections for Michigan’s most vulnerable populations, low-income and senior customers and waiving late fees for eligible low-income customers receiving energy assistance. This includes households facing sudden losses of income or employment because of the pandemic.
- Allowing for customers exposed to, infected by or quarantined because of COVID-19 to be eligible for a 30-day medical hold to avoid a disconnection of service.
- Waiving deposits and reconnection fees for low-income customers, seniors and customers experiencing financial hardship related to COVID-19 and seeking restoration of electric or gas service.
- Extending access to and availability of flexible payment plans to customers financially impacted by COVID-19, and providing customer assistance personnel with the resources necessary to connect customers to available financial assistance and social service agencies.
“The MPSC is encouraged by the utilities’ continued cooperation in assisting customers needing help during such challenging times,” said MPSC Chairman Sally Talberg. “We urge anyone struggling to pay their utility bill to reach out now for help.”
Anyone under financial distress because of COVID-19 is asked to be proactive by:
- Contacting your utility or propane supplier right away to find out what kind of protections, funding, flexible payment options, or energy saving tools and resources are available.
- Calling 211 or go to www.mi211.org for information about getting help paying your utility bills or how to contact agencies that may assist you with your energy bill.
- Applying for State Emergency Relief directly through MI Bridges for bill payment assistance or call 855-275-6424. You can also get assistance with the applications process by calling 211 to be referred to a Michigan Energy Assistance Program grantee that can help.
- Applying for a Home Heating Credit. Visit the Michigan Department of Treasury’s website to see if you qualify. Even though this funding is distributed by the Department of Treasury, you do not need to pay taxes or wait for a tax return to receive this credit, so apply now if you are eligible. For more information, read the MPSC’s Home Heating Credit consumer tip.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at www.michigan.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
