Oakland County Earns AAA Bond Rating
Oakland County Earns AAA Bond Rating
- Bonds will finance a multi-million-dollar ground water storage facility in Oakland Township.
- Moody’s and S&P awarded the county their highest credit ratings as the University of Michigan prepares to release county’s three-year economic outlook.
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County has earned a AAA bond rating on the eve of the University of Michigan releasing its three-year economic forecast for the county. Moody’s Ratings Services and Standard & Poor’s awarded their highest credit ratings to the county for its $5.43 million Oakland County Oakland Township Water Supply System Improvements Bonds, Series 2022.
“The ratings agencies reaffirmed our budgeting practices and how we’ve managed our economy through challenging times,” County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We are in all ways, moving the county forward.”
The University of Michigan will detail how Oakland County’s economy is performing when it delivers the three-year economic outlook Thursday.
Oakland County Treasurer Robert Wittenberg said Oakland County remains fiscally strong.
“The ongoing collaboration with County Executive Coulter and Commissioner Nash and our unwavering commitment to safeguard taxpayer dollars and revive our economy, enables us to retain our exemplary bond rating and improve our water supply system,” Wittenberg said. “The Treasurer’s Office’s efforts to optimize our investment yields, help Oakland County residents and business owners retain their properties, and solid delinquent tax collections contributed to the county’s strong cash position and liquidity.”
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office operates and maintains Oakland Township’s seven Type 1 water systems. The bonds will finance the construction of a new ground water storage tank facility and the required pumps, generators, control systems, and site improvements to operate the systems. When construction is complete, Oakland Township will meet the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s requirements for water systems with more than 150 living units.
“My office is proud to be a part of this project and to have the ability to reduce the rates for Oakland Township residents over time,” Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said. “In collaboration with the township, we are confident this solution will allow for additional capacity while helping us protect the environment regionally during heavy rains.”
The Oakland County Oakland Township Water Supply System Improvements Bonds, Series 2022 will bond for 30 years to reduce the impact of the annual rate increases to the township’s 780 water customers. The bonds go on sale on May 11.
Want to see more pictures like this, taken by Michigan state parks photo ambassador 
Whether it’s a walk through your neighborhood or a hike in the wilderness, or something in between, getting outside can help lower stress and improve attention, mood and connection to the earth and each other. Nature comes in all shapes and forms, and no matter how you engage with it, nature can have incredible benefits for our brains.
They’re found in every county in our state, but you still might be tempted to go full cloak-and-dagger or blindfold your friends before heading out to your favorite spot – it’s that time of year, the annual Michigan treasure hunt that is morel month!
Learn the basics about morel mushrooms from the DNR at 
While most people run away from a blazing wildfire, highly trained DNR wildland firefighters are ready to head toward danger to protect people, property and nature – and they have the knowledge and tools to do the job right.
DNR firefighters also work to improve wildlife habitat with carefully planned prescribed burns, share fire prevention tips with communities, prevent future fires by creating fire breaks (areas around vulnerable communities cleared of vegetation and combustible material to stop the spread of wildfire) and remove hazardous trees from woodland roads.
If you’re looking for something new offering a lot of learning and always a little fun, give a listen to the DNR’s “Wildtalk” podcast, released on the first of each month.
A quiet spot in your backyard, a thicket or a patch of tall grass – these all are places where fawns have been found. If you do come across a fawn this spring, don’t touch it. There’s a very good chance it is right where it’s supposed to be.
Spongy moth populations were high last year across Lower Michigan, and many people are wondering whether the nuisance caterpillars will be plaguing their backyard events again in 2022. To find out, 
Nucleopolyhedrosis virus occurs naturally in all spongy moth populations. NPV spreads through contact between caterpillars during outbreaks, causing a population crash. To determine whether NPV is at work in a certain location, look for dead caterpillars attached to tree trunks in an upside-down “V” position.
First, check the spongy moth forecast for your neighborhood by looking for healthy egg masses now, before leaves expand. Healthy egg masses are larger than a quarter in size, tan or brownish in color and firm to the touch. Few egg masses and/or small (nickel-size) egg masses indicate the population is collapsing because the NPV pathogen is increasing. Old, no longer productive egg masses, like those in the above photo, are often abundant after an outbreak year and should not be counted. These masses are usually whiteish in color, may be falling apart and may have pin-size holes in the mass. An abundance of healthy egg masses suggests a heavy infestation of spongy moth caterpillars this season.
