HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2021.05.13 - 34437MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #21169
BY: Commissioner Eileen Kowall, District #6
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF FOUR-YEAR TERMS FOR
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Ladies and Gentleman
WHEREAS the 1963 Michigan Constitution stipulated four-year terms for the county Board of Supervisors,
the preceding body to today's Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS the Legislature voted in 1966 to abolish Boards of Supervisors and formally replace them with
Boards of Commissioners after the 1968 elections; and
WHEREAS Public Act 261 of 1966 promulgated that the length of terms for the new county commissioners
shall be concurrent with that of state representatives, as specified in Article IV, section 3 of the Michigan
Constitution; and
WHEREAS Michigan is one of only five states in the United States that provides for exclusively two-year
terms for county commissioners; and
WHEREAS all other county and township elected officials in Michigan are elected to terms of at least four
years; and
WHEREAS County government in Michigan has evolved to a multi -faceted, complex form of local
government which delivers a multitude of diverse services to its citizens and municipalities; and
WHEREAS two-year terms for County Commissioners impede the smooth functioning of operations within
the Board of Commissioners as the biennial election cycle reduces the efficiency of the Board of
Commissioners; and
WHEREAS legislation to amend state law to enact four-year terms has been filed in the form of Senate Bills
242 and 245; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports the legislation as introduced.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports
passage of Senate Bills 242 and 245 to extend County Commissioner terms to four years.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward
copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the Lieutenant Governor, the
State Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, the Chairperson
of the State Senate's Committee on Local Government, the Oakland County members of the Michigan
Legislature, and the Michigan Association of Counties.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
i
Commissioner Eileen Kowall_
C District #6
Resolution #21169
April 29, 2021
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
There were no objections.
Resolution #21169 May 13, 2021
Moved by Kowall seconded by Nelson the resolution be adopted.
Discussion followed.
Vote on resolution:
AYES: Hoffman, Jackson, Joliat, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham,
McGillivray, Miller, Moss, Nelson, Powell, Weipert, Woodward, Charles, Gershenson, Gingell. (19)
NAYS: Cavell. (1)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution was adopted.
RESOD 110iq TO BECOME EFFECTIVE
WITHOUT COUNTY EXECUTIVE
SIGNATURE.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on May 13, 2021,
with the original record thereof now remaining In my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 131h day of May, 2021. 2'
Lisa Brown, Oakiand County