HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2022.02.03 - 35234401AKLANWFT,
COUNTY MICHIGAN
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
February- 3, 2022
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #22-19
Sponsored By: Angela Powell, Gwen Markham, Marcia Gershenson, Charles Cavell. Pemiv Luebs, Michael
Spisz, Kristen Nelson, Janet Jackson
IN RE: Board of Commissioners - Resolution Appropriating Funding to Commemorate Elizabeth
Denison Forth as the First African American Landowner in Oakland County
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS in 1825, Elizabeth Denison Forth purchased 48.5 acres of land in Pontiac from the Pontiac
Company; and
WHEREAS one hundred and sixty-seven years later. a Michigan Historical Marker honoring Ms. Forth was
placed at the site of her former property, now part of Pontiac's Oak Hill Cemetery: and
WHEREAS Ms. Forth was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2017: and
WHEREAS enslaved in the Michigan Territory, Ms. Forth's story is one of freedom and triumph of an African
American woman in the late eighteenth century: and
WHEREAS her history shared in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties —marks the importance, and rare
narrative, of how an enslaved Black woman challenged the Territory's legal system, self -emancipated to
Canada, and returned years later as a free woman of color: and
WHEREAS while slavery persisted in the Michigan Territory, Ms. Forth ivas able to build personal wealth
from a combination of financial investments, including the land she purchased in Oakland County: and
WHEREAS one-time funding of $5.000 is available in the Board of Conunissioners' FY 2022 Budget
Professional Seivices Account (#£731458) to create two memorial historical signs and one memorial street sign
in the City of Pontiac.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland Comity Board of Commissioners authorizes one-
time funding of up to $5.000 from General Fund (#10100) Board of Commissioners' Professional Service
Account (#731458) to Commemorate Elizabeth Denison Forth as the first African American landowner in
Oakland County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners recognizes that by commemorating Ms.
Forth, we provide an opportunity for all residents in Oakland County to understand the legacy of slavery in our
County. and to appreciate how Ms. Forth's efforts opened opportunities for future African American
landowners.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a FY 2022 budget amendment is not required at this time.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Angela Powell, Given
Markham, Marcia Gershenson, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Michael Spisz, Kristen Nelson, Janet
Jackson.
�2,d
Date: February 11, 2022
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: February 11, 2022
David Coulter, Oakland County Executive
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Date: February 11 2022
Lisa Brown, County Clerk I Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-01-20 Full Board - referral to Legislative Affairs & Government Operations Committee
2022-01-25 Legislative Affairs K Government Operations - recommend to Board
2022-02-03 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Conirnissioner Gary McGillivray seconded by Cornrnissioner Philip Weipert to adopt the attached
Resolution: Appropriating Funding to Commemorate Elizabeth Denison Forth as the First African American
Landowner in Oakland County.
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Gingell. Michael Spisz. Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson. Eileen Kowall,
Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Gwen Mark -barn. Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn. Chuck Moss, Marcia
Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell. Pennv Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary
McGillivray, Robert Hoffrnan (20)
NO: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
The Motion Passed.
ATTACHMENTS
None
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 Cormnissioners on February 3. 2022.
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
Irr Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac.
Michigan on Thursday, February 3, 2022.
Lisa Bromi, Oakland CountY Clerk 1 Register ofDeeds