HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2026.03.11 - 42801
AGENDA ITEM: Request to Allocate Additional Funding for the Increase of Marine Safety Patrols on
Oakland County Lakes Program for 2026-2028 Boating Seasons
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 6:00 PM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2026-6201
Motion to authorize the appropriation of $50,000 per year to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office
Marine Unit to increase safety patrols on Oakland County Lakes during the 2026-2028 boating
season; further, a report detailing expenditures and performance metrics, such as locations where
the increased patrols were utilized, and the impact of patrols, shall be forwarded to the Public Health
and Safety Committee after each season; further, that due to the demonstrated success of the pilot
program, the program shall transition from pilot status to a permanent program to continue the
commitment of increasing safety of Oakland County residents; further, amend the FY 2026 - 2028
budget as detailed in the attached Schedule A.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Resolution Karen Joliat
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The Marine Unit responds to marine complaints, boating accidents, search and rescue, drownings,
and water related accidents covering 450 navigable lakes, five major rivers, 3,000 miles of shoreline
covering almost 70 square miles of water and is required to respond to emergency and
nonemergency calls throughout the county and is mandated by state and federal legislation to
provide search and recovery of drowning victims from any body of water in Oakland County. With
the continued backing of the Board of Commissioners, the Marine Unit has advanced a proactive,
prevention-first safety strategy that measurably enhances the protection and well-being of county
residents.
In 2022, the Board of Commissioners approved the creation of a Marine Safety Patrol Assigned
Fund Balance (GL Account 38551) within the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit in the
amount of $50,000 to increase marine safety patrols for the 2022 boating season on Oakland
County lakes, via MR #22-241. The OCSO did not request additional funds for the 2023 boating
season because they were awarded the FY 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Enhancement Grant funding in the amount of $250,000, via resolution #2023-2775. This was a one-
time grant opportunity. The pilot program continued in 2024 & 2025, with a one-time appropriation of
$100,000 via resolution #2023-3561.
Reports detailing expenditures and performance metrics were included on the Public Health and
Safety agenda as a communication item on March 14, 2023, and December 2, 2025. The report
from December 2, 2025, detailed the success of the program and allocated funding; Identifying how
the increased patrol (1) allowed for numerous opportunities to educate boaters on safe boating,
proper use, fitment, and age requirements of PFDs (Personal Flotation Device), as well as curb
improper and illegal boating operations that are unsafe or could cause damage to the environment,
(2) allowed for an increase of marine safety patrols by 24.2% on Cass Lake, our largest lake, has
historically accounted for the majority of the marine incidents due to alcohol, unsafe operation, and
disorderly behavior, and (3) allowed for targeted patrols on high-priority lakes, like Cass Lake, Lake
Orion, Lake Oakland, White Lake, and Woodhull Lake. From May - September 2025, the Board of
Commissioners' funding allowed for a wide range of activity including, but not limited to, 925 patrol
hours, 482 Safety inspections, 103 Citizen Assists, 499 warnings, and 1181 contact interactions.
Oakland County lakes have seen a significant reduction in these incidents in 2025 due to the
continued presence of additional deputies on these lakes, made possible by the grant provided by
the Board of Commissioners.
Due to great success in all four (4) years of the pilot program, it is requested that the Marine Safety
Patrols Program become a permanent Board of Commissioners supported program.
FISCAL IMPACT: Budget Amendment Attached
Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Karen Joliat, Commissioner
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 3/11/2026
AGENDA DEADLINE: 02/25/2026 4:30 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. BOC - Additional Funding for Marine Safety Patrols on OC Lakes Program - Schedule A -
Updated 03.10
2. Marine Summary 2025
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2026-02-19 Full Board - Refer to Public Health & Safety
2026-03-03 Public Health & Safety - Forward to Finance
2026-03-04 Finance - Recommend to Board
2026-03-04 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Christine Long
Seconded by: Commissioner Linnie Taylor
Yes: Charles Cavell, Ann Erickson Gault, Marcia Gershenson, Robert Hoffman, Karen Joliat,
Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen Markham, Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell, Robert Smiley,
Yolanda Smith Charles, Michael Spisz, Linnie Taylor, Philip Weipert, David Woodward (16)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Michael Gingell, Brendan Johnson, William Miller III (3)
Passed
Oakland County, Michigan
Board of Commissioners - Request to Allocate Additional Funding for the Increase of Marie Safety Patrols on Oakland County Lakes Program for 2026-2028 Boating Seasons
Schedule "A" DETAIL
R/E Fund Name Division Name
Fund #
(FND)Cost Center (CCN) #
Account #
(RC/SC)
Program #
(PRG)
Grant ID
(GRN) #
Project
ID #
(PROJ)
Region
(REG)
Budget
Fund
Affiliate
(BFA)
Ledger
Account
Summary Account Title
FY 2026
Amendment
FY 2027
Amendment
FY 2028
Amendment
R General Fund Non Departmental Operations FND10100 CCN9010101 RC665882 PRG196030 665882 Planned Use of Fund Balance $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $50,000.00
Total Revenues $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $50,000.00
E General Fund Sheriff Patrol Services FND10100 CCN4030601 SC702010 PRG116200 702000 Salaries Regular 47,450.00 47,450.00 47,450.00
E General Fund Sheriff Patrol Services FND10100 CCN4030601 SC722740 PRG116200 722000 Fringe Benefits Expense 2,550.00 2,550.00 2,550.00
Total Expenditures $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $50,000.00
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
OAKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF
MARINE DIVISION
2025 - SUMMARY
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
OVERVIEW
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division received $50,000 of additional
funding for marine safety patrols on Oakland County Lakes for 2025. The increased
patrol allowed for numerous opportunities to educate boaters on safe boating, proper
use, fitment, and age requirements of PFDs (Personal Flotation Device), as well as curb
improper and illegal boating operations that are unsafe or could cause damage to the
environment. The additional patrol hours were used to successfully improve the
recreational boating experience for individuals and families living on the lake as well as
the general boating public.
The Marine Unit responds to marine complaints, boating accidents, search and rescue,
drownings, and water related accidents covering 450 navigable lakes, five major rivers,
3,000 miles of shoreline covering almost 70 square miles of water and is required to
respond to emergency and nonemergency calls throughout the county and is mandated
by state and federal legislation to provide search and recovery of drowning victims from
any body of water in Oakland County.
SUMMARY
The additional funding received allowed for an increase of marine safety patrols by
24.2%. Cass Lake, our largest lake, has historically accounted for the majority of the
marine incidents due to alcohol, unsafe operation, and disorderly behavior. The
additional grant funding has allowed for targeted patrols on high priority lakes, like Cass
Lake, Lake Orion, Lake Oakland, White Lake, and Woodhull Lake. These lakes have
seen a significant reduction in these incidents for 2025 due to the continued presence of
additional deputies on these lakes made possible by the grant provided by the Board of
Commissioners.
Attached to this report are the expenditure details for this grant funding.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONER GRANT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER
2025
Cass 386 356 21 242 16 159 84
Lakeville 130 145 2 13 1 6 3
Orion 108 185 8 104 7 107 5
Oakland 10 17 0 9 0 14 0
Pontiac 7 14 0 8 0 7 0
Union 13 18 1 7 1 5 0
Walled 135 179 2 22 1 77 6
Woodhull 8 12 0 8 0 0 0
White 128 255 0 86 3 107 5
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Marine Deputy Patrol Activity
Calls for Service (CFS) – Marine Division 842
Hours of Jump Patrol 1752
Hours of Contracted Lake Patrol 2070
Marine Citations 142
Marine Warnings 1710
Citizen Assists 270
Public Meetings (Citizens in attendance) 945
Boat Livery Inspections
Boat Liveries Inspected 17
Total Livery Boats Inspected 586
Non-motorboats Inspected 570
Motorboats 16
Fees collected $32
Failed Vessels 5
Failed Equipment 40
Illegal operation of Livery 4
Marine Education Programs
Boater Safety Students 344
Hunting Safety Students 474
Snowmobile Safety Students 5
ORV Safety Students 5 _
Total Students: 848
CONTRACT LAKE PATROLS MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
CASS LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 1060
Number of Contacts 998
Number of Tickets 59
Number of Warnings 784
Number of Complaints 10
Number of Safety Inspections 817
OWI Arrests 1
Calls for Service 48
Citizen Assists 74
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
CEDAR ISLAND LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 40.5
Number of Contacts 51
Number of Tickets 2
Number of Warnings 26
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 33
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 2
Citizen Assists 3
COMMERCE LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 8
Number of Contacts 7
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 4
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 0
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 0
Citizen Assists 0
DEER LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 60
Number of Contacts 96
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 30
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 52
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 0
Citizen Assists 2
ELIZABETH LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 24
Number of Contacts 39
Number of Tickets 1
Number of Warnings 19
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 21
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 1
Citizen Assists 1
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
LAKE SHERWOOD CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 31.5
Number of Contacts 38
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 17
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 21
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 0
Citizen Assists 0
MACEDAY LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 61
Number of Contacts 58
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 22
Number of Complaints 1
Number of Safety Inspections 39
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 1
Citizen Assists 3
ORCHARD LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 206.5
DNR Boat Launch Hours 58.5
Number of Contacts 404
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 102
Number of Complaints 1
Number of Safety Inspections 130
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 8
Citizen Assists 17
LAKEVILLE LAKE CONTRACT / STATS MAY – September 2025
Patrol Hours 44
Number of Contacts 15
Number of Tickets 1
Number of Warnings 7
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 10
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 0
Citizen Assists 2
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
LAKE ORION CONTRACT / STATS MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 195
Number of Contacts 212
Number of Tickets 21
Number of Warnings 195
Number of Complaints 16
Number of Safety Inspections 168
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 2
Citizen Assists 10
PINE LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 95
Number of Contacts 138
Number of Tickets 2
Number of Warnings 68
Number of Complaints 9
Number of Safety Inspections 110
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 1
Citizen Assists 14
SYLVAN LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 125.75
Number of Contacts 90
Number of Tickets 1
Number of Warnings 32
Number of Complaints 0
Number of Safety Inspections 48
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 3
Citizen Assists 4
VOORHEIS LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 122.5
Number of Contacts 118
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 45
Number of Complaints 1
Number of Safety Inspections 66
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 1
Citizen Assists 5
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
WALLED LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 165.5
Number of Contacts 165
Number of Tickets 2
Number of Warnings 90
Number of Complaints 3
Number of Safety Inspections 101
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 3
Citizen Assists 27
WALNUT LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 90.5
Number of Contacts 85
Number of Tickets 1
Number of Warnings 48
Number of Complaints 1
Number of Safety Inspections 51
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 0
Citizen Assists 0
WHITE LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 188.25
Number of Contacts 202
Number of Tickets 2
Number of Warnings 110
Number of Complaints 2
Number of Safety Inspections 153
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 7
Citizen Assists 15
WILLIAMS LAKE CONTRACT STATS / MAY – SEPTEMBER 2025
Patrol Hours 90.5
Number of Contacts 82
Number of Tickets 0
Number of Warnings 37
Number of Complaints 2
Number of Safety Inspections 58
OWI Arrests 0
Calls for Service 1
Citizen Assists 2