Message from the Administrator 

Prior to the March 13th Board of Commissioners meeting, members of Lenawee County Farm Bureau provided lunch to board and heard from representatives of Farm Bureau about issues important to the agricultural community of the county.  This is an annual event that has been held for many years and provides an opportunity for an exchange of information that is valuable to board members.  Thank you to the members of Farm Bureau that give of their time, talents and resources to inform the board.  

During the board meeting, Bill Sleight, director of Michigan Works! Southeast, presented their annual report that addressed the makeup of the region and the annual highlights of the agency.  They were able to meet and exceed all federally required performance standards as they work to provide employment opportunities, connect employers to workers and improve the skillset of the workforce.  Michigan Works! Southeast serves a five county region with a population of approximately 860,000.  

At the same March 13th meeting, Lenawee County Drain Commissioner Jennifer Escott presented the Drain Commissioner’s Annual Report to the Board of Commissioners.  The report detailed the activities of the Drain Commission for the year and the resulting levies to pay for drainage projects.  In 2018, the Drain Commission completed work on 221 drains and 2 lake levels with projects totaling $1,337,736.13 for the year.  The office is responsible for maintaining proper drainage in 711 drainage districts and maintains lake levels on seven lakes in the county.  

Looking to the future, the board approved an agreement with The Collaborative to identify the scope and estimated cost of potential projects for Phase II of the Complex Capital Improvement Project.  Elements of Phase II include, but are not limited to, digital records management, updating electrical, mechanical and structural elements of the historic courthouse, providing for facilities for the Medical Examiner, and repurposing the Annex Building.  Much like Phase I, with the Sheriff Building rebuild, there are many parts to each of these elements and the final scope and shape of Phase II is yet to be set.  

The objective of all of these projects is to maintain and improve facilities and infrastructure to meet the needs of Lenawee County residents.  And to have county improvements they can be proud of.   

Lenawee County is participating with eight other counties, two in Michigan, three in Ohio and three in Indiana, to monitor and respond to plans to draw water from the MichIndOh aquifer.  This is a glacial aquifer under the counties where Michigan, Ohio and Indiana join.  The aquifer provides water private and municipal wells in the affected counties and plans to draw water from the aquifer for sale and distribution outside the area are a concern to residents and local governments.