From the Administrator
Martin D. Marshall
If it seems to you like this winter will never end you may have sympathy with the wanted poster for Punxsutawney Phil in the Sheriff’s office in Monroe County. That is Monroe County, Pennsylvania not our neighbors to the east! Apparently, they think Phil’s forecast was a promise of ONLY six more weeks of winter and since it has run longer, he should be held accountable! However, it seems to be getting a little warmer each day so there is hope yet.
As we anticipate spring, we are also gearing up for a number of construction projects this summer. The Board of Commissioners has already approved changes to the county building at 113 West Front Street to accommodate the Sheriff’s Office employees while their building is being rebuilt. They also approved the temporary relocation of the Emergency Operations Center from its current location to the airport. This again is a move to facilitate the Sheriff’s Office rebuild.
In the near future, the final plans for the Sheriff’s Office will come before the commission for approval and funding. This will bring to a conclusion years of discussion, months of preparation and it will kick off a yearlong construction project. For county employees and residents there will be some inconveniences related to this project, such as parking and noise, but the long term benefits of this improvement will be great. An energy efficient building, utilizing current technology, as a base of operations to provide safety and security to county residents.
Prior to the March meeting of the Board of Commissioners, the Lenawee County Farm Bureau served the board lunch and presented information important to the agricultural community and the County as a whole. This annual discussion is a great opportunity for all of the commissioners to hear from county leaders in agriculture and share ideas and concerns. One of the primary issues addressed this year was the impact of agriculture on the water quality in Lake Erie. Lenawee County farmers have a good track record of participation in conservation programs and Farm Bureau described additional steps to address the problem.
The Community Mental Health Erace Stigma 5K Run for Mental Health will be held on May 20th at 9:00 am. Over 50 county employees have signed up to participate and support this great event. There is still time to sign up to improve your physical health and support mental health in the county.
Since 1983, April has been designated as Child Abuse prevention month. The Lenawee County Department of Health and Human Services will again recognize this effort by placing a banner and pinwheels on the Courthouse lawn. We appreciate the excellent work of DHHS in protecting children and raising awareness of child abuse.