Macomb County, MI

06/24/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Macomb Matters - June 2024 Issue 94

Message from Mark

Hello and welcome to another edition of the employee newsletter, Macomb Matters. This issue kicks off summer here in Macomb County, which means there are endless opportunities for outdoor fun. You can go to a concert atFreedom Hillor grab a scoop of ice cream at a local shop or parlor.There are also fireworks showstaking place all season long, plenty of places to dine along the water, and the annual Sprint and Splashbeing held on July 13 at Lake St. Clair Metropark. Register today using code Macomb24for a special 20% off employee discount!

If taking in a baseball game is on your seasonal agenda, check out Jimmy John's Field in downtown Utica. The arena is home to the United Shore Professional Baseball League, so the games are exciting. Parking is a breeze as well. And honestly, sitting in the stands with a hot dog or bag of peanuts is the quintessential way to spend a summer afternoon or evening.

If all that sounded like a fun experience, mark your calendars! Our Department of Human Resources and Labor Relations is once again hosting its annual Macomb County Employee (and Family) Night at Jimmy John's Field! Join us on August 15 at 6 p.m. for a fun evening filled with baseball, food, meeting other county employees, and catching up with old friends. Tickets are $34 per person and will be available for purchase through payroll deduction. More details to come, so stay tuned!

Still looking for something fun to do these next few months? Trying to plan a staycation? Check out www.makemacombyourhome.comfor ideas and inspiration, and find us on Facebook. We even have a special events pagewith all the details and information you need to attend local fairs, gatherings, and more. I'm certain all of these resources will help you enjoy summer in our community. Thank you and take care.

Mark

Employee news and accolades

A 'pat on the back' for Family Planning

Mary Fleischer, RN PHN for Family Planning with the Macomb County Health Department reached out to the Macomb Matters team with kind words about her division. She shared the following:

"I would like to nominate our entire Family Planning program(that remained open, in person during the COVID-19 Pandemic) for a huge pat on the back. Our Program Manager Paulette Bagnall is a PA with her masters in science. She is by far one of the most intelligent, skilled professional individuals I have encountered in my 58 years of nursing. Paulette leads by example and is always willing to lend a hand if needed. Our Nurse Practitioners Amy and Jen are the very best and skilled at inserting and removing LARCS. Our team of registered nurses are to be emulated. We take pride in our education process & present information in a confidential,non-judgemental safe environment. We are so fortunate and blessed to have the service of our bilingual patient advocate, Maria Hernandez. When Maria is asked to help she goes above and beyond with needed referrals and treats our clients like family. We are also blessed to share a social worker, Lecia Taylor with MIHIP. Lecia is there in the event our clients need extra help. We could not perform all that is required by our Title X Program without our dedicated team of clerical professionals. They are the glue that holds our program together, from making appointments, registration, billing, pharmacy, inventory and so many tasks that as a nurse I'm not familiar with. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few others that are important to the Family Planning program. Gerard Castaneda, clinical information specialist, is always there to help with the tech end of the program. Scott Turske, communication specialist, helps with social media. Dr Lokar, medical director, is there to answer questions, concerns and provide his medical expertise. In closing I'm so blessed to be a part of one of the best teams I have ever worked with. Kudos to each and every one in this AMAZING wonderful group. I would like to commend all the nurses that are employed by the Health Department and wish them a very Happy Nurses Week and best wishes to all of our administrative professionals."

Undersheriff Liz Darga wins Athena Award

Elizabeth Darga, Undersheriff for the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, was selected as this year's recipient of the Athena Award, a prestigious honor presented to women and men who demonstrate excellence, creativity, leadership and initiative in their business, profession or lives.

"Elizabeth Darga is noted for her trailblazing leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence," said Kelley Lovati, CEO and president of the Macomb County Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, the Macomb Foundation, which presents the awards. "She has shattered gender barriers and paved the way for aspiring female leaders within her organization."

Darga was chosen from a list of 17 nominated for this year's award. Only one person is presented with the gold trophy but everyone who makes the list becomes part of a unique alumni of outstanding individuals.

Human Resources and Labor Relations gives back

Macomb Matters would like to give a big shoutout to employees from Macomb County Human Resources and Labor Relations, who recently donated their time to help at the Community Food Bank of Macomb County. The team volunteered to organize food and other materials at the warehouse - contributions which ultimately benefit the bank's network of over 50 local food pantries and hunger related organizations.

Tracy Caldwell receives well-deserved promotion

Macomb Matters would like to congratulate Tracy Caldwell on his recent promotion to security guard leader. Tracy was hired as a security guard for Facilities and Operations in May 2007. Over the past 17 years Tracy has worked multiple shifts covering over 15 Macomb County properties. He worked the night shift for several years at the Macomb County Circuit Court as well as an early shift responsible for the safety and security of buildings located within the city block of downtown Mount Clemens. This includes the parking structure, elevators and fire alarms. In this role Tracy provides the public and employees a safe environment every morning. As the security guard leader, Tracy will assist with the daily scheduling of security guard staff and provide support to the team.

Outside of his work at the county, Tracy has been a DJ for over 40 years and is a classic car enthusiast. His 1985 LTD Crown Victoria station wagon has been featured in four movies including Wagonmasters - a documentary available on Amazon. "I am thankful for this wonderful opportunity, to continue to support this wonderful team in a leadership role," he said.

Nick Parent, fire and security coordinator stated: "Tracy and I have worked together for 19 years. Prior to joining Macomb County, he was a guard with the State of Michigan at the VerKuilen Building. I have no doubt he will continue to do a great job in this new role. I've leaned heavily on him over the last couple years, and I look forward to many more years of working together.

Office of the County Executive staff volunteer at Special Olympics

County Executive Mark Hackel and team were honored to join in the celebration for the Area 14 Special Olympics, where students from the Robert G. Lutz School kicked off the games by leading everyone in the national anthem. It was a beautiful and sunny Macomb County day for all the athletes, who follow the event motto: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Employee Focus: Maria Swiatkowski

As the County welcomes more people into our workforce, the Macomb Matters team would love to spotlight the Health Department's very own, Maria Swiatkowski. Keep reading to see what she has to say about her job and life outside of work!

What is your current position and what do you do?
I have been with the Health Department for more than 23 years, and I am the Community Health Planning and Promotion Division Director. Currently, I oversee four programs: Children's Special Healthcare Services, Healthy Communities, Hearing and Vision, and WIC. I am incredibly fortunate to have staff who are compassionate and client-centered in each of these programs. I am also responsible for preparing the department for national reaccreditation, and leading our community health assessments, and community health improvement plans.

What led you to this career and what are some of the challenges you face?
I started out providing worksite wellness programming in the private sector, but the work was very narrow in scope, and there was limited room for career growth. I joined the department as a health educator and have been able to progress through multiple positions within the department focusing primarily on the population health aspect of public health. Public health is constantly evolving - what works, what is an emerging threat, or what new information we have to consider - and those variables require flexibility and adaptability when considering how to implement or improve a program or service in the community.

What have you found most rewarding about your career? What attracted you to a career at Macomb County?
I spent the first few years after graduating college moving from job to job trying to find the right fit. The opening at the health department was a great opportunity to find some stability, a place to grow my skills, and move into the field of public health. As a lifelong Macomb County resident, it was a bonus to work close to home.

I have met, worked with, worked for, and in partnership with amazing people. Being able to learn from, and collaborate with a diverse group of coworkers, residents, and community partners is what keeps me motivated. Working together to come up with solutions or programming that is community based, and meets the needs of our residents is one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

Briefly describe your education/alma mater.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. I also played four years of collegiate softball while at MSU.

Briefly tell us about your family (pets count too!).
Married to my husband John for more than 22 years and we have two daughters: Alexa, a junior in college, and Ava, an incoming college freshman. We have one very spoiled rescue cat named MiChi.

What do you like to do outside of work?
Now that both girls are out of high school and the weeknight commitments are thinning out, I enjoy traveling with my family and friends. We are fortunate to live in a small community and some of our closest friends are the parents of our daughters' friends. We spend a great deal of time hanging out, vacationing together, and attending our children's games and events. I have coached my daughters' summer softball teams for more than 15 years. I am the president of our local little league, sit on our parks and recreation board, and I volunteer a few times each year with local Safe Kids coalitions as a Child Passenger Safety Instructor.

Briefly describe something you are passionate about, or a philosophy you embrace, or a topic that matters greatly to you, etc.
My philosophy is pretty simple and I try to put it into practice each day: Work hard, learn from those around you, and have some fun in life. My parents taught me to work hard, meeting people who came from different backgrounds and had different experiences than me taught me to listen and learn from those around me, and my husband taught me how to laugh even when things are challenging.

Retiree spotlight

Click here for a list of retirees

Blockbuster Day for MCA

On Saturday, May 18, Macomb Community Action stepped-up to host two large-scale events at the VerKuilen Building in Clinton Township - Walk for Warmth, and a 60th Anniversary celebration of community action in Macomb County. Together, these events delivered a daylong community outreach effort that will have a long, positive impact on Macomb County.

This year's Walk for Warmth was the 34th annual fun walk to generate contributions to support low-income individuals with heat related emergencies like paying a utility bill or repairing/replacing a broken furnace. The event started at 9 a.m. and attracted dozens of walkers of all ages who supported this event. Plus, Genisys Credit Union added an incredibly generous donation of $8,037.

Later in the morning, MCA kicked-off its 60th Anniversary celebration of community action event in Macomb County. The free event, which was open to all included food, raffles, bingo, music, lawn games and entertainment for all ages. The event also featured 26 community resource vendors who helped enrich the lives of all who attended. The celebration attracted approximately 300 attendees of all ages. Event sponsors included Macomb County Veterans Services, OneMacomb, and the Detroit Arsenal/Boys & Girls Club. Kudos to all county employees who helped make these events a huge success.

Introducing Workday Learning

Human Resources and Labor Relations recently launched its new learning platform in Workday - Workday Learning. Workday Learning is where employees can find Macomb County required policies, new hire training, the Dignity Campaign, and helpful Workday Job Aids.

Navigating Workday Learning is easy. From the Workday menu click Learning App. This will open Workday Learning and you will be able to see the My Learning tab. The My Learning tab will show you what is required and what you are currently working on.

Workday Learn Dashboard

In addition to required policies and trainings, employees have access to thousands of modules provided by LinkedIn Learning. On the Discover tab, start browsing LinkedIn Learning content, which offers both personal and professional courses. Once logged into your LinkedIn Learning dashboard, you can browse training courses to add to your library, create your own career path and goals, and see what is recommended for you by Macomb County. Activate your LinkedIn Learning account here to access these training courses that are sure to help you achieve your career goals.

LinkedIn Learning Dashboard

Bring Your Child To Work Day returns to Macomb County

Macomb County was proud to host the return of Bring Your Child to Work Day on April 25. Students in 6th-12th grades were invited to spend time with their parent/guardian and experience what working for the county is all about. This included the following activities:

  • Animal Control: Meeting animals and learning about the process for adopting homeless pets in the county.
  • COMTEC: Touring the Emergency Operations Center and learning about Emergency Management and how they plan for disasters.
  • Learning about the law: Exploring the differences in the branches of government and the role of the courtroom.
  • Election Department: A behind-the-scenes look at county elections and the opportunity to take part in a mock election.
  • Sign Shop: Seeing actual road signs being created.
  • Food warehouse: Assisting with packaging food to support local food pantries.
  • IT: Discussing the way technology can change and how this will impact the next generation in the workplace.
  • Senior Services: Joining seniors for fun activities.

The event was a huge success thanks to organizers and all the volunteers and county departments that shared their time and talent with these young people. Macomb Matters would like to thank all involved!

A message from Andy McKinnon

This article is often focused on finding the good in things, appreciating our staff for the tremendous work they do and overall, an attempt to bolster our spirit due to the strenuous, often tedious and yet incredibly important work we all get to do as county employees. However, it seems like that is continuously not where society is heading.

Maybe it's just me, and I hope it is, but it seems that division continues to be the edict of the day. The more people are scared, the more people are fearful, the more people believe that our society/country is failing, or that an individual or group is an existential threat, the more other people can take advantage for their personal end goals.

This is not the province of one political party, multinational corporation, person or institution, but instead a truth that has been with us for hundreds of years. In fact it was Patrick Henry who coined the famous phrase "United we stand, divided we fall."

What's less famous are the words that came after: "Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs." It is amazing, and maybe encouraging, that these words were uttered over 200 years ago. The year was 1799 and Henry was addressing the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. What were the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions you ask? I believe that's sort of the point of the article. They were, in Henry's eyes, an existential threat to the existence of this Nation, and yet today we barely know of them, if we know of them at all.

This certainly doesn't make them any less consequential, it simply shows that the country survived, and in my opinion, even thrived over the past 225ish years. After 1799, this country transformed itself over and over again. (Sort of like our neighbor from Rochester, Madonna Louise Ciccone)

Certainly a perfect society hasn't been created, however, much of that change was for the better. And while the government has led some of those positive changes, the government doesn't truly do anything. People who work for and with the government do. No different than the idea that GM doesn't design and manufacture cars, its people do. And if people are responsible for the change in our society, if people are responsible for the betterment or detriment of society, then we can all play a role from exactly where we sit for better or worse.

This doesn't mean that we will always be correct in our decisions or choices. It doesn't mean we should take action only for actions sake. However, I do hope that it means that when, as individuals, we choose to do something it improves our society. Even if that improvement comes from finding out that our idea or opinion was misguided. Vigorous debate, disagreement, dignified conflict are all important parts to that, but as people we need to understand that the other opinion is not the enemy and that attacking, degrading and dehumanizing another's position, simply divides us and tests the great experiment that is this country.

I hope and do believe that we are in no worse place than we were in 1799, or the 1960's for that matter. The issues are more recent and seem larger because they are the issues of the day. But as a nation, as a people and as people we have faced these threats before and have prevailed. I hope you think about this idea over the coming weeks and join me in doing something small that improves our current discourse. Maybe it's offering to cover for someone's shift who's having a family issue, maybe it's volunteering at Meals on Wheels, maybe it's simply providing a smile and a good morning to a colleague or even a stranger. Small gestures and little actions can lead to monumental change and hopefully, we can bend those actions towards the positive and the positive arc that has been this country's history will continue to move in an ever more perfect direction.

For your benefit:

Last call for voluntary benefits open enrollment

An important reminder: Open enrollment for 2024 voluntary benefits will close tomorrow, June 28. This is your last chance to access the following benefits:

Aflac Short-Term Disability
Aflac Accident
Aflac Critical Illness
Aflac Hospital Indemnity
Trustmark Universal Life w/ Long Term Care Insurance Rider
Long-Term Care Insurance
Pet Insurance
Legal & ID Theft Protection Plans

Please note: You can view your options in Workday, but you must contact a benefits counselor to enroll. A benefit counselor from TMR will answer any questions you may have and help enroll you in the benefits offered by Macomb County.

Find a time to connect with a counselor via this scheduling system. You will be contacted directly at the number you provide.

Should you have any questions regarding this schedule, please contact TMR & Associates at (313) 963-1135 and ask for Cathy Lowell. She will also be able to help reschedule an appointment, if you need to change a date/time

HealthStyles

The HealthStyles committee is pleased to present the following opportunities:

July 24 Lunch and Learn with Amy Ervin

Join HealthStyles for a healthy cooking demo with Amy Ervin, MPH, RDN. Learn how to choose healthier breakfast options for a brighter day ahead. Amy will do a cooking demonstration on both savory and sweet breakfast meals that will completely change your mind about the most important meal of the day. Enjoy tasting the treats she makes while coming up with other creative and healthy breakfast items, and you get to take home recipes, too! Please register by emailing [email protected] by Friday, July 19, as there are limited seats.

August 7 Employee Health Fair

After a long break, it is back! The HealthStyles Annual Employee Health Fair will take place on August 7 at the MCC Criminal Justice Training Center - 210901 Dunham Rd (adjacent to the Verkuilen Building) between 10:30am and 2 pm. Join us on your lunch break to learn about businesses in your area that contribute to the health of the community. You will be able to meet different business owners, fill up your bag with swag, taste healthy foods from different restaurants, and take part in fun activities. This year we will have raffles, exercise demos, food samples, a photo booth, and so much more for our Macomb County employees to enjoy. This is a perfect opportunity to get to know businesses in the community, see friends and co-workers, and learn how you can bring health and wellness to Macomb County Government. We can't wait to see you there!

Providing support by keeping it casual

The Board of Commissioners has announced the continuation of the Macomb County Casual Day Charitable Collections Program. Participating employees (with department leader permission) may wear casual clothing to work on Fridays (or other designated day), if they donate at least a dollar. Participating departments will be monitored, and donations are sent in a timely fashion. Collected donations are then sent by the Board Office to the assigned charities.

Earlier this year, the BOC announced thefull list of programs it will support in 2024. Stay tuned for additional announcements on the topic, and in the meantime, if you are able, please participate in the upcoming Casual Days that will help:

Macomb Foster Closet

July 5, 12, 19, 26
Filling in the gap to help foster families provide foster children with clothing and other essential items.

Sparkle Network

August 2, 9, 16, 23
Giving support when an individual's journey seems lonely and helping boost their self-esteem/self-confidence.

All About Animals

August 30
Preventing pet overpopulation and making wellness care available to those who traditionally would go without.

Pawprint: A message from Macomb County Animal Control

With summer having officially started, let's talk about heat and fireworks.

Extreme heat is dangerous for people and their pets. It's important to remember to bring your pets inside whenever possible. Dehydration is also a concern, so please ensure they have plenty of water, and protect their paws from hot asphalt (we use generous amounts of Paw Pad Shield when taking our animals out and about!). Also, never leave your pets in a hot car. Cars can overheat even when a window has been left cracked open an inch or two, and leaving your pet inside a car for only a few seconds is still enough to cause them harm.

We do not recommend taking pets to fireworks displays, either. Many animals find them frightening and will panic, even in familiar environments. More dogs go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day because even the bravest animals can panic and run.

For more tips and updates from Macomb County Animal Control, please visit our websiteor follow us on social media.

Did you know?

The Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) is asking residents to spring into action to help keep the roads and community clean by adopting a county roadway. Applications to adopt the more than 320 miles of available roadways are open year-round and can be completed online.

There are 330 groups registered for the program and registered participants can clean up adopted roads through September 2.

"Whether people are visiting Macomb County for the first time or driving on our roads daily, the appearance of our roadways matters," said Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel. "The Adopt-A-County Road program is a great opportunity for individuals and groups to take an active role in our community while making a positive environmental change."

There is no cost to participate in the program and individuals, families, businesses, charitable organizations, schools, and other groups can adopt a section of road. A simple three step adoption process and a commitment of two cleanups per year is all it takes to make a positive difference in Macomb County. MCDR provides safety vests, trash bags, and safety guidelines and information to registered participants.

As part of the program, participants receive roadside signage highlighting their organization and are included in the online map of adopted roads and the list of sponsors displayed on the Adopt-A-County Road website. All bags and safety vests are provided by the Department of Roads at no cost to participants. Following a cleanup, the MCDR maintenance department will pick up and dispose of the trash bags and other large items.

"While we work to build and repair our roads, everyone can help keep our community clean by adopting a county road," said MCDR Director Bryan Santo. "With no costs and an easy process to get started, the Adopt-A-County Road program makes it easy for individuals and groups to get involved."

Additional information, an interactive map, and a comprehensive list of adopted and available roads can be found online at macombgov.org/adopt-county-road. For additional information, questions, or to request an application by mail or email, contact MCDR's Adopt-A-County Road program at [email protected] or 586-463-8671.

Recipe corner: Greek Pasta Salad

Number of Servings: 12

Serving size: 1 cup

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

Cost per serving: $0.61

Ingredients:

  • 16-ounce package pasta (whole wheat optional)
  • 1/2 Diced Cucumber
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/4 red onion, diced
  • 1 can garbanzo beans
  • 1 8oz package of feta
  • 1/3-1/2 cup Greek Dressing
  • 1 box or package (10 ounces) frozen

Directions:

Remember to wash hands and prepare food safely.

  1. Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain.
  2. Wash, prepare, chop, and dice all vegetables
  3. Open and Rinse garbanzo beans
  4. Mix pasta and all ingredients and dressing in a bowl.
  5. Serve cold and keep refrigerated.
  6. Can season with salt, pepper, oregano if desired

Download a PDF version

Recipe adapted from Texas A&M University Extension

Department:Human Resources
Type:
Article