To: Martin L. Cousineau, Finance Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Approval of a request by Genesee County's Planning Commission to create, post & fill one (1) Division Manager position, one (1) Program Services Intake Clerk position, and one (1) Planning Intern position
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Requesting approval to create, post, and fill a Division Manager, Program Services Intake Clerk, and Planning Intern position as part of a restructuring proposal connected with new programming.
BACKGROUND:
Over the past year, the Planning Commission has received four new grants totaling $3.23 million dollars. With the addition of these program grants we have determined that our current structure and staffing levels need to be adjusted accordingly. The Planning Commission received a $2.1 million dollar grant from the Mott Foundation to implement a program to expand trails countywide. Included in that amount is $175,000 for staff costs. We also recently took on 3 Department of Energy/State of Michigan funded Weatherization grants to carry out energy efficiency improvements on homes in Flint. The total funding is $1.13 million with $229,106 available for staff costs.
DISCUSSION:
Environmental Planning: With the new responsibilities, we are proposing to restructure and create a new Environmental Planning Division. This division will focus on implementing a $70 million trail initiative, developing a Material Management Plan which includes the construction and implementation of the recycling and education center. We are requesting to create a Division Manager position. This will provide a promotional opportunity and upon filling this position we will eliminate the anticipated vacant Lead Planner position. Home Improvement/Weatherization: We are requesting to add one additional full time staff person to the Home Improvement/Weatherization program to specifically handle client intake duties for all our housing programs. This will be a Program Services Intake Clerk position. Planning Intern: We are requesting the hiring of a seasonal intern to assist within all areas of the department with duties to include data collection, assisting at public meetings, and providing information for plans and reports. The intern will be a current student working toward a planning-related degree.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
Posting and filling the positions.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This project is funded by grant funds from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Department of Energy/State of Michigan and Department of Housing and Urban Development.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
No impact on facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Computer setup and providing network access.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This project conforms to the county goal of Community Growth and Healthy, Livable, and Safe Communities. These positions carry out activities that will assist communities in expanding the County trail network. In addition, the Weatherization activities will help to stabilize housing with health and safety upgrades, providing a more livable and safe environment for County residents.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of Planning to authorize establishing, posting, and filling one new Division Manager position, one new Program Services Intake Clerk position, and one new Planning Intern position, said new positions to be fully funded with grant funds with no County appropriation required, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the February 11, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee of this Board).