Water quality tips for SW Michigan

(Press release) With autumn here and winter on the way, leaves are falling from the trees. Residents are asked to help keep the stormwater drains free and clear of leaves and grass clippings by please avoiding raking or blowing leaves into the street. Leaves in the street eventually end up in the storm sewer, clogging pipes and causing flooded streets. Clean stormwater runoff not only helps keep drinking water clean and safe, it also helps protect aquatic life.

Stormwater runoff is rainfall or snowmelt that runs off impervious surfaces like roads, buildings, and compacted soils. Stormwater runoff is collected and conveyed through storm sewers directly into streams, rivers, and lakes without being treated.

Pollutants accumulate on impervious surfaces between rainfall events. Frequent, small rains wash pollutants into streams, rivers, and lakes. These pollutants negatively impact water quality.

As communities grow, impervious areas tend to increase. Greater impervious surfaces cause the volume and rate of stormwater runoff to increase. This can result in flooding, stream channel degradation, and increased water pollution in our surface waters.

Most rainfall drains untreated to streams and lakes through storm drains in neighborhoods. There are many ways you can prevent stormwater pollution:

1. Wash your car at a carwash or on the lawn, not the driveway.

2. Re-direct roof drains to gardens or other vegetated areas not into the street or driveway.

3. Properly dispose of all hazardous household waste.

4. Minimize use of fertilizers and follow manufacturing guidelines and use phosphorus-free fertilizer.

5. Clean up after your pets and dispose of waste properly.

For more tips on water quality visit:

www.keepitblue.org

State surplus begins monthly in-person sales

(Press release) The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget’s (DTMB) state surplus will host in-person sales the first Friday of each month, from 8 a.m. - noon. In-person sales will be held in Lansing at 3111 W. St. Joseph St., Building 600.

The sale includes a wide array of items, including sporting goods, tools, automotive equipment, desks, file cabinets, chairs, bookshelves, jewelry, and other fashion accessories. Sale inventory is obtained from property seized by police, items voluntarily surrendered at airports, surplus property from local public colleges, and property no longer needed by government agencies. Payments can be made with cash and credit cards. All items are sold as is and no loading assistance will be available. All sales are final.

A sale may be cancelled due to lack of inventory, so please visit Michigan.gov/Surplus for more information and the latest news on state surplus events.

Michigan releases transparency dashboard detailing use of recovery funds

(Press release) Michiganders are able to learn how the State is investing the $6.5 billion in flexible state fiscal recovery funds (FRF) provided by the federal government with the launch of the new Fiscal Recovery Funds Dashboard.

“This user-friendly dashboard ensures that all Michiganders can easily see where and how the State has leveraged its federal FRF dollars,” said State Budget Director Christopher Harkins. “The FRF dashboard takes a wealth of data and transforms it into information people can use to see how the State has funded projects that align with its strategic goals.”

Featuring a modern design, the dashboard allows users to view FRF project key performance indicators and to visualize projects on a map, which can be filtered by census tract, or state legislative and congressional districts.

“As a lifelong Michigander, I take great pride in my role within the pandemic recovery effort,” said Chief COVID-19 Accountability Officer Jennifer Edmonds. “The Fiscal Recovery Funds have afforded Michigan a remarkable chance to review the performance of these funds, glean invaluable insights into their significant impact on aiding Michiganders throughout this recovery, and derive lessons learned. This knowledge positions us to tackle future recovery efforts with a far greater understanding of the programs that yield the most effective results.”

As part of the American Rescue Plan passed in 2021, the federal government provided funds to Michigan and other states to support programs and policies that promote social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan is using these historic funds to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and make strategic investments to improve critical infrastructure and address disparities that lead to disproportionate impacts of the pandemic for many Michiganders.

As of Sept. 30, Michigan appropriated nearly all of its $6.5 billion in state FRF to 14 different state agencies to execute a wide range of projects. The appropriated projects include a diverse array of investments in environmental sustainability, workforce and economic development, and public safety. The dashboard will be updated quarterly, with the next refresh expected in early November.

Using FRF, the State of Michigan has supported programs benefiting hospitals, foster homes, small businesses, disadvantaged communities, schools, and many others. More information about programs funded by FRF can be found in the State’s 2023 Annual Recovery Plan Report.