Collaboration in Northwest Michigan

The use of collaboration was the key topic of discussion at the September 11th Summit for county officials within the ten-county region served by The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.

Collaboration opportunities provide resource benefits and cost benefits.

Collaboration requires intentional leadership, people working together on key issues and problems, with a sound strategy agenda.

Click here to view the presentation materials provided by consultant, Daniel Wolf.

Click here to provide feedback and to continue the discussion on regional or sub-regional collaboration.

Discussion topics in the morning included:

Collaboration Among Counties, Townships, Cities, Villages

• Start within county or begin with smaller projects
• Listen and understand neighboring entities
• Be open to revisit collaboration topics which didn't work in the past
• Expand education and communication throughout county

Septic/Sewage Treatment

• Land use
• Technology
• Zoning

Energy

• Education is needed about energy efficiency and conservation
• Work with energy providers and units of governments
• Transmission lines, production: zoning, working across boundaries
• Programs to switch to energy-saving light bulbs

Public Safety

• Systems approach: jail, 911 dispatch
• Collaboration with fire and EMS protection
• National standards provide a springboard to begin
• Fire Marshall and technical experience can be shared across large geographic area to reduce local cost
• Public needs to be aware of possible cost savings
• Use technology and new means to communicate with the public

NEW MEDIA

In the afternoon session, notes were taken at each table discussion and were compiled in Twitter social media. That information has aged off the Twitter Web site but will soon be available here.