The Livingston County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a five-year strategic plan — parts of which are controversial — without a single word of discussion.
Passing a strategic plan is typically unremarkable. It’s a standard procedure, outlining specific, measurable objectives that serve as a blueprint for county governance. The previous strategic plan, for example, outlined several broad categories for development – Infrastructure, Healthy Finances, and “A Healthy County.” With line items ranging from “address[ing] the needs of an aging community” to establishing “county-wide broadband loop for rural access,” the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan was ideologically neutral.
The same cannot be said for its successor, which runs from 2026-2030.
One of its five strategic areas is Superior Transparency & Communication, and listed under that is a goal to “reduce reliance on biased media outlets for communicating county news,” and expand the use of “neutral, diverse, and direct communication channels.” (You can read about that by clicking here.)
The first and largest section in the newly adopted document is titled “A Model for Conservative Governance.”
Among its goals: reviewing the processes for vaccine consent, “deterring the settlement of illegal aliens,” strengthening the county’s “position as a leading CPL advocate” in Michigan, protecting against “unconstitutional mandates imposed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services,” and offering ongoing local support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
These topics, categorized under the “Protection of God-Given Rights & Freedoms,” came under considerable scrutiny during the call to the public.
“This is vague and smacks of partisanship,” said one resident. “What are your definitions of God given rights and freedoms?”
Jacoba Koppert, a pastor from Pinckney, said that she was appalled by the title alone: “None of these statements that are under Goal 2 are ‘Protection of God-Given Rights and Freedoms.’”
“You are a government body, not a church,” Adam Schingeck said. “Do not speak for God.”
Ben Tasich of Genoa Township, one of the few who voiced their support for the Strategic Plan, had questions for the board: What does each one of these bullet points actually mean? What process did the board use in getting the input necessary on these two issues?
While Robert’s Rules don’t allow the Commissioners to respond to questions posed in call to the public, they’re still afforded an opportunity to speak on the topics as they come up in the agenda.
When it came to the strategic plan on Monday, they remained silent.
The Board of Commissioners will meet next on May 11.
You can read the strategic plan by clicking here.
