By Lisa Carolin
The topics of access to broadband and youth mental health led the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners work session held at Sylvan Township Hall Thursday, April 4.
Local officials from various parts of Washtenaw County along with county residents filled the township hall.
The purpose of the meeting was to increase citizen participation. The first topic was broadband inequity, a challenge for many residents in western Washtenaw County. Commissioners agreed that county residents who can’t access broadband are at a disadvantage for education, economy, health, and job opportunities. They heard from members of several townships including Sylvan Township.
Kathy Kennedy, clerk of Sylvan Township, told the commissioners that she has a special concern as a clerk.
“There are a lot of times we don’t have internet,” said Kennedy. “What if one of those times is on election day? That’s a serious problem for our democracy.”
Melanie Bell, network administrator for the Chelsea District Library, told the commissioners that one third of the population in the library’s service area does not have broadband.
Gary Munce, Lyndon Township resident, shared what happened regarding getting broadband in Lyndon Township. He said that with the support of the people, they went to their township board, had a feasibility study done, and found out what it would cost to build a fiber optic network with a fiber optic cable to every resident of the township.
A ballot proposal was created, and by a 60-40 margin, the millage passed.
“The project is well underway, under budget, and will be completed by the end of this year,” said Munce.
State Rep. Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) also spoke, saying, “Broadband is a necessary service for families and businesses to thrive in a community. It’s a critical infrastructure, and we have to take the lead as local government.”
Washtenaw County Commissioner Jason Maciejewski, who represents District 1, which includes the City of Chelsea and Sylvan Township, talked about the importance of having broadband access now and in the years to come, using medical applications such as telemedicine as an example.
Members of the Broadband Equity Subcommittee shared their findings. At least 8,000 homes in Washtenaw County do not have access to broadband. Three recommendations from the subcommittee are: 100-percent countywide broadband access by 2022, staffing a two-year full time position to accomplish the coverage goal, and to renew the subcommittee.
The other subject addressed by the county commissioners was teen mental health.
The Chelsea School District’s Executive Director of Instruction, Curriculum, and Human Resources Marcus Kaemming spoke to commissioners about five suicides in Chelsea in recent years. He invited commissioners to be on the District Wellness Committee, which is working on ways to support students and said that building “resiliency and connection” is key.
Dexter School Board President Michael Wendorf spoke to the commission and quoted the Pew Research Center, which reports that 70 percent of adolescents and teens identify depression and anxiety as problems. In 2016, there were 17 teen and adolescent suicides in Washtenaw County.
“Our students in Dexter report similar results as their peers do nationally and it crosses racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines,” said Wendorf, who added that depression and anxiety disproportionately affect the highest performing students. “We have decided to take action as a district. Kids are under pressure with the four S’s-sports, socially, school, and sleep,” he said.
Wendorf shared a story about his own son having a tough time coping with pressure in high school. He recommended the book “At What Cost” by David Gleason as “important reading”.
During public comment, Sheri Montoye, county 4-H coordinator, (soon be Executive Director of Faith in Action) spoke about youth using technology as a solution to working with teen mental issues.
Sylvan Township resident Bob Pierce said that he works with the special needs population and shared that his son attempted suicide.
“If there’s a group that is not connected, it’s our special education population,” Pierce said. “As a society, we miss those at-risk people.”
Cheri Albertson, a member of the Chelsea City Council and a clinical social worker, stressed the importance of parents talking with their children and using the word suicide. She said kids are trying to deal with feelings they don’t yet know how to deal with, and also addressed the topic of social media and how it can lead to isolation.
County Commissioners shared their own stories of family struggles with depression. They also talked about improved mental health services for Chelsea School District students thanks to satellite sites that can get youth connected to help.
