NORTHEAST MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

YEAR 2002

STRATEGIC PLAN 

ADOPTED:         2001 

Mission Statement: 

NEMCOG is a team of highly motivated individuals who are dedicated to the betterment of the Northeast Michigan Region.  The team is committed to facilitating the development of intergovernmental cooperation and coordination within the eight counties of the northeast region.  The agency provides for controlled growth policy, to preserve, and improve the environment, to pursue greater efficiency and responsibilities of local units of government, and to improve their ecological social, and economic well being. 

Our Members:  

The team is committed to providing the members with high quality programs and services which reflect upon the preservation and enhancement of the ecological, economic, and social well being of the region.  The team members will be comprised of individuals who are professionals with dedication and integrity. 

Our Funders:  

The team is committed to completing the goals and objectives of projects and activities in a timely fashion, as set forth in the terms of the contracts. Funding will be sought and accepted as it relates to the overall mission of the agency. The decisions made within the confines of the projects will be carried out based on personal integrity and efficiency. 

Our Staff: 

The agency is committed to the recruitment and development of the best individuals to fulfill the goals of the programs. The individuals are provided opportunities to grow and have a vested interest in the success of the Agency. The agency maintains an open-door policy at all levels, encouraging the flow of communication and exchange of ideas.

NEMCOG Organizational Goal: Obtain, Develop and Maintain Sufficient Human Resources and Organizational Infrastructure to accomplish the Mission of the Agency.  

Objective One: On an annual basis, evaluate staffing requirements in relation to organizational needs and provide for staff management, development, and evaluation. 

Objective Two: On an ongoing basis, obtain and maintain necessary equipment materials,  

NEMCOG Development Goal: Ensure Adequate And Stable Financial Resources. 

Objective One: Increase overall revenue in 2001 by at least 10%. 

Objective Two: Prepare a Balanced Budget and obtain board approval by September 30, 2002. 

Objective Three: Meet with executive committee to evaluate effectiveness of financial plan. 

Objective Four: Promote NEMCOG through the dissemination of quarterly newsletters, program highlights, and home page. 

NEMCOG Year 2002Census Goal:  Increase the awareness of  the results of the Year 2000 Census of the citizenry of the northeast region. 

Objective One: Maintain web site for Census figures, regional trends and analysis.  

Objective Two: Disseminate census statistics to key regional stakeholders and the public, via the internet, handouts, news articles, etc., as the information becomes available. 

Objective Three: Educate public on how to use census and where to find it on the internet. 

NEMCOG Information and Education Goal: Educate and inform key audiences on the Needs of the Region. 

Objective One: Develop handout on priority regional needs. 

Objective Two: Meet with MEDC, and other state and federal agencies, as well as key legislators on region's needs at least two times in FY 2002. 

Economic and Community Development Goal: Accommodate residential, commercial, and industrial development in a way that is compatible with the preservation and protection of the overall ecological and cultural values of the Northeast Region of Michigan. 

Objective One: Continue to provide economic and community planning assistance on a Regional and community-wide basis, with priority given to the Region’s most distressed areas. 

Objective Two: Continue to provide technical assistance to member communities in the realm of grant seeking and preparation, with priority given to the Region’s most distressed areas. 

Objective Three: Continue to provide technical assistance for entrepreneurial ventures which will create or retain permanent jobs, especially for low-income persons or other disadvantaged groups.  

Objective Four: Continue to provide other technical assistance to member communities and associated economic and community development agencies, especially for those groups and/or projects which will positively benefit low-income persons or other disadvantaged groups. 

Objective Five: Continue to provide updated data bases to local units and other public and private entities. 

Objective Six: Initiate a Regional Economic Development Committee to spur economic development activities in the region. 

Objective Seven: Continue to assist the CDC to increase the opportunities for construction of affordable housing in region. 

Objective Eight: Provide technical assistance (new EDA grant) to the highly distressed area within the region to improve new business and job opportunities. 

Objective Nine: Continue to implement the Huron Greenways Program for tourism promotion along the Lake Huron coast. 

Objective Ten: Continue to assist Northeast Consortium on the Career Development Strategic Planning efforts. 

Objective Eleven: Assist member communities to build on ongoing capacity within their organization to be able to plan and develop programs and projects. 

Natural Resources Goal: Preserve, protect, and enhance the overall ecological values of the Northeast Region of Michigan, including its large forested areas, its essential character, and its potential to recover from disturbance. 

Objective One: Develop, in partnership with other agencies, a watershed  protection plan for the lower reaches of the Cheboygan River Watershed. 

Objective Two: Implement, in partnership with other agencies, the Thunder Bay River Watershed Initiative for the Thunder Bay River Watershed. 

Objective Three: Work with RC&D, Conservation Districts, and others to initiate a River-care Program to facilitate on-going erosion control projects.  

Objective Four: Develop a wellhead protection plan for the City of Rogers City. 

Objective Five: Work with municipalities to initiate wellhead protection programs. 

Objective Six: Initiate water quality testing program in Region.

Objective Seven: Implement Twin Lakes  (Albert Township) Septic System Impact Initiative.  

Objective Eight: Assist with implementation of the Black Lake Watershed Plan. 

Regional Solid Waste Management: Provide for the protection of the Public's health and quality of the natural resources: air, land, ground and surface waters, by reducing the dependency on landfills through the implementation of a resource recovery program.

Objective One: On a fee basis, assist counties in the implementation of their solid waste plans. 

Objective Two: Continue to assist with the coordinated recycling programs throughout the region 

Objective Three: Expand and improve composting opportunities throughout the region.           

Objective Four: Develop a coordinated Resource Recovery Education Program to increase the understanding of the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling solid wastes. 

Objective Five: Implement the regional household hazardous waste collection and disposal initiative for five county area. 

Regional Transportation Goal: Enhance and improve the transportation systems, including recreational links such as: bike trails, snowmobile trails, and ski trails.

Objective One: Continue to sponsor rural transportation informational workshops for the Northeast Region. 

Objective Two: Continue to facilitate multi-county and multi- agency coordination of rural transit programs. 

Objective Three: Continue to promote improved access management by conducting access management workshops throughout the region. 

Objective Four: Continue to assist communities in development of corridor/transportation plans that will address current concerns and future needs. 

Objective Five: Continue to provide information and technical assistance on planning for walkable communities. 

Objective Six: Complete TEA-21 Enhancement grant for US-23 Heritage Route Management Plan. 

Objective Seven: Meet with MDOT to encourage a meaningful role for regional rural transportation planning.  

Objective Eight: Implement Area-wide Transportation Study in Alpena County. 

Geographic Information Services (GIS) Goal: Establish a successful regional geographic information system based on: 1) reliable and usable data, 2) organization and accessibility of data, and 3) data partnerships with other agencies and the private sector. 

Objective One: Hold two meetings of the regional GIS Users group. 

Objective Two: Continue to build a database as completely as possible for the eight county region. 

Objective Three: Continue to make GIS available to units of government in the region. 

Objective Four: Provide GIS training to Alcona County personnel and agencies. 

Regional Land Use Planning Goal: To develop a regional, coordinated effort among agencies and local government for the management of future growth of private lands in the Northeast region. This effort will provide for economic prosperity, and ecosystem diversity within the framework of environmental integrity. This system, based on watershed management, will provide Policies, an Information Clearinghouse, Technical Assistance, and Educational Services. 

Objective One: Assist communities with master/land use planning efforts.  

Objective Two: Organize a Regional Land Use Forum/Committee to initiate an ongoing effort from which land use principles and programs can be designed to promote and facilitate smart growth development. 

Objective Three: Explore funding opportunities to develop an inventory of natural resources within the region. 

Objective Four: Meet with legislators to communicate the local/regional support for land use policies and to gain an understanding of the level of State support for land use initiatives. 

Objective Five: Establish a Clearinghouse of Technical Information & Assistance to provide sound land use management (growth management) information and assistance to local units of governments and watershed managers.  

Objective Six: In partnership with MSU Extension, develop a regional education program, which builds upon Smart Growth Development.   

Regional Recreational Goal: Enhance and improve the recreation systems, including recreational corridors, destination sites, and community oriented facilities. 

Objective One: Assist in the proper management of the Region’s recreation corridor. 

Objective Two: Assist Tuscarora Township and other communities in developing DNR approved Community Recreation Plans and applying for recreation grants.  

Community Corrections Goal: Provide for the fair and equitable treatment of convicted offenders in the Northern Michigan Region, using the least restrictive sentencing option available to the courts, consistent with the individual treatment needs of the client, and with the safety of the general public always being of paramount concern.  

Objective One: Continue to implement policies which are already in place, such as: Cheboygan County Jail Bed Allocation Agreement, Community Service Earned Release Policy, Earned Release for GED Participation, Credit for Participation in the Intensive Outpatient Program will continued to be implemented.  

Objective Two: Meet with Oscoda County to discuss program participation.  

Objective Three: Develop and implement new policies in region to include: Faith-based Program, Mentally Ill Diversion Program, Targeted Assaultive Offender Program.  

Objective Four: Utilize the Transition House Intensive Supervision Program in Cheboygan County as an alternative to incarceration.  

Objective Five: Continue to provide the following Community Corrections Programs: Probation Residential Services (PRS), Intensive Outpatient Counseling, Mental Health Services, and education and employment services.  

Objective Six: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Programs in all three counties.  

Objective Seven: Implement a Saturday Work Program in Crawford and continue the Cheboygan and Otsego County Programs.  

Objective Eight: Organize a regional committee to develop a rehabilitative program for juvenile offenders.