Before the end of February at least 454 people working in Oakland County will lose their jobs.

That’s according to notices filed with the state by three companies that sent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notifications last month. The WARN Act requires employers planning mass layoffs to give workers a 60-day notice.

“Not every employer has to file WARN letters – there are a couple different criteria and smaller companies don’t always have to file these letters,” said Jennifer Llewellyn, Oakland County’s manager for workforce development and the county’s Michigan Works! Offices.

The 454 people facing job losses are at:

•  Webasto Roof Systems at 2700 Product Drive in Rochester Hills. The plant will close and 244 employees will be let go on Feb. 21 through July. Webasto makes flexible soft- and hard-top roof systems for vehicles. The company’s announcement said the 50-year-old Rochester Hills plant is closing because it would cost too much to modernize it.

•  Samsung SDI America EV plants at 4121 North Atlantic Blvd. and 50 Continental Drive, both in Auburn Hills will lay off 179 people between Feb. 24 and Feb. 28. When Samsung asked Auburn Hills officials for a 5-year, 50% tax break worth more than $140,000 in 2019. At that time, company officials promised they would lease the Continental Drive building for 10 years and the deal would lead to 400 new jobs.

•  Hyzone Motors USA Inc., 1208 E. Maple Road in Troy, where 32 people will lose their jobs over two weeks starting Feb. 18. The company makes hydrogen fuel cells and announced the layoffs in December, citing an “inability to raise funding and the future uncertainty relating to the availability of government subsidies.”

Last year 11 WARN notices affected Oakland County businesses, totaling 1,173 workers. In 2023, the state received 10 WARN notices were filed affecting 1,903 Oakland County workers, which includes 945 GM workers in Lake Orion, part of the planned shutdown and retooling for electric vehicles. The 945 GM employees represent about 50% of the total for the entire year and many of those workers were reassigned.

Last year’s complete unemployment figures for the county won’t be released until next month. As of November, it was 3.9%, up just over 1% from November, 2023. In 2023, the state’s unemployment rate was under 4%, a 20-year low.

The unemployment rate in Oakland County in November was 3.9%, up slightly from 3.8% in October and up by 1.2 pts year-over-year from November 2023 when the rate was 2.7% All those figures remain below the overall metro Detroit total, 5.1% in November.

The WARN Act exists to give employees time to prepare for a job loss by updating their resumes and either finding a new job or learning a new skill to enter a related or different field of work.

“This addresses the ebbs and lows of workforce development,” she said. “Layoffs happen when companies shift priorities or lose accounts or face difficult times for other reasons.”

Her office works with state and regional officials to attract new businesses and help unemployed workers find new jobs quickly or retrain with skills in fields that have opportunities.

“The exciting part is helping people either find new jobs or getting them retrained,” Llewellyn said. “We also support refreshing that resume and boosting their interview skills.”

Oakland County’s economy is growing in four main sectors, she said:

•  Advanced manufacturing: Robotics, automation, aerospace, 3D printing and support for the electric-vehicle industry and battery production.

“There’s so much research and development talent in the county as well as engineers and production professionals,” she said.

•  Construction: From General Motors’ Orion plant renovations to new homes being built, infused by federal infrastructure money. “We need skilled construction workers, engineers, plumbers and electricians,” she said.

•  Technology: Cybersecurity, intelligence software development and more. “Everyone has a smart phone, so when I say ‘technology,” that’s not necessarily an industry. It’s technology across the board for all areas – advanced manufacturing, construction, government, education, health care, all industries,” Llewellyn said.

• Health care and health science.

“It’s not that we don’t support industries outside those four quadrants,” she said. “It’s where we’re spending time and investing money. We support other industries and occupations. Transportation is another area that is an across-the-board opportunity, for example. But we’re prioritizing four areas where we see demand and growth.”

Because the business climate is fluid and depends on lots of factors, Llewellyn can’t cite a specific number of jobs the county will definitely see added in 2025.

“We get regional projections and are always gathering workforce intelligence,” she said. “We look at the state’s 50 ‘hot jobs’ outlook, and University of Michigan projections. We’re constantly looking at jobs data but the most important thing we do is working with employers that have jobs open now.”

She said that’s how the county tailors retraining programs via Michigan Works!.

“We don’t use the train-and-pray model, hoping people will find jobs with the new skills they obtain,” she said. “I want them to make a smooth transition, so they get retained and have five companies willing to hire them.”

People looking for new jobs don’t have to wait until a layoff starts and they are competing with others for openings, she said.

She cites research that shows Oakland County produces more than 20% of the entire state’s gross domestic product. It’s the reason she and others say Oakland County is Michigan’s economic driver.

“Despite that, we still have residents working two and three jobs to make ends meet. These are the folks who need retraining along with those being laid off,” she said. “We have many people doing extremely well in the county, but we never lose sight of the ones who need more opportunity.”

That is why the county applied for workforce grants recently announced by Pontiac. The city is using $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money for the grants.

“If we get this grant, the money will support an initiative to expand the summer internship program we have for 16-to-24-year-olds. We place them in jobs and we pay their wages,” she said, adding that it’s a way for young people to explore career paths that doesn’t add to a businesses daily cost.

The county has a partnership with Oakland Community College to offer healthcare courses for such career tracks as sterile processing technician course, certified nurse aide and patient care technician. These jobs pay $15 an hour or more, she said, and “are a great pathway for getting more medical certifications if they feel further inspired to earn associates or bachelors degrees.”

The county’s Michigan Works! office also offers virtual career workshops so people can determine which field to pursue.

“And we help people fill out FAFSA forms for college tuition and financial fitness classes – what to do with your 401k if you get laid off, for example,” she said.

She said anyone facing a layoff should take advantage of the early notice and contact Michigan Works!.

“Don’t wait until you’re two weeks away from losing your unemployment check,” she said. “Take time now to get help getting your resume online, building a network and starting your job search. We have coaches who can help navigate all that with them.”

Companies considering expanding or even hiring one or two new employees can contact the county to see if the roles will work as apprenticeships, she said. The county can also help businesses with employee-retention efforts, she said.

There are still many job opportunities in the county – and retraining for people affected by a layoff. Learn more by contacting the county’s Michigan Works! office online at https://www.oakgov.com/business/business-development/workforce-development or call (248) 858-5520. People can get in-person or virtual appointments.

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett is cautiously optimistic when he talks about plans for 2025.

He said city officials will continue to focus on finding best ways to manage traffic and how to optimize community amenities for the city’s 80,000 residents. They’ll also be watching the cash flow.

Last month, the council approved updated contracts with Oakland County, the Avondale School District, and for Rochester Community Schools. The update is for a $1-per-student fee that goes into the county’s Safer Communities fund.

The fund, established by the county commission in 2023, helps pay for gun buyback programs and gun safety programs, improves schools’ access to resource officers, and supports sheriff’s office training and other programs to reduce and prevent violence.

Councilwoman Teresa Mungioli objected to the requirement that the city pay an additional $960 for Avondale and $5,000 for Rochester for the contract. The fees are new and not in the city’s budget. The city will ask to be reimbursed by each district.

Mungioli said the county is consistently asking for money in new ways and that is “government at its worst.”

Others on the city council also criticized the fee but unanimously approved both requests. Barnett told the council he researched the issue and found that school districts bear more of the costs for school resource officers in other municipalities. He expects to make a presentation later this year about the costs.

That isn’t the only concerning cost of policing. Rochester Hills is patrolled by 65 Oakland County sheriff’s deputies and the sheriff’s substation has two administrators. Plans to add two deputies to the roster were stalled, according to Joe Snyder, the city’s chief financial officer, after the deputies’ union contract was renewed for three years.

The city’s budget anticipated increases over the contract of 10% in the first year, followed by 5% and 4% for each succeeding year.

But the contract requires a 17% increase in 2025 – a cost $520,000 over the city’s approved budget. The 9% increases in each of the next two years will cost the city $1.1 million and $1.9 million respectively, Snyder said.

He said the police fund balance at the end of 2024 would support this year’s increase but there won’t be enough for 2026 or 2027.

“This is an extremely significant and pressing matter,” he told the council, adding that he wants to resolve the issue with the city’s administration and council before they start budget discussions in late spring. He said he’s talked with the county’s chief financial official, Brian Lefler, about the city’s options for what he called extreme increases along with the late notice the city received about them.

Voters overwhelmingly approved renewing a 10-year millage of 3.4864 mills but the Headlee Amendment caps what the city can collect at  just over 2.4.

Barnett said the contract increases were higher than expected. He said the city had little notice in advance of the changes.

The impact over the three years of the contract is over $4.5 million to the City of Rochester Hills alone. We will be forced to explore all of the options available to cover these additional costs and will be working to present our data and research to the city council in the first or early second quarters of 2025.

Among the city’s other options, he said, are changing policing service levels and redeploying resources.

“These are all things the council will need to consider,” he said.

The city recently purchased nearly 10 acres of land at 694 S. Rochester Road for $2.7 million, with help from a $1.3 million state Department of Natural Resources grant. The land is next to nearly 13 acres of city green space along the Clinton River. The new property will be developed into a high-visibility trail hub, according to city records.

While the purchase was not part of last year’s budget, city officials had been saving money for more park land. The city paid its share of nearly $1.4 million from the capital improvement fund.

City officials are looking for ways to balance green space with commercial and industrial development. Most of the large tracts for housing have already been developed, Barnett said.

“If you have a home, it has never been worth more, but that makes it tough for people who want to buy a home,” he said. “We continue to grapple with ways people are looking to invest in our community.”

He said the city’s priority is “thoughtful redevelopment to support the existing investment values.”

“I have nothing but positive feelings for what 2025 will bring,” he said.

The city council will meet for the first time this year at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at city hall, 1000 Rochester Hills Drive in Rochester Hills. The agenda and meeting packet will be available online at https://roch.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=1&GUID=1D32E0BE-D83A-4F6E-8004-CD58A806CE5F&Mode=MainBody.

A Pontiac woman accused of animal abandonment faces a court hearing in Macomb County this week.

Karmen Schooly has a pretrial conference  at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 before Macomb County circuit court before Judge Julie Gatti.

She faces two felonies and a misdemeanor over the care of a litter of seven puppies being fostered by Alicia Coleman of Lenox Township in 2023. If convicted, Schooly could face fines up to $2,000, up to two years in prison and 300 hours of community service.

Coleman sought help from Macomb County Animal Control for two of the seven puppies that had become ill. The county ultimately took the litter and cared for the dogs until they were adopted.

Macomb County filed felony charges for animal abandonment/cruelty and unauthorized health profession practice, and a misdemeanor count of owning an unauthorized animal shelter. A fourth charge, for practicing veterinary medicine without a license as added later. Schooly has entered a not-guilty plea to each count.

Oakland County’s animal shelter and adoption center ticketed Schooly in November, after removing 29 dogs and eight cats from her Argyle Street home in Pontiac. One of the cats had to be euthanized, according to county officials.

Schooly faces a felony charge in Oakland County for failing to provide adequate care to 25 or more animals and a misdemeanor charge of operating an unregistered animal shelter.

She does not have a scheduled hearing in Oakland County’s 50th District Court on that case, according to court records. If convicted in Oakland County, she could face up to even years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines and or with a minimum post-prison requirement for five years of probation and up to 500 hours of community service, as well as psychological counseling.

She may also face repaying the cost to the county for the cost of caring for the 36 surviving animals and possibly losing the right to own animals in the future.

As of early November, Schooly was still offering dogs to prospective new owners through TriCounty Animal Rescue, which she founded in 2018. But as of late last year, the adoptions did not carry associated costs. She did not respond to a message from The Oakland Press.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct information about Schooly’s Oakland County case. She was arraigned at the district court before the case advanced to circuit court, where there are no upcoming hearings on the docket as of Monday, Jan. 6.

Pontiac residents who are feeling winter’s chill inside their own homes can visit the Robert Bowens Senior Center to warm up this month.

City officials extended the senior center hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through the end of January. The senior center is at 52 Bagley St. in Pontiac.

“That includes being open on January 20, which is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday,” said Paula Bridges, the city’s spokesperson.

City council members campaigned for extended hours over the weekend as temperatures dropped.

Oakland County has an interactive map online for people who need to find warming shelters or tips on how to avoid frozen pipes or safely thaw them: https://www.oakgov.com/community/emergency-management/need-to-know/safety/warming-and-cooling-centers.

Waterford Township may have a new supervisor but Anthony Bartolotta has promised to continue a path set by predecessor Gary Wall over the last 12 years.

In 2024 alone, the township debuted a new master plan, saw growth in the business community and received the most requests for permits to raise backyard chickens since the ordinance was approved.

Residents approved a 21-year $36.4 million bond for a new community center. The township purchased part of the former OCC Highland campus for the new site. Community center planning included a deal with the school district for the township to take charge of the senior center.

New community center is in Waterford Township’s future after voters approve 21-year bond

Public transit, first introduced with routes by the Western Oakland Transit Authority in 2020, now includes multiple SMART bus trips on weekdays and Saturdays.

The business climate also looks bright: By June, for example, four of the township’s six approved marijuana shops had opened. The other two requested extensions and were denied. In September the township reached a milestone of 12 approved short-term rentals, after a regulating ordinance was passed in 2023.

Waterford Township marijuana licensee asks for more time

DTE Energy opened its new service center on part of the former Summit Mall site.

The township’s director of development, Jeffery Polkowski told The Oakland Press earlier this year that he expected more than 70 business applications in 2024, which would exceed 2023 figures.

Four Waterford businesses get special approvals

The township’s master plan, updated this year, includes a long-term strategy to revitalize the Drayton Plains community to create a walkable Main Street-style area along Dixie Highway.

A master plan helps township officials determine best places for future development, including transitional areas between neighborhoods and business, and is a guide for best land-use practices related to environmental issues, transportation, public services and facilities.

Management change planned at Waterford Township senior center

Rep. Brenda Carter devotes the last weeks of each year to helping people struggling to meet basic needs.

The Pontiac resident said she will never forget her middle-class family falling into poverty after her parents divorced when she was a little girl. Though her mother made sure they had a home, Carter recalled days without heat or water because her mom’s income couldn’t cover all the bills. She blames that poverty for her mother’s cancer death, too, because they could not afford health insurance.

That’s why she and her husband, Randy Carter, collect necessities to donate to local organizations between Nov. 1 and Dec. 20 each year.

“We have 62,000 people in Pontiac. Not everyone is having a Merry Christmas,” Carter said.

On Dec. 6, they provided warm clothes and blankets to Pontiac-based Hope Shelters, which provide food and other resources, including temporary shelter and warm clothes, to people who are homeless.

Brian Wright, Hope’s executive director, said the donations help serve the immediate need of keeping people safe when they’re outside and assist people with getting reestablished when they are able to find more-permanent homes.

Employees at Orion Township-based Premium Distributors hosted a collection drive for winter coats and donated those at the same time.

“This will ensure that every guest has a warm coat this winter. We serve a lot of people in the winter — including people in the local community,” Wright said.

The warm hats, waterproof gloves, scarves, and coats are given to the people Hope serves along with bedding for those who have found more-permanent shelter.

“These items serve as a nice housewarming gift to help them get reestablished with keeping house,” Wright said.

The Carters also provided Thanksgiving turkeys for area military veterans, handwritten holiday cards and stuffed animals to 68 people in hospice care, toys for children in low-income families, and, in honor of her late son Bryan and her brother Claude, who were miliary veterans, gifts for Pontiac’s American Legion Post 20’s holiday party for veterans.

DTE Energy’s outage map shows more than 1,400 customers have lost power since the freezing rain started falling early Monday afternoon.

Waterford Township initially had the largest outage – more than 1,000 customers – but that appears to be resolved.

Nearly 500 customers in Farmington Hills, north and south of 13 Mile Road, west of Northwestern Highway, are waiting for power to be restored. DTE’s estimated time is 6:30 p.m. today.

Nearly 400 customers in Royal Oak are without power, down from nearly 475 earlier. DTE estimates service will be restored before 5 p.m. today.

Some of the outages are caused by tree branches, others by wildlife or equipment issues, according to outage map details.

The National Weather Service Office in White Lake Township estimates the freezing rain and sleet will turn to snow as the night progresses, with about an inch accumulating by Tuesday morning. Ice under the snow could make for dicey travel.

The county road commission has salt trucks on the road and used social media to ask drivers to use extreme caution.

“Mother Nature is throwing some crazy weather at us right now,” the road commission’s post concluded.

Snow is falling this week and cold weather is back – but don’t hold your breath for a white Christmas.

“I’m certainly not going on record as saying we’ll have a white Christmas,” said Steve Freitag, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in White Lake. “There’s a 34.7% chance of one.”

The weather service bases its prediction on records between 1991 and 2020 and defines a white Christmas as one with at least an inch of snow on the ground.

“There’s some hope but certainly it’s not likely. I feel our prediction is accurate,” he said, adding that meteorologists are tracking a weather system that could change the outcome.

The Old Farmers Almanac issues weather predictions throughout the year. Perhaps none are read as closely as Dec. 25’s snow status, which the editors base on data from the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This year, the almanac predicts a green Christmas in Michigan.

Winter technically starts on Dec. 21, the solstice marking the time when the sun is furthest from Michigan and delivers the least amount of daylight.

The almanac notes that nature is unpredictable but based its pronouncement on a 30-year historical average and the weather service’s forecast of a milder winter season.

Weather service records between 1874 and 2023 show southeast Michigan’s Christmas Day averages are:

•  High: 33 degrees Fahrenheit

•  Low: 22 degrees

•  Precipitation: 0.08 inches

•  Snow fall: 0.5 inches

•  Snow depth: 2 inches

Despite weather service standards that require at least an inch of snow on the ground to qualify for a white Christmas, Freitag’s personal definition is a little different.

“To me it’s snow falling from the sky on Christmas Eve and Christmas,” he said. “We all want to see the snow globe.”

Pontiac officials have been busy redrawing district maps since residents approved changes to the city charter in August.

The new charter created a paid, full-time at-large council seat but reduced the number of city districts from seven to six.

The council will vote on the new districts next month but a public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall, 47450 Woodward Ave., so residents can say which of two plans they prefer.

All council terms expire on Dec. 31, 2025. The change will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, after the 2025 council election.

The agenda and complete packet, with the two proposed city district maps, are online at https://cms3.revize.com/revize/pontiacminew/councilagendapack-121724a.pdf.