Message from Robert E. Guenzel,
Washtenaw County Administrator

Hello and Welcome!

Washtenaw County government continues to find ways to enhance our relationships with the people we serve. I hope you will use this web site to your full advantage. It represents your window on Washtenaw County, and the services provided by the 1200-plus men and women who work here.

Every other year this organization measures itself with an “Organizational Capability Survey.” One of the areas covered in that survey offers a statement to employees: “I am proud to say that I work for Washtenaw County.” In the last ten years the responses from employees have affirmed that statement with percentages of 80 to 90%.

Obviously this is very gratifying for management in general, and for me in particular. But I think this year, as Washtenaw County along with so many counties in our State, face fiscal challenges unmatched in many years, my personal sense of pride in this organization has never been greater.

Facing a permanent deficit in our 2008-2009 budget, largely unforeseen, this organization has helped make critical reductions while redefining and re-energizing our long term commitment to world class public service. We are taking ideas, and some risk, and acting on new efficiencies based on collaboration and cooperation – among our own programs and across all local governments and all sectors. This must now be the business of government: finding out who does what best and supporting it.

Our alliances with our great universities, with the private sector and non-profits, and with local municipal leadership have helped us address increasing need across the board in human services, in critical planning and development and local answers to global energy issues.

Just some of that collaboration is evidenced in our Successful Communities initiative for regional success in the areas of economic development, talent development, and quality of place; our work in furthering the next generation of transportation efficiency and access like the Aerotropolis project, and our efforts to align more than two dozen local non-profit agencies and private sector partners in a Blueprint to end homelessness in Washtenaw County by 2015. 

As we deal with economic realities, I can tell you that our belief in the nobility of public service and our commitment to excellence remains steadfast.

I would be glad to hear from you on these comments, or on any issues discussed here on the eWashtenaw web site.

Sincerely, 

Robert E. Guenzel, Administrator
Washtenaw County