'Michigan Matters' Focus: Wayne County's New Chapter, Bombastic Presidential Race
Wayne County may have emerged from the consent decree it was put under by the state 14 months ago, but tough work is still ahead including talk revolving around its controversial county jail.
That according to Wayne County Executive Warren Evans who appeared on CBS 62's "Michigan Matters" Senior Product/Host Carol Cain as he talked about tidings of the state's largest county.
"Exiting the consent agreement is just the starting point,"Evans said. "Like Detroit's bankruptcy, it was critical to getting fiscal house in order, but the hard work lies ahead."
During the consent decree, the county was able to increase the funding of its pension system. But it still has $636.5 million in unfunded pension liabilities.
"Achieving surpluses is critical to continuing the county's recovery and addressing the key challenges including underfunded pensions, health care liabilities and the condition of the current jail facilities," he said.
When pressed on the fate of the jail project, Evans said discussions were still being held with people representing Tom Gores and Dan Gilbert who have talked about it as a potential site for a soccer team.
Also on the show, Keith Owens, Senior Editor of the Michigan Chronicle, Suzy Avery, former Chair of the Michigan GOP, and Osama Siblani, Publisher, The Arab American News, talked about the presidential race.
Siblani criticized both candidates for their campaigns, and talked about a new billboard in Dearborn that focused on Donald Trump and was printed in Arabic.