education from an early age. “I would say from my perspective, it’s encouraging because not only does it open the next generation’s eyes to those types of opportunities, but what it does in the broader sense is it lessens the risk that we’re going to have outward flight as far as population,” Fuentes explains.“If there are jobs that they know they can perform here, they don’t have to look elsewhere and leave the county, region, or state.” THE AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING CHALLENGE When asked about top priorities from the county perspective, Fuentes responds without hesitation.“I think probably one of the priorities is maintaining or continuing affordable living, overall affordability.” In a region where the median property value reached $243,700 in 2023, up 7.83 percent from the previous year, that priority takes on practical urgency even as Clinton County’s housing costs remain below the national median of $303,400. However, the challenge is multifaceted. Large sections of the county lack the water and sewer infrastructure necessary to support residential development, a limitation that constrains housing options regardless of demand. “I would say we’re not seeing the developments to the extent that are necessary at current time,” Fuentes acknowledges. “That goes back to some of the character of the county itself. There are large portions or sections of the county that lacked necessary infrastructure for those types of development, water and sewer, et cetera.” Some progress is present through local initiative. “There are some opportunities. There are some local initiatives amongst a couple of the local units trying to expand that opportunity to bring in some additional multifamily dwellings,” Fuentes says. “But currently that’s one of our limitations at the county level.” DeLong has worked to facilitate partnerships between municipalities that could expand infrastructure reach.“We’ve been supportive in trying to be involved to work through this so we can get a cooperative agreement and authority,” 201 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 CLINTON COUNTY, MI
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