[IMOGAJAD]

2nd in the state? (Source: Oceana Herald Journal). I also read they have some of the worst roads of any county. I am a former fourteen-year county resident. There are many other economically agriculturally dependent counties in Michigan. Can anyone shed any light on why Oceana has been hit so much harder than others by the economic downturn?

[Bydand]

I live in Mason County and am in Oceana County several times every week. Their roads are no worse than any others in this area. In fact it is one of the better maintained Counties road wise. Their plow drivers are on the ball, and the general repair is actually very good considering the economic crisis going on at every County level right now.

As for the Public assistance levels being high, I really don't know what the answer would be. Could it be that they are talking about during the winter months when all the Tourists go home and the seasonal jobs dry up, or are they reporting long-term assistance?

[IMOGAJAD]

The following source was located by Googling "Oceana County Roads."
Specifically,
Pothole haven? Oceana County tops bad roads list

By Eric Gaertner | Muskegon Chronicle

November 16, 2009, 10:41PM


"WEST MICHIGAN — Don’t expect Oceana County, which is No. 1 in the state in producing asparagus, to celebrate its new top-ranked status in another category with a festival.

Based on a report released this week by a group representing road builders, Oceana County is No. 1 on the list of Michigan counties with the highest percentage of federal-aid miles of roads in poor condition in 2008. The report by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association rated 66 percent of the 805 federal-aid road miles in Oceana County as “poor.”

[Bydand]

That report is looking at results from 2008. They have resurfaced almost all of the freeway that runs through Oceana County last summer (which was quite rough in places.) They also really did a lot of patching and resurfacing last year all over the County. I doubt they would rank as high this year as they did back in 08'.

[Bydand]

With the above being said, I don't know how long before they fall back to the bottom rung for road conditions. They announced in this Wednesdays paper that the Road Commission is going to be laying off 5-7 guys for the Summer to save money. That is going to have an impact on the improvements they made last year.

[IMOGAJAD]

"Oceana County had a 32.8 percent general public assistance rate for 2009, tying it with Clare County for the second highest public assistance rate in the state. The state average for 2009 was 22.4 percent."



The above quote is credited to the Oceana Herald-Journal a few weeks ago. The author obtained his source from the state, I'd assume. Therefore I'd have no idea "how" the state (methodology) figured Oceana County was the second highest for public assistance.


Please refer to my original thread post. I am requesting opinion on why public assistance is so incredibly high.



Concerning the "road" data: I simply provided Mlive as the source. If they used less than current facts, (as you stated), perhaps the MLive should be reminded to print only current data, although the article was published less than six months ago.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by IMOGAJAD

"Oceana County had a 32.8 percent general public assistance rate for 2009, tying it with Clare County for the second highest public assistance rate in the state. The state average for 2009 was 22.4 percent."



The above quote is credited to the Oceana Herald-Journal a few weeks ago. The author obtained his source from the state, I'd assume. Therefore I'd have no idea "how" the state (methodology) figured Oceana County was the second highest for public assistance.


Please refer to my original thread post. I am requesting opinion on why public assistance is so incredibly high.

I gave what I thought might be the reason already so I won't repost that here. It was in the paper on March 24th if I remember correctly. I don't recall much of the article, did it give what they thought the reasons were for such a high number?

Concerning the "road" data: I simply provided Mlive as the source. If they used less than current facts, (as you stated), perhaps the MLive should be reminded to print only current data, although the article was published less than six months ago.

It was probably the newest data set they had to work with. 6 Months ago would put it late 2009 and it takes a while to compile raw data into a usable format generally, so the data they used was probably newly released. They were still working on long stretches of the highway at that time as well. They just put up the barrels again for more work down that direction, but I don't know if it is in Oceana County or just over the line into Muskegon County.

[malamute]

Maybe it's the drug problem there that have so many living on welfare handouts.

Oceana County struggles with teen drug problem | Muskegon News Archive - MLive.com

"There is a big problem here," said 20-year-old Brittany of Rothbury, a recovering drug addict. "Everyone thinks Muskegon is so bad, but they sell the same stuff here as they do there. ... Weed is a big deal everywhere, but prescription drugs you can get from just about anyone."

Obviously when you need your own money for drugs you need government giving you your food and other basics.

[IMOGAJAD]

Yes, I'm familiar with that article. In fact a few months back I actually wrote the Sheriff to comment on all the drug busts in Oceana and surrounding counties. I am a former resident from 1966 - 1981 and even back then there was plenty of illicit drug activity, which is unusual for a conservative farming community. It appears things have gotten worse. But drugs may only be a symptom of the cause the county economy is at rock bottom.

[scolls]

Public assistance is a major industry in northern Michigan. There are no good paying jobs.