County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

First, we have the 2026 organizational meeting. Chairperson Darlene Sensor. Um, so we have to set our organizational meeting. Um, we can do it a couple different ways. We can actually have a date of its own. Um, like Wednesday, January 7th, or we can incorporate it into our first meeting in January. Thoughts on what the board would like to do? Separate day, ma'am. Madam Chair,

does our clerk have a preference? No, I do. Okay, let's just start off 2026. No, I would prefer the regular first meeting and incorporate it into it just because I will be back by then. Okay, but if you guys want to move forward without it, then do a separate day. I'm okay with whatever is decided and I'm fine with Skim's recommendations too, Madam Chair. Either way is good with me. So, if we did it on Wednesday, January 14th, could we do like the work session, then would we do an organizational meeting, then our regular or just incorporate it into the regular?

You could just incorporate it into the regular. All of the motions that you would approve, it's setting your banking and where you're going to publish your minutes. Mhm. Um and then uh I'm assuming you're going to are you planning to adopt your board rules or are you planning to amend those? So if you're going to do those then you'll have that at a do that at a separate meeting. But you can actually put it on as a topic of discussion. Okay. Or that meeting and any of the changes. So then you can set your timeline of when you want to do all of that. Have that approved by Okay. Madam chair. Yes. I suggest everybody before then and Agreed.

Absolutely. Okay. So, we will incorporate it then into our regular meeting on Wednesday, January 14th. Next, we have the NMCAC annual update. The director, Rebecca Yunker, please. Thank you information for you Christmas. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Just want to uh Can't believe another year has gone by. Um, and just want to, you know, finish up our year thanking you with all of the support that you did, the Children's Assessment Center. Um, and just the opportunity for me to be able to provide these services to our community. Um, and like I say, every year, um, even though we can provide these services, it takes a community to make that happen. And we really appreciate your support. So, you know, um the Children's Assessment Center is really here to ensure that children who may have experienced abuse receive a timely, coordinated, and traumainformed care through the Children's Assessment Center. Our work is really guided by those best practices, our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our children. Over the past year, our team at the Jones Assessment Center, we work closely with protective services and law enforcement. We saw 300 over 380 kids come through the center for multiple services. 319 of those were here for a forensic interview because there was concerns that those kids were being abused over the six counties that we cover. 47 of those kids were from West Common County that came in for that forensic interview. These children and their family members come to us as a result of that devastating concern that their child was abused. As the research supports, children are abused by someone usually they know, love, and trust. This causes further devastation on their family and their friends. I think I would be remiss not to just acknowledge that our county is also processing this devastation news that a person in a position of authority may have abused a child. But our focus remains firmly on children and their safety. In many cases, allegations of abuse involve individuals who are trusted by the community, which makes this news even more shocking and

devastating. The families who walk through our doors at the Children's Assessment Center are dealing with these same feelings every day. The staff that I have at the center is really there to support those families and those kids dealing with that devastation of concerns that somebody is being abused or neglected. then MCAC is really here to support them and aid in their healing. The center remains focused on protecting children, supporting non-offending caregivers, and assisting all of our partners, law enforcement, uh, protective services, US commissioners, and our community as a whole. We're here to support you. To assist us in meeting these goals, we brought a new member onto our team. You will see a nice little picture of Eloise in your packet. So, Eloise um has joined us and on our team will be our support dog in our waiting room. She is going through her obedient training right now. Um I tried to encourage her to come, but her handler said she was not ready, but she is um going to be going through training also to be able to be with kids in the courtroom. So, when kids have to go testify, she'll receive the training that she can go right up and be on the stand um and sit next to them while they're testifying. And that's going to provide just a whole another level of comfort and healing for our families and kids. Um, I did have somebody in our waiting room write up a little synopsis of what Eloise have already accomplished in her short time. She's only a couple months old, but a young girl was being interviewed at the CAC. During her interview, she disclosed being sexually abused by her father. She returned to the waiting room and after her interview sat down presented as being sad, drained, and withdrawn. Eloise immediate left her handler, Elizabeth, who's our family support coordinator, walked over to the young girl, sat down in front of her. The young girl reached her hand out and Eloise placed both of her paws on

the little girl's hand, instantly recognizing that the girl was going through something difficult and needed a moment of comfort. The girl began to smile and her mood immediately became one of hope and healing. That is the new member of our team. So stop by and visit Eloise when you have a chance. Um I want to also just acknowledge in your packet a new uh statistical survey came out from the state um and actually all of Michigan and it does give us um some ranking information. Child abuse statistics in Roscommen County, the child abuse rate 18.2 per 10,000 child children. Michigan is 11.4. So we're raking 18.4, which is higher than the normal rate in Michigan. The rate has increased 7.5 to 12.2 over the recent years. Um it's just a devastating uh battle that we have that we are continuing to try to address these issues and make sure the kids are getting the help and healing that they need when they are being abused. Roscom County consistently ranks above the state average and is among the higher risk counties in Michigan. And as we continue to deal with this issue, um I think that's just something that we need to just acknowledge and be aware of. Um the center is working on some prevention programs. I have a family uh advocate who also does a lot of our outreach. She is starting in schools teaching body safety. We have a curriculum that is kindergarten through fourth grade teaching kids um about the different types of touches and you know the uh giving them skills that they need to find safe adults and finding someone to tell. So really working on those prevention strategies. We are also um getting more involved in middle schools and high schools. My multi-disciplinary team coordinator is in the schools teaching um high

school and now even down to middle school just the effects of um sexing and internet safety and now the AI AI you know always internet has great things and it has bad things. AI is going to have some great things and it's going to have some very bad things. Um, we see a lot of kids come through the center that are involved in sexing. Um, they're, you know, viewing pornography and engaging in behaviors. Um, that we're still attempting to address those issues. We saw a 12% increase in our cases from 24 to 25. Um, but with that, we saw a 13% decrease in our funding. So, our majority of our funding is our federal funding, which is a victim of a crime act, and then we do get state funding, which has typically covered about 65 to 67% of our budget. Um well, with the 12% decrease or 13% decrease that we saw this year, we're already being told to expect another decrease for our 2027 budget, which um they're predicting anywhere from 30 to 40% decrease in our next year's budget. With that, our my board has asked me to start, you know, just researching some sustainable funds. And one of those sustainable funds um is we hate to say the word millillage um but really looking at what would a millillage look like for the children's assessment center. So I've been doing some research working I'm still working with all the equalization directors um to put together what that formula might look like. Just some preliminary um some preliminary um information that I have gotten with all going for a millage for all six counties. If we were just to look at trying to cover about 50% of our budget, um that would be a 0.08

mill that we would ask each county to be able to contribute to the center. Um we looked at our cases, all the cases that are come through the center. Ross common county covers about 22% of our cases. Adiggo covers another 22. Iasco is 20% of our cases. Crawford is 15. Ogma is also 15. And then ascod is six. So outside of Ascod um all the counties are pretty similar fluctuating from year to year. Um some years I'd say goes a little bit higher than West Common and Ogamas. So but so we've just um the board right now our committee is looking at that we would just propose that each commissioners in all six of our counties would support a millage on our behalf. We as a nonprofit obviously cannot. We're not a governmental agency. We're not a school. We're not a library. Um, so it would have to fall under the commissioners asking for that millage on our behalf, you know, as we support services to children and family in our counties. So, I'm just throwing that out there. I will continue talking with um all of the county clerks, the equalizations office, and come up with a plan. Um, right now, we're looking at maybe if um we get all I've gotten good support right now from all six counties. um if we do move forward with this and get the support um to move forward, we were hoping to probably maybe get on the um August ballot. So that would be getting our wording and get we're working with attorneys on that verbiage and um I don't want to put a whole lot of effort in working with attorneys until I know I have all the support from all six counties on how that would look. So we're hoping by January to really um get that narrowed down to come up with a plan for that. Um, so just um, and I can I do have some information I can leave with you on the millage information. Um, you know, I know there's a lot of a lot of requests in our county for support and there's a lot of great causes and obviously we

have to continue supporting our law enforcement partners and 911 and, you know, the schools and the health departments and CH and, you know, all those things that our counties um, you know, support. But this is another way that we can support our kids and our families um and really ensure that these services are here for long term and past my tenure. Um so with that also want to give some exciting news. Um our building campaign is um really full force. We've raised a little over a million dollars. um construction obviously I think everybody has seen it and heard it and um probably has been inconvenient to some by it with the parking lots and all of that but things are coming right along. Um I encourage you to walk through that detention center is going to be completely transformed into something amazing. Um they've started drywall so you can get a really good visual now of what that space is going to look like. It's going to house two forensic interview rooms for us. So, one interview room will be really designated for children, one can be designated for teens, so they really feel safe in that space. We're going to have a private medical suite. Anybody coming for a medical exam will have their own entryway. They'll have their own waiting room. They'll have their own private medical suite as now we're seeing adults come in for those sexual assault exams. We're crossing over in our waiting room with children and adults. And these women are coming to us very traumatized. They were just sexually assaulted within 120 hours. So, they really need that private space. Um, we've incorporated a shower, so after we do a sexual assault exam, um, anybody coming to us for that exam can take a shower and really have that space. And then it's going to also allow us to expand the space that we need for our staff. Um, we've grown to a staff of 12. I have 11 on staff right now. We have a position that's open. When we started, we have we had office

space for four. Um, and so now with 12 full-time staff, um, they are very excited to be able to have a space of their own to be able to provide their services. Um, we still have a ways to go. So, I'm hoping I have a secret Santa in my future that can get me to that $200,000 mark that I want to get to by February. Um, so please continue to spread the word that we are still campaigning, raising money. Um, we have that $200,000 hump that I need to get over here in the next couple months. So, anybody who uh would like to come and visit us and learn more about the campaign, please send them my way. Lastly, I just really want to or I guess I I do have to acknowledge Festival of Trees. We had a super super success um in our Festival of Trees. I we had people coming through looking at trees all day long. Our overall gross income was over $26,000 with our Festival of Trees and our concessions. So, those of you who came out um and ate um and uh visited our trees, I thank you. Those of you who decorated a tree and helped raise this money, I thank you. Um the top tree with 579 tickets was the Jeep thing by the Ross Common County Veterans Affair. The second um tree was my staff put together a Christmas on Meno Island that received 410 tickets. So that was sponsored by the staff of the NMCAC. Third was the infinity and beyond from the Roscom County front of the court with 399 tickets. The fourth was Deck the Paws by the Roscom County Board of Commissioners at 39191 tickets. And then in fifth place was Christmas on the Water from Wright Tree with 366 tickets. Again, I just want to acknowledge as you notice three out of

the five top 10 were county people, county offices, and how much we appreciate that support. I just can't even stress that enough. So, thank you. With that, um, our net gross is still going to be over 24,000. We get a lot of great sponsorships for that event. So just to end, I want to wish everybody a very merry Christmas, a happy new year. We appreciate the continued support of the board and of our community. The work we do is not easy, but it is essential. We really are just here to ensure that the children in Northern Michigan have access to safe justice and healing. So thank you.

Thank you. Any questions or comments for Rebecca? I have a just a couple. So any idea of how or why Ross Common is so much higher in our county versus the state statistics? What about our county puts us there?

So I think a couple things. Um the center has really brought a lot of awareness um being located in Roscommen County. I see it also happening in IASCO because we have a satellite office in IASCO. So I think our presence there, the awareness there, knowing and research supports, you know, we are accredited by National Children's Alliance, National Children's Alliance has started um collecting data since center started in the early 80s. The very first children's advocacy center was in Huntsville, Alabama in like 1983. So since the 83, you know, um for these past 30 years collecting that data and they show that research that your statistics do go up when a center enters your community um because families are more comfortable in getting the support, getting the services. Um people in the community mandated reporting goes up because they're more aware of how that investigation is going to happen, the support that they're going to receive. Um, so it is it does take some time I think to level you know that out. Um, so it's and I remember with the first two years I opened to the center I just I didn't even know how we were going to sustain the numbers because those first two years we were so high in reporting because I think people finally felt like there's support out there. So I think it's a combination um of that awareness um abuse just sadly happens and it's I I just I wish I had a magic wand. Um, we spend so much time trying to figure out how to stop abuse and how to educate our kids. I really would love to see a program or curriculum or what that best practice would be on how we can educate our adults not to abuse kids. I don't know how to do that. Um, so so we do so I think there is that pendulum um that you're going to see go up and go down. Um, but I really think it shows also the success of the center that people feel comfortable reporting, getting the help

that they need, and now that we can do that, hopefully the next 10 years we'll start seeing that impact of decrease. I just have one other question while we're on that. So, you said obviously your state funding is decreasing possibly again. What are their have they said why they will decrease and where they're going to put that money or so our federal get it

federal funding they're pulling from our fund. So our federal funds um support all like your domestic violence shelters, your sexual assault, you know, anything. There's like a hundred and the the division of victim services how's our funding and there's like 130 programs that they fund and um they're pulling from our fund to help border control and just some of the other things that Yeah. So we used to whenever there's fines and fees, so from a federal level, if somebody's being prosecuted and there's fines and fees, no matter how the outcome of that court process happened, those fines and fees went into the fund to help victims of a crime. Um, it didn't matter if they pled out. It didn't matter if there was a, you know, the plea bargain, if it went to trial. If there was fines and fees and they were found guilty or they pled, that money went into this pot of money. That statute changed about five, six years ago that they said if there's fines and fees and there's a plea that money is going back into the federal general fund. So that did get reversed. So that took a lot because a lot of our cases, if you talk to um all of our prosecutors, you'll find there's a lot of pleas on these cases. A lot of view very rarely do, you know, child sexual assault cases go to court. There's usually please. And um so what happened is we lost a lot of money in that federal budget because we lost that money when there was a plea bargain. It went to the general budget. That has since been reversed, but only about two years ago and our funding is always about two years behind. So So hopefully we'll see those federal funds switch and um revert back to a better increase. We cons we have a we're accredited by um also National Children's Alliance and we do have a state chapter Michigan's ch advocacy centers of Michigan. I sit on that board. Um we've been lobbying. We do pay dues um to our state chapter that help with lobbying. Our governor actually did

really she put in her budget um for our 25 allocation or 26 allocation 50 million. We had been around 30. So, she had increased us to 50, but by the time it went through the House and the Senate, we were back down. And not only did we get our 30, we went down to 28. Um, so, so there is still that push. There's that fight there. Um, there just I don't know how to advocate to our legislators how important these services are. They're just advocating money to other projects. Oh, I have had even an ask for our building campaign. Um, you know, we did not get it picked up in our state budget. We are, if you have an opportunity to reach out, um, we are in on Slotkins budget. Um, so we are allowed right now. It went through committee. We are in the budget for a million dollars for our the second phase of our campaign. Um, obviously we won't know till the end of January if that budget pass and if that allocation stays in the budget or not. So, if you do have an opportunity to reach out to any legislators to really promote how important that this project is for our community and to keep it in the budget, that would be amazing.

Thank you for Thank you for your exceptional work and you have my unwavering support. Thank you, Mark. Mr. Wolfson, thank you so much. Okay. And Eloise. Yes. She's adorable. Let's hope she's not a part of any of those state funding things, right?

Next, we have the core intermediate school district updates. Superintendent Sean Petri.

Thank you all for seeing me today. Appreciate it. probably did get this fast just in case if anybody in the audience would like when I have copies as well. So, uh this every few years I do my rounds to make sure I get to all of the commissioners in all the counties as you core represents four counties Crawford Scotam Common. However, it does jet into with school district boundaries nine counties. So, we're one of the largest second largest in the state as many might already know geographically at 2600 square miles. So when you see our core buses traveling, I'll talk a little bit about that in just a moment. Um they travel 5200 square miles daily um bringing students to the center at the top of the hill up there uh at Pioneer Hill by the office and uh a lot of great services. So I want to take the time today just to kind of share and I like to bring a one pager and I would also like to to always welcome and invite the commissioners or anyone else to come out and see the center to come out and see uh the operation. Also at at the middle school here in Ross Common to see the career tech center that the state money in about it was around 22 they gave $22.5 million to add on the automotive welding other addition to it. So it's been a great service for our kids. But looking down through it, uh what does a ISD do? And most everybody already knows that, but just as a highlight, we really fill in the services for the local districts. What that boils down to is we give uh extra special ed services at the district level as well as travel to homes to assist students and we have the center base which are students that are usually more of a severe case that we have specialy uh services for them. That's the buses that bring them in. Uh, one of our interesting and the other thing that we do is we also base oursel a lot on um instructional services which means professional development for all of our teachers, pair professionals, administrators. We've extremely expanded that and you can see at the top each of the people that are in the departments

that are directors over those departments and what their current positions are. We're very proud that we've went back to a full every two years we do a full professional development of all parrofessionals and all teachers and administration. Uh we typically hold that up at Crawford because size you're talking over 500 people who come. Last November, a year from this November, November passed, we did our first starting that up again. It was chosen to do it every other year. This coming November, we will also be doing the same. We have Jerry Brooks coming in as a keynote speaker. We have a multitude of breakout sessions for the teachers. And then we do a different location. last time we did at H Hotton Lake. We also do a full on the same day professional development for all the parapros in the districts etc. So we're really trying to expand. We have committees uh from superintendent all the way through um counselors that meet monthly including and have guidance and direction and work with one another. We also have leadership teams that we currently do amongst all the districts. I like to bring all the districts for conversation at the ISD, not just make the decision at the office. You can't do that. These are our schools and we have to work with them and every student out there is ours in those districts. So that's really has grown a lot of great bridges. But going down through what we're doing as far as instructional services, you can see that I'm really proud again of all the different committees that have been built and have gotten places and things we've done. One of our proud projects we've done as superintendent as many of you already know is how we've uh basically made the move on uh phones in the schools. So, all of the school districts at this point have had a uh I don't like to say the word ban, but they have a phone policy saying from bell to bell, put them away. I'm really excited to look at two things. What's the data change in test scores, but most of all, has discipline dropped? Preliminary, both are good. We're finding a lot of them. And my daughter is a junior as well and she tells me obviously she's going to be one-sided and talking to dad about stuff. But other kids have mentioned the

engagement in the classrooms where I'm actually able to talk to other students and that sorry being sarcastic like it was when we were in school and in the cafeteria where they're not using their phones as well. They're having to have a conversation. So this has really increased a lot of one-on-one talk which helps students in a large way. If you know human beings we are social in the way we need others to be around us. So this has grown that instead of being separate and it has helped also if we can decrease the discipline and have students feel much safer and more applicable in the classrooms it's a far better because if a students distracted by what might be going on there was one of the uh local teachers I can't remember but they did a little before the cell phone policy they did a little research they said everybody put out your phones and we're going to count every time your phone dings some sort of could be a Tik Tok could be a Snapchat I think The number was around 700 times in the class in one hour. Is that distractions or what averely? So it's nice to see that set aside focus on the digital world's not going away. AI is not going away. We have to teach the students though how to be a part of society along with that. So we're that's one of the things we're very proud of that as all the superintendents of schools move together as an ISD. There's not a lot of movement across the state on that. are starting that way districts. But that was nice that we have bonded enough to know we had to do this for our students. Uh like I said in special education, we actually work with special ed. Many know from birth all the way through all stages of life because we also have the rock organization which has a wonderful job. Which leads me to I hope that everyone in the audience has gotten a chance to drive by the center and see that potentially there's a color change to the exterior. We actually uh have worked hard to be financially sound as an ISD. With doing that, we were able to take a bond using our current monies over a 10-year period to do a $3.5 million renovation of that building that

included rock for the adults, too. ADA compliant, new windows, new doors, new entrances, much more higher efficiencies. And if anybody's familiar with the back where we had the warehouse that Rock used to be back there and doing, they don't do the industry base. It's gotten much smaller. We have a smaller space. So that was a vacant space that becomes a gathering space of whatever lands. We have done a renovation to add classrooms back there. We put professional development space in a multi-purpose room for the students. We have a cooking kitchen so we can now teach the different ages transition transition skills as well. And then we went through rock and modified rock as well because it's all considered a specialed building per se. So if you want to see that, you'd find it amazing. We could go on for hours if I were to show pictures. They did a really beautiful job renovating. We are now complete. The students are in. We're very happy. We started in March and we're done now. It was a I wouldn't recommend long construction projects for anybody, but you know what? We got through it. So, the kids are excited. The best part was their smiles the first day they went out there just grinning from ear to ear when they see because they know a new space, new lockers, new classroom, new facilities when they see one. And we're also doing work on the front part of the building as well, trying to bring it up to what they deserve and what the community deserves. So, we thank everyone's support, but want you to be familiar all of what we're doing. We're also uh with our career teched, we're very tickled to see that we're right now currently running over 200 students uh years ago, which I mean five years ago, I guess it's been eight years ago since I started. Wow, has that went fast. We had 40 students and we were possibly going to shut it down. We've seen a complete turn in it. Obviously, that leads to everyone talks about millages, but I'm pretty proud with what we currently do. So you can understand how we service those 200 over 200 students and the programs that we have. And all of the programs have college credits that students are receiving either through the early middle college model or they receive it through direct credit for taking the course and completing it. And we work with Curtain and Ferris and we're working also some stuff with Alpena

Community College because kids over Fairview are, you know, right on the doorstep of that. You got to look what's best for kids as well. But by the vast majority, our courses go through Kirtland and students have been very successful in completing courses and associates or degrees. Um the other one I want to make sure that we talk a little bit about is our early childhood. Uh many know do or don't know we have GSRP. We also according to the state funding we lost our uh great start collaborative but the board uh I brought and presented to the board that we needed to retain that program for the year. So core is funding the GSC program for the parents throughout the counties. That is where they basically come out and they work with uh they do uh play sessions, they do reading sessions, they get consulting about how to become a new parent. A lot of powerful things because if we don't give them a great launch and being parents with their students that changes the effect of how they're going to operate in the schools. So instead of closing the program, we are continuing it through June 30 and seeing what we have to do. core will be funding that program or one of the few ISDs that retain that because we've seen the value of the work for our community rather than just say I'm sorry here's a pink slip funding ended and that's somewhere around a $200,000 mark that the commitment had to be made or let go. So there was a lot of significant budget changes that have happened. We've had to make a lot of things uh considerations as well. But we do work again with a preschool. We do a lot of uh I'm I'm very happy with our GSRP. I'm very happy with our great start collaborative. Uh I'm I'm very happy with the other programs that we're doing. So overall as an ISD, I feel like we're doing we're always looking for more, but with what we get for funding, I think we're doing a very applicable powerful job for our school districts. And we have a great alliance with all of our districts, which is important because the services we provide and and that includes oversight to make sure that you're handling your programs properly, you're handling your finances properly. We have to do a lot of that. if if they have a financial situation. Our finance department goes out and assists them or takes over and such. So, you would

really wouldn't realize the amount of work that goes on in that small little cabin at the top of the hill up there uh for our communities. The one thing we like to focus on, we have to put kids first. That's the first thing it's always said amongst everyone and how we do it and why we do it. The last statement I'll make and I could go on and on because I get passionate about education. But as far as millages, I believe you're all over aware that core is the lowest funded ISD in the entire state. Uh the highest one that I'm aware of right now collects eight mills for career teched, general ed, as well as special ed. 8 mills altogether. We collect 1.05 for all of our services that we provide. So we are just over 1 mil and it's probably less than that now after headley roll back. Not coming to say we have to gather at this point but there will come a time when things look a little and we grow more if we want to continue to grow things like career teched and more opportunities for our students to get in the trades or one of our programs we're extremely proud of as well is our teaching academy because the students three days a week two and three days a week are in classrooms with teachers wanting to see if they want to become a teacher. Then they come to the center and they sit down and they work with the instructor. Other students, you know, uh are having a just it's fun to go see. And I I really do uh recommend if you have time to see the facilities we have, reach out to me. I'd love to walk you through the tech center. I'd love to walk you through I would also love to walk you through the renovations at that we've done at the uh core education center and kind of see what we do. So that concludes my report. I'll take any questions you have or comments, but we're always looking for ways to improve. questions, comments,

keep us informed. We'll do. Thank you. I appreciate always the support for the kids. I I will give definitely a shout out to the film policy. I even as a business owner as we were talking about things with economic development and housing and what what happens even with some of our small businesses in the towns, that structure and how you get good employees to not have to stay on their phone all the time. I mean, if they can start that there, learn how to focus, I think that's pretty it's helped a lot. I'm excited. Start somewhere and that's a great great place that the It was not a popular start at the beginning, but a lot of parents realized and and my wife was one of them. She was kind of like, I can't reach out to her. I said, "No,

you can talk to her before and after." So, there was a lot of adjustment, but a lot of them realized that, okay, there are a phone, there's phones in the office, there's phones in every and then my daughter's comment was, what if I want to have a private conversation? And they said, "Just like when I was a kid, there's a phone behind a closed door in the office." Oh, okay. So, it's it's interesting. You don't like to say, "Hey, hey, we got them." No, we just want to teach them what it is to talk to people, not just text or etc. So, thank you. We appreciate that. I think that was when you get a moment. Yeah.

When you get a moment, take a look at this. Reach out. And our website has had a revamp. So, we've done a website change. You can see some things, a lot of great services provided. If you get a chance to look at CORE ISD's website, please do. You'll see some neat things and I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you.

EDC committee appointment director Brenda Bachelder, please.

Good morning. Brenda Bachelder, director of business and economic development for Rosscom County. Thank you for your time this morning. Uh we have a new candidate that would like to rejoin the EDC. Uh Aaron uh was rooted in our community for many many years. Um she has recently rejoined the Kirtland Community College family. Um and in her new role um is looking for opportunities to give back to Roscom County. So, I don't think we were on the board together very long before. Um, but Aaron has been instrumental in several different initiatives here in West Common County. So, at our last EDC meeting, um, our committee recommended to bring her before the board of commissioners. So, Erin, is there anything you'd like to say about yourself and your experience?

Um, glad to be back. My family's still in the county, in the communities, um, people I care about running businesses and the kids growing up in it. So I'm just glad to be able to under the scope of my job to actually just be able to give back and serve. So any questions? Tell it. So you have is this a new position with Kirtland?

Yeah, I had left the college in 21. Um we had businesses going and things that needed tended to. So um I came back under a title three grant which was uh program development but uh we had change over in staff and the workforce development that I had built then needed hands-on work again. So, I just absorbed that back into my into mystead. But nicely, the president, Gary Roberts, who who has probably been to a meeting. Um, he's not revenue driven. So, I don't have to go out and sell training, sell training, right? I can just serve and uh help lift the e economic aspects, which is where I'm specialized in. So, sounds like it was a great addition to what you're already working on.

Yeah. Yeah. Happy to take it on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mark. Good for today.

Okay, with nothing else on our work session, this meeting would be adjourned and our next meeting starts at 10:00 a.m. Approval of the agenda. Before we approve the agenda, we do need to add under um unfinished business, the public hearing um for the budget review. And I would also like to add a board statement. So move here with with amendments. Any discussion? Roll call. Okay. Sorry.

Yes. Spencer, yes. Milbour, yes. Wolson, yes.

Motion carried. Approval of the consent agenda. In the consent agenda, we have meeting minutes from December 3rd, 2025 board meeting and December 10th, 2025 special budget meeting and the December 10th, 2025 special PLC 911 meeting. Class A's in the amount of $338,133.84 and claims and accounts in the amount of $446,9941. correspondences from the Michigan Township Association's meeting minutes, MSU correspondents, MSU um department news and updates, MAC legislative updates, and northeastern Michigan Regional Council on Aging correspondents, monthly department reports. We had a sheriff's activity report that showed September through November and the animal control and shelter stats and the clerk register of deed update. Do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda?

Second. Roll call, please. Spencer, yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Yes. Motion carried. Public comment on agenda items only. Any public comment on agenda items?

Okay. Sorry. Um, I just wanted to add, uh, I forgot about this after I submitted my clerk report. Um, that I did want to make the board aware that recall petition wording was filed in Lake Township for the supervisor, the treasurer, and one of their trustees. So, the election commission will be meeting on Monday the 22nd for the clarity and factual hearing. So depending on how all that works out, I know the petition sponsor is trying to push to try to get it done by May or for the so it could be on the May election. So they have to put signed petitions in by January 30th. So I don't really know how all that's going to work out, but I forgot to put that in my report. So I just wanted to tell you. Thank you. Any other public comment on agenda items? Okay, visitors. Any visitors? Unfinished business. Lake level control structure update. Um, H Hotton Lake. We had a meeting with the engineers per commissioner Wolfson's request to go over some details involving design. After the meeting, I emailed the advisory committee asking them four questions uh and their thoughts. The first one was regarding the a visual gauge at the structure and if that would be helpful. This would be associated with the USGS gauge. Did we want the gates capable of being controlled by a phone? Did we want the control panel to be able to run off a portable generator in the event that it was necessary to do so? And did we want cameras at the structure? I have received feedback from almost all of the advisory committee and the lake committee will review and present the

findings hopefully at the next meeting. I do know that Chase has opened a gate at the H Hotton Lake um structure and once the draw down to the appropriate level per the operations manual has been reached he will close that gate. Um, Higgins Lake, we are still waiting on some recommendations from Chase regarding the worn pieces on the structure. Um, all commissioners have received a copy of the Court of Appeals decision regarding the SAD which was positive. Um, and Lake St. Helen. Commissioner Wolson.

Um, nothing on Lake St. Helen. I've heard nothing back from St. Helen Shooting Cub. So, I'll contact the attorney and say, I guess we move forward to eliminate winter level on that lake because that'll have to go through the courts with the board's approval. I'll contact and it'll go through and they'll send out notices and notification everybody in the SAD. Okay. I'm okay with that. All right. Anything else on any of the lakes that you want to mention?

Um, just the court decision on the SAD for Higgins Lake. The court upheld what we decided that, you know, the SAD stands. Um, if there's further court action on that, it it's it's a shame to put that cost onto everybody in the SAD when the court's already said we were right in establishing that district. But I suppose some people may decide to put that cost on the SAD if they choose. But, you know, there's a threat that it may go to um Supreme Court, but in that threat was also the comment Supreme Court probably won't even hear it, you know. So, it's like why expend people's money on that then is my opinion.

Um public hearing. So, I make a motion to enter into a public hearing to discuss the 2026 proposed budget. Move, Madam Chair. Um, any discussion and roll call whenever clerk is ready. Mley, yes. Yes. Milurn, yes. Spencer,

yes. Okay. Do we have any um public comments regarding the 2026 proposed budget? Okay. So then I make a motion to exit the public hearing and go back into regular session. Chair, uh any discussion? Roll call, please. Did you get a second? Madam Chair, I made a motion. Y Spencer, yes. Elurn, yes. Wson, yes. Mley, yes. Motion carried.

Okay. Next, we have the statement. The past couple of weeks, I know, have not been easy. Um, the following statement comes from conversations that have taken place between some board members and their constituents. In response to these conversations, I have engaged in discussions with fellow commissioners, leading to the realization that I must make this statement. As chair, it is my responsibility and duty. It is the board's job to ensure that our board acts in the best interests of both the county and its residents. I had requested a meeting with Commissioner Russo and our administrator on Tuesday morning to address the pressing interests of the county and clarify his role during this time. However, per his request, this meeting was cancelled so he could address some personal affairs. I intend to reschedu a meeting before the first before our first meeting in January if possible. It is crucial to acknowledge that while the board has reviewed all possible steps concerning Commissioner Russo, including his the reassignment of his committees for 2026, it is the board's duty to ensure that we maintain operational integrity. If Commissioner Russo is unable to f fulfill his duties as a commissioner, the board feels that the best course of action would be for Commissioner Russo to step down. This decision not only respects Commissioner Russo's need to focus on his personal matters but also aligns with the board's commitment to fostering effective governance. Ultimately, this is Commissioner Russo's decision and the board will be concentrating in the tasks and the goals that we have put forth for 2026. If any board member wants to make a comment, you're more than welcome to

make a comment. Madam chair. Yes.

I could save it for board comments at the end, but since open up the floor, I think we've had a lot of distractions this year. You know, it's just been difficult to get through all of the things that we would want to accomplish in our strategic plan. and if not if our goal is all about what's rest for the county and to continue to have distractions and not stay focused is not going to bear us well as we move into a new year in the last three years of our terms. So I I applaud our commissioner sitting here that we believe that that's where our attention will be despite whatever um commissioner you know Russo's decision is this is where we're focused. It is the county at this point in time. We can't be diverted. So, thank you for the statements,

Madam Chair. Yes. Yeah. My focus is to is to concerns for constituents. Y' should always be our focus. Okay.

Um, new business, special recognition. Please come forward. Commissioner, so this is

we have um a certificate of appreciation presented to you from Ross County Veterans Board of Affairs and the Board of Commission. And this is an appreciation for all you do for the veterans and the county. Um, and I'd like to add into this. I still remember my first week when I got awarded department head and I came into the commissioner's office and I was looking to figure out something to ask somebody questions. He walked by and he said, "You know what? We need we need programs. Keep our focus on that." From that statement, we have all these amazing programs. How veteran. What that does is it puts your activities as a veteran out there in a positive light to all our veterans so we don't fall on that struggle bus and we shine light onto that. And with that, Mr. or Commissioner Moore, Officer Mohorn, um we appreciate everything you've done for our office and our community. Thank you, sir. There's no higher honor for a for a veteran

than recognition from a fellow veteran. Thank you.

Oh, please don't. Please come back up. Mark, you come too. Right back to where you were. Good lord. You guys didn't I'm not prepared at all for this. Michelle, you're not the only one. the flag.

Okay. It is an honor and privilege to present this to Mr. Heath Neoth from the Roscom County Veterans Affairs Office and Veterans of Roscom. We'd like to thank you for many things that you do every day. You go out of your way to make certain that every veteran and I'd like to be able every veteran that comes to our office receives attention time they so deserve the need. Thank you, sir. Now you can sit down. I have a veteran waiting in the office. So thank you.

That's fun when none of them know what's going on. That's not me. What I got? Stop. There's new business up there. Oh, she put it under she put the public hearing under new business instead of unfinished. Gotcha. Okay. Okay. All right. I don't know what's happening anymore.

All right. Motions and resolutions. Whenever our clerk is ready. Motion number one, move to authorize an increase in short-term disability weekly benefit maximum amount from $500 to $600 effective January 1, 2026. Total overall short-term disability plan annual premiums to increase $2,2.65 across all funds. Move, Madam Chair. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Orley, yes. Wolson, yes. Milbour, yes. Spencer,

yes. and carried. Number two, move to adopt resolution number 2025-12-03, annual exemption option as set forth in 2011 public act 152, the publicly funded health insurance contribution act resolution resolution number 2025-12-03, annual exemption option as set forth in 2011 public act 152, the publicly funded health insurance contribution act resolution. Whereas the state of Michigan enacted public act 152 of 2011, the publicly publicly funded health insurance contribution act and gave immediate effect on September 27th, 2011. And whereas PA 152 sets forth various options that public employee public employers may follow when providing health care benefits to their eligible employees. And whereas the county board of commissioners recommends that Ross common county again formally exercise its legal right to exempt itself from the act for calendar year 2026. And whereas in 2025 the board of commissioners redesigned employee healthcare benefits to ensure manageable annual healthcare premium costs, thus meeting the spirit of the legislation. And whereas the county of Ross common has chosen to create an employee premium share program that is more suitable for the economic climate and culture of Ross common county and its employees. Now therefore be it resolved that pursuant to the authority granted a county under section 8 of public act 152 of 2011 the Roscomin County Board of Commissioners hereby exempts Ross common county from the requirements of PA 152 for the calendar for calendar year 2026.

So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Spencer, yes. Resolution adopted. Number three, move to authorize full funding of employee HMO HDHP deductible costs through healthc care savings account deposit for benefit plan year beginning 2026. Deductible rates are family and twoerson plans at $3,400 and single plans at $1,700. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mley, yes. Spencer, yes. Yes. Wolson, yes.

Motion carried. Number four, move to authorize an additional delta delta dental PO plan with $1,500 lifetime orthodontic coverage as an employee buyup option with employee paying full cost of plan differences. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Wolfson, yes. Mley, yes. Gilbert, yes. Spencer,

yes. Motion carried. Number five, move to set non-union and union employee health insurance premium contributions for the 2026 fiscal calendar year as follows. Base plan set at 5% of the annual health insurance premium. Buyup option set at 5% of the annual health insurance premium plus 100% of premium difference. Contributions shall be pre-taxed and based on the health insurance carrier's definition of plan types. Rates shall be charged per pay period as outlined below. Single base plan HMO HSA 20% $1659 twoerson $3982 family $49.77 buyup option HMO HSA single $29.19 two person $706 family $8757

any discussion roll call Please. Spencer, yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Milbour, yes. Motion carried. Number six, move to authorize the inclusion of $10,000 in the 2026 fiscal year budget, commissioners appropriations for the purpose of contracting for redevelopment and update of the Ross common county employee personnel manual. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Milurn, yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Spencer, yes. Motion carried.

Number seven, move to authorize an increase in hours from 29 per week to 35 per week, a change from part part-time to full-time for the position of equalization clerk. Position duties and expenses are shared between equalization, soil erosion, and spongy moth. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mley, yes. Milbour, yes. Wolson, yes. Spencer, yes. Motion carried. Number eight, move to adopt the 2026 non-union paygrades outlining non-union position placements in the Ross common county wage and compensation plan. See attached.

Make a motion. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Wolson. Yes. Spencer. Yes. Yes. Mley. Yes. Motion carried. Number nine. Move to adopt the below non-un wage scale effective January 1, 2026. That includes the following adjustments. Market adjustment of 4% for grades 1 through six as supported through market analysis and 3% cost of living increase for all non-union county positions, including elected officials. I'll second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Milbour, yes. Spencer, yes. Yes. Wolson,

yes. Motion carried. Number 10. Move to authorize the appropriation of $226,325 to Central Michigan District Health Department for fiscal year 2026. So moved. Any discussion? Roll call. Spencer, yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Milbour, yes. Motion carried. Number 11. Move to authorize the appropriation of $24,663.30 to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Fund for fiscal year 2026.

Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mley, yes. Spencer, yes. Yes. Wolson, yes. Motion carried. Number 12, move to authorize the appropriation of $89,159 to the airport fund for fiscal year 2026. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Wolson, yes. Mley, yes. Sensor, yes. Yes.

Motion carried. Number 13. move to authorize the appropriation of $57,425 to the Northern Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority for fiscal year 2026. So moved. A second. Any discussion? We have other options. No, not unless you break this apart, but you have to have someplace to go before you break it apart. We haven't explored that yet.

Um, we looked into it, gosh, I want to say five or six years ago when Judge Noble was still here. Um, and basically, if one county chooses to leave this group, this community mental health authority, then the whole authority falls apart. um that's what led them back into Traverse City kind of went that same route Grand Traverse did. Um and so we've started all over again. So if we leave then the whole thing falls apart because of how it's formed. Um but we can always look into it again if the board so directs that. So just have to find somebody else to take us first. Right. Yes. Since we're in discussion on that. Yep.

I don't disagree that looking at other options might not be a bad thing to do. However, knowing what the state's going through right now and how they're trying to change the way the mental health code works currently and different groups being able to be a part of that RFP process, there could be a ton of changes happen that are outside of our control. Making those decisions at this point's a little too late in the game or too early compared to what's going to happen and we keep it on our radar when we think about our strategic plan. That's my thought. I appreciate your input, but at this point, we need to stay with what we got. So, the $57,000 is appropriate.

Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Hunter, yes. Yes. Milurn, yes. Mley, yes. Motion carried. Number 14. Move to authorize the appropriation of $137,042.92 cents to the friend of the court fund for fiscal year 2025. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Olson, yes. Mley, yes. Milbour, yes. Spencer, yes. Motion carried.

Number 15. Move to authorize the appropriation of $369,479.70 to the child care fund for fiscal year 2026. So moved. I'll second. Any discussion? Yes. Is this getting us caught up a little bit also? Commissioner Wilson, I'm sorry I couldn't hear. I was wondering if this number gets us caught up in payment.

Gets us caught up. So for the child care fund, um I guess caught up would be this is probably the least amount in the 10 years I've been here. No, this is the least amount in the 10 years I've been here that they have requested for appropriation. Um I think that the payments to the state organizations are well well in hand. Um and that that's that's a reflection of this number. Yes, I've seen I've seen this this number go up to high $500,000 $600,000 in the past. So, this is a good value for this year. Any other discussion? Roll call, please. Milurn, yes. Wolson,

yes. Mley, yes. Spencer, yes. Motion carried. 16. Move to authorize the appropriation of $31,000 to the law library fund for fiscal year 2026. So move, madam chair. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Moley, yes. Sensor, yes. Wilson, yes. Motion carried. 17. Move to authorize the appropriation of $18,000 to the landfill monitor monitoring fund for fiscal year 2026. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Milbour, yes. Mley,

yes. Wolson, yes. Sensor, yes. Motion carried. Not long.

Uh, number 18. Move to adopt resolution number 2025-12-04, County of Ross common fiscal year 2026, general appropriations act. Resolution number 2025-12-04, County of Ross Common 2026 fiscal year general appropriations act. A resolution appropriating monies and adopting the 2026 Rosscom County budget including the general fund operating county road commission fund, special road millillage fund, E911 fund, sheriff road patrol fund, animal control donations fund, animal shelter program fund, emergency management fund, specialty hybrid court fund, friend of the court fund, counseling fund, landfill remediation fund, automation fund, MCO CPE training fund, indigent defense fund, concealed pistol Licensing fund, materials management planning fund, correction training fund, welfare fund, law library fund, county housing program income funds, county housing escrow fund, county housing administration fund, juvenile justice fund, commission on aging fund, childc care fund, veterans affairs fund, spongy moth fund, capital improvements fund, inmate commissary fund, airport fund, and special assessment district funds. Whereas the Uniform Budget and Accounting Act, MCLA141.421 requires that the board enact a general appropriations act designed to meet county funded expenditures. And whereas county officers, the courts, county departments, and other budget centers have submitted requests for a county appropriation in the 2026 budget. And whereas the county administrator controller in accordance with MLA141.434, MLA41.435 435 and MCLA141.436 has reviewed these requests and has submitted to the Ross Common County Board of Commissioners a recommended budget that intends to fund those activities of a countymandated bylaw at a serviceable level as required. And

whereas the board of commissioners having reviewed the administrator controllers recommended budget has made decisions for modification based on strategic fiscal goals. And whereas the board of commissioners has ensured that the recommended general appropriations act ensures that estimated total expenditures including an acred deficit does not exceed total estimated revenues including an available surplus and the proceeds from bonds and other obligations. And whereas a public hearing on the budget pursuant to MLA41.412 412 was held on December 17th, 2025 and notice of a public hearing on the proposed budget was published in a newspaper of general circulation on December 11th, 2025 and posted on www.roscomcounty.net. Now therefore be it resolved one that the 2026 Ross common county budget for the general fund and all special funds except trust and agency internal service and enterprise funds are hereby adopted on a basis consistent with all Ross common county fiscal fiscal excuse me Rosscom county financial policies as well as the conditions set forth by this resolution two the Ross common county board of commissioners acknowledges that in adoption of the budget adora millages totaling 8.1431 one will be levied against the county's taxable valuation. The purpose and amount of the millages are general fund 3.410, E911.9689, road patrol 1.4533, Senior Services 9444, Spongy Moth.2463, 2463 animal shelter 3869 Veterans Affairs.1588 Special Road Mill 4760 Emergency Management 0985 three Roscom County Board of Commissioners adopts the below revenues and expenditures for the 2026 general fund operating and other special revenue funds setting forth the amounts appropriated by the board of commissioners to defay the expenditures

and meet the liabilities of the local unit for the ensuing ing fiscal year. I'm not reading all of that. No.

Number four, the 2026 Ross common county budget. The Department of Treasury uniform chart of accounts, expenditures and revenues shall be recorded and reported in the manner provided by law. Number five, no obligation shall be incurred against and no payment shall be made from any appropriation account unless there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in the appropriation and sufficient funds are or will be available to meet the obligation. The deviation from the original general appropriations act shall not be made without amending the general appropriations act. Number six, all activity centers, county departments, elected office holders, agencies, boards, commissions, or units whatsoever, shall in consideration of the allocations authorized by the Ross Common County Board of Commissioners abide by the Uniform Budget and Accounting Act and policies and procedures established by the Ross Common County Board of Commissioners. Number seven, if during the fiscal year it appears the board of commissioners or administrator controller that the actual and probable revenues from taxes and other sources in a fund are less than the estimated revenues, including an available surplus upon which appropriations from the fund were based. The administrator controller shall present to the legislative body recommendations which if adopted would prevent expenditures from exceeding available revenues for that current fiscal year. Eight, improperly amend budgets may lead to unpaid vouchers at year end if the unit's total budget would be exceeded. Any obligation incurred or payment authorized in violation of this resolution shall be void and shall subject any responsible officials or employees to disciplinary action as outlined in public act 621 of 1978. Number nine, the board of commissioners allows that budgetary control shall reside at the most detailed level of budget adopted by the board and that budgetary unit administrators may exercise their discretion to make transfers among line items within the supplies and other services and charges account groups with

written notice and permission of the administrator. So move. Second. Any discussion? Madam chair. Yes. Yes, I would like to publicly thank the employees, the the department heads and Jod Valentino for this budget. Took a tremendous amount of work and I I thank them for I agree.

Any further discussion? I I did share that with some of the townships as well. Like this process this year I felt as somebody came in coming in new it was it wasn't just oh here's the last minute here's the budget and we're trying to we've had this discussion we've met with department heads I just thought it was better than we've done in the past and as somebody new I felt much more comfortable making the votes and the decisions on that budget because of that. So thanks for all the work that was done on it. Thank you. Roll call, please. Wolfson, yes. Mley, yes. Spencer, yes. Yes. Resolution adopted.

Committee reports. Commissioner Moley. Oh boy.

So, I will preface this with these aren't technically committee reports because the official committees just had had not since then, but I'm going to wrap these in just with the work that's, you know, within my district. So, on the 8th of December, the village meeting was there. One of their biggest conversations was really around what's going on with that building, the spruce, and the the challenges with getting that demolished and redone. And apparently insurance was paid out ahead of time and they're not wanting to pay additional and it hasn't been done yet. So there's some fight between con contractor owner. Um they're hoping to get that hopefully resolved, but that's been one of the biggest discussions on their plate. Christmas in the village was great. Um, I think there's another piece from a a Brownfield district grant that they have that will help that BC Pizza old building that was taken down. So, there was a gas station there a long time ago. So, obviously now they have found things that they have to clean up before that they can do that. So, that's still in the works for their development. Uh, Garish Township met on December 9th. They off they have a new officer Dylan Shro. He's lo local from St. Helen. And so they're fully staffed now in that department, which I thought was a a good update. They also did the resolution to opt out of public act 152, which I think most of the groups are doing as well. And they do have a watershed grant through Eagle that they're working on. That's up to $40,000 that they may be getting. Um on the 15th, the DDA met as well. Jamrock Drop is New Year's Eve if anybody wants to come out and enjoy downtown on that time. And the Children's Assessment Center, which we just heard earlier today, is looking for

a $7,000 request from them to help them with their um construction grant. So, from those type of pieces, those are just things going on. Thank you, Commissioner Milurn. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll wrap my committee report and board board comment in together. Animal control shelter tomorrow at 8:30 district health this afternoon at 4 o'clock. Kim, yeah, I will. I'm leaving. I I'll be there. I'll I'll support our team. All right.

And I went to the Festival of Trees. It was amazing. You can't be when somebody's got two pickup trucks there. Veterans Affairs obviously won that. And I've been going to the COA for lunch. If you ever get a chance to get over there, it's really good food and really good camaraderie. It's all I have, Madam Chair. Thank you. Commissioner Wolfson.

Yeah. I met with Daniel Gro from Eagle on Friday to go over materials management funding. He suggested that we put in for all the money we can possibly put in for last year's 71,000 we were supposed to get indicating that there may be no more funding coming. We don't know at this point. Well, then the next day I see on the news how the state has axed a lot of these unspent monies. So, we'll be working on that part of it. Um, we had a brief agenda meeting last Wednesday and I've been working with the Department of Corrections regarding the rest common substance use disorder jailbased program and just trying to iron out all of what we actually approve versus the services that we're getting and or not have not received. So, we're just working through all of that and that is all that I've had other than animal control tomorrow morning at 8:30. Um, public comment. Is there any public comment? Hey, board comment. Commissioner Mley. I won't go through a lot, but I I do want to say, you know, I love our department head reports that we get. Um I know we kind of rushed those through during consent agenda, but if they are in the audience, I want them to know when I look at those numbers, you know, the sheriff's department mileage was down a bit, but patrol hours were up. I mean, that means they're still out there and they're doing those things and arrests were down, so that's probably a good thing. our clerk's report. Thank you to Mary Helen for the work trying to

get all that back indexing of all I mean we're at 1941 now of trying to get all those in. I know that's a huge task. So, thank you for her to continue to do that. animal shelter. You've only had one month left in this year that they did. And you know, dog bites, dog pickups, and those that have been returned to owners um were already over what they did last year and they still have one more month to go. So, follow-ups and vet appointments were up. I mean, it just kind of shows you the work that's done when they do submit those reports. So, um kudos to them. There is a public service loan forgiveness program that might not be as aware for a lot of county type employees the to help attract and retain employees. So if that's something they may need to know about. I did want to comment on the personnel manual. I think I said this a little bit at the last meeting. I'm hopeful that that is that one-time thing and that we have a process in place that that we don't have to do that again because I know other departments they kind of they have to they do those are on their own. They're not paying and adding to their budget to go to create those. But I do agree that we weren't able to get that done and I'm okay with the vote of doing it. But I just hope going forward we stay up on it and we're not behind on those two serving on central Michigan District and Northern Lakes. Although I'm okay that they didn't increase their fees this year and there are things we can look at. I do want to stay on their radar to make sure that they come and they report on how that money is used and how it's impacting Ross Common, not just all the other areas that they use that money in their general fund for. So, let's keep that on our radar to make sure that they're doing what we need out of that money before we appropriate the same or more or less going forward. That's it. Commissioner Milbourne, Commissioner

Wilson, I just want to thank everyone for all their hard work and dedication and wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year. If I don't see you then, Merry Christmas. With no other board comment, this meeting is adjourned.