County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

of the whole. Um, we all received the letter from EDC um after we had submitted them a letter and they do plan on disbanding as of January 31st, 2026. Um, I know that there's some funds left in their account. Jody, how does that work? So um they have two separate funds. Both were allocated directly from the board of commissioners. Um so that is something that you can reallocate to to future growth um of the economic development. But the first fund which is just the special project fund which is where the ARPA funds were carried over several years ago um roughly 650,000 has 62,49836 left in it. um of that there is still a um we still have to fulfill the waterway trails the the big fun fish um project that they started that's $10,63157 that's still left out there. Um they did have a senior scholarship high school senior scholarship program for all three of our high schools in place that they are finishing up this month. Um and that is a $1,500 scholarship to each student. So we have that as well. Um so aside from that, you know, aside from that 15,000, so you're you're looking at 27,149 in the revolving loan fund. Um so for you guys, that is for you to decide how that's best to invest in growing the goal of that separate nonprofit economic development corporation. Madam Chair.

Yes. Was the money given to them to get them to establish on their own? Originally,

it was. Yep. So, originally there was very specific projects um and I'm sure Commissioner Milbour will remember. He's the only one that's still here besides me and Michelle. But um they came then after the allocation of the ARPA funds and during all of the uh hard times with budgeting when the board at the time had to make some pretty big cuts in order to make sure that we weren't dipping into the fund balance um and asked if they could reallocate that money. And in that discussion, in that process, it was that the goal should be by the time that money is supposed to run out that they would have that standalone um economic development corporation, which then allows you of course to partner with private and public, you can do state grants, you can do private grants. Um their models, the model in general that they first started out with was Atiggo County's model. Um, but I think that they really kind of got got off track as we've had new members come through and it didn't happen and it doesn't sound like based on the letter and the communications that I've had since the um initial letter in mid December went out that anyone thought that they had the anyone on the existing board thought that they had the wherewithal or the time and energy to put into accomplishing that. And so we were down to essentially our last budget year of funding.

Well, if they have funds left to reorganize, [snorts] should we not maybe leave them funds there so they can go ahead and reorganize? They voted that they can't reorganize. Okay, that exist that committee said we can't achieve that goal. So, my thought was maybe you guys should start looking for maybe some requests for proposals or organize a group that you can put into play or contract with to to make that happen for the county. But yes, I think you should reinvest those funds directly into that that goal like [clears throat] a project or something that maybe the nonprofit group once they're established might need. Is that kind of what I'm hearing? Yes.

Madam Chair? Yeah. Could you kind of go back over there were you said there were two funds the special project fund which was the ARPA money a little over 62 grand what's the other is the other fund where the water project and the scholarship money comes from it is not so the economic development special project fund which is the one that has the 62,49836 currently that is where the waterway trails and the senior scholarships will come out of that is the ARPA fund

the other fund is their revolving loan fund that is in existence um prior to me being here. I know prior to coach Stevenson's being here and it was initially set up to do microloans, small business loans to the community. Um it has not been active in several years um a minimum of five. We utilized it during uh COVID for some small business grants. So at least five years and that that has always sat there. Um use it was a direct allocation from the general fund is how it grew. How much is in that fund today?

$27,14928. So total sitting in as of January 1st was $89,64764.

Is there a group wanting to reestablish in DC? There are a couple of the individual members who were sitting on the committee that have expressed interest to one or two of the commissioners um in regards to doing that. And I did have um one of those people reach out to me. They are um they are at a brownfield there's a brownfield presentation today. So they are that they they are at that event and would be willing to come back at the next meeting to talk to you about some ideas and how to move forward. I'd like to hear if there I think that's the right next step for the group is to form that nonprofit which I feel when you look at other counties that's been the most successful in our rural areas. Um so I'd like to hear how they're what they're thinking and how quick you know kind of what their plan is for that so that we if we have the money that we can use for some of their projects that they need. I don't think the funding and the formation of them is in our wheelhouse if I understand correctly. It is really to help them. If they form and here's a project that they would like to do, how do we help support it? I think

yes. And I um so I believe I did a little little bit of checking because obviously utilizing our funding under all the fund statutes and laws. um as far as actually obtaining your EIN, getting your small business, those things, um that would not be fundable, but yes, if they said, "Okay, we have this um how can you help with that? We have this project. We have we'd like to put on a a fundraiser event." You could invest into economic development that way.

Could be used Okay, sorry. going back of the special project fund. Let's say they they form they want to do a some small business stuff because I know that they were doing some of that in the past trying to or even the village does some money to help the small businesses front facing facades and help. Right. Yes. So don't want to duplicate those efforts. If those kind of money is going that way, how do we kind of craft how we would spend that money on projects? What type of projects? So could those projects come out of either one of these funds? That yes, that is up to that is within your discretion. We can determine those two funds. There's not a lot of restrictions on those two.

Yep. As long as the as long as the board votes to move those funds or utilize those funds um in a formal vote, that is up to you to make that determination. Madam Chair, yes. Who holds those funds? We hold those funds. Okay. [snorts] So too, if I understand, there's still one fish project that has not been completed. Yes. The totality of the billing is going to end up being um the estimate at that time was 10,63157 out of that. Okay.

So that is there's one one fish lake trout that just got finished and then there'll be one more after that. Um and speaking with Brenda Bachelder who is our liaison through Michigan Works. um that is something she will see through. I let her know that myself um my office and the board um I took liberties for speaking. We'll fully support how we can to make sure that project is com is completed completed. Um and she is in her contract still um through with and the contract especially with the county through March.

Okay. So, that's still contracted in there. And that cost is um that's $25,000 a year for kind of that part-time part-time partnership in there in there as well. Um but she will continue to do to do those aspects, work on those aspects of it. Okay. So, her contract ends in March. Yeah. And it's a $25,000 a year. So, a quarter of that would get paid out and when this dissolves, the rest of that will not be paid. this. So, we've actually the EDC actually chose to pay in full last year. Okay. So, they paid the 25,000 upfront for a year's worth of service. Okay. Yep. Which will end in March? Yes.

Okay. Would it be helpful that as they prepare what they're going to present as a nonprofit group, what we as a board have as criteria for these funds and how we will continue to support EDC and economic development? I think that should be a little clearer than kind of how we've worked in the past. What are your thoughts?

I would have to say yes. I mean, we have to have some guidelines and different things and have them come in and present if and their thoughts and their ideas and then work closely with them. It would give them an idea of what funds they have to work with, how they can work with it. As part of that conversation, I'm assuming I'm talking to think is they got to fund somebody to run this. That has been a big challenge in the first place is how do you pay for a person to do this?

So is that a part of our funds? Is our part of our funds for projects? I mean that discussion probably needs to be had maybe before they even present a proposal to us. I don't know. Maybe they can share the plan anyway. I don't know. I think they need to share in the sense of you know what are their thoughts it once they develop their 501c3. what are their thoughts on how they plan on obtaining different types of funding, right? And what can that funding be used for? And then at some point in a work session, I think it's up to us to figure out how we want to use the funds that are still available going forward.

So that that's clear and it's not a random, oh, here's a request and we just do it. Another request comes in and it's different. I mean, where's our criteria for handing out money, right? I mean, I just think that needs to be clear. I I think the first step is if we have a group of people that want to continue with the task of this to come in and lay out their plan of action to us because they're not going to be a nonprofit when they come in right now um and see what we can coordinate together on it. Yeah.

Put that on a work session to follow up and have the discussion of how do we support that. And I know um several years ago when we were looking at at Seiggo and Okam County um Okam's kind of a more more recent where they've branched out on their own like that the it's partnerships and so in ence um public and private businesses for memberships annual memberships into the economic development corporation and those are the funds. So the county has a portion, some of the townships have a portion, cities, villages, um, and then private businesses. And so I'm wondering if that's where they'll go, which may be a portion of what you guys do with that. Absolutely. That may mean more to them than anything else. [laughter] So

y [snorts] can always reach out to the chambers for help, which I have a feeling will be a part of their plan when they're thinking of forming their own nonprofit. I would think includes chambers to be a part of that. So hopefully that will be a what we'll hear in their plan. Yep. Okay. So, do I hear it correctly? We're going to have them come give a presentation that as soon as they can and then for us to do a followup and a work session and draft what we want, use our funds. I'm

good with that. Um, next we have the static legal water level for Lake St. Helen. Discussion of the hole. Commissioner Wolson, would you like to start this?

Yeah. Um, in order to put in a fixed we site dam that we regulate the water up and down. Fixed we is somewhere level. Any excess water just goes right over top. automatic. Um, it'll probably eliminate some of the periods of high water because it just it's automatic and it just continues on and it starts before the water builds up. But in order to do that, we need to get um court order to do away with a winter level on St. Helen. Um I've reached out to some townships and the you know the two townships and also um one of the organizations that holds the most land on that lake and one I got no response from one and the townships said we're fine with it. So I think the next move is you know I think we need to double check and make sure Eagle's fine with it. So far they've been on board with it. Um and then schedule a court hearing to see about removing the winter level.

And if [clears throat] I understand correctly, we're going to do different types of mailings or webinar a public info meetings to get I think mailings would be sufficient because most of the people that are in the SAD are not here, okay,

this time of year. So, they wouldn't be able to attend anyway. most of them. Um I think with the mailings we can explain things of why a fixed weird would be better for the lake. Easy enough. I mean it's just a simple thing is you can eliminate the high water problems and and I've heard some complaints of past high water issues in the spring. Um so that would you know be able to address that. I think mailings would be sufficient in this case. I would agree that mailings are probably sufficient depending upon what type of feedback we get.

We need in the mailings we need to have a time period for feedback from them. Yes. Yeah. I I would agree. I mean if everybody's on board with it. Mailings are good, but we all know from our past experience that sometimes people don't read that mailing accurately and don't understand that mailing and the verbage. So, I think a mailing is important, especially if they're not here. But I think if you you don't do some sort of public forum to get some sort of verbal feedback from people who need some clarity, that might be tough. I don't know. You may have a county that is going to be extremely low on a meeting this time of year. Go ahead. Yes.

In our mailing, we needed a definitive date for a town hall meeting. I mean in in the mailing we can address if you don't understand something or have a question contact me or whatever um you know address it that way. I mean it is in your neck of the woods. This is your territory. This is really in my opinion your main call. But for me, I think when people just get a mailing, especially if they're not here, they don't read the mail, they don't see that mail, and then they're going to miss an opportunity, even if you wrote it in there to say, "If you have a question, call me." That's just my opinion based upon what we've experienced. But I mean,

the only thing I've ever heard is we are going to have a lake, right? That's the extent of it. Yeah. Well, break a little. other than talking with with people like at the minnow bucket, them guys and they had heard that some people down on First Street in the spring of the year they have a little water problem because of the high water, you know, and you know the high water thing that jumps up real quick there quicker than you can respond with that dam. Yeah.

If if we have a fixed weir, it kind of addresses some of that problem. Did this come also from the committee that works on that lake as well? Is this part of their recommendation? And Helen doesn't have one. They don't have one. Okay. All right. Good to know. That's just my take. I mean, that's I mean, we can we can schedule meetings, but I maybe we could schedule here to where if anybody had questions.

Could you do like maybe because I think you're right. There's a lot of people gone. One of the things that we learned when we were setting up um our folks in the Lake St. Helen SAD really really don't they don't like Zoom meetings. [laughter] They don't that was a big So I don't know. I'm just trying to think of like everything we've been through with them through the years. I mean maybe it would even be behoove you to do you could do like a short video that they could link to. I mean that it wouldn't then you're not having a meeting and then maybe hey this is a day that you can come up and be available you could be at Richfield Township one day to answer questions or something. We had two meetings at the township hall during all this and they were well attended.

Mhm. Okay. And it was always from the start a fixed week. That was the plan from day one. Talk from day one and everybody everybody you know because of the cost savings also everybody was on board with it. Yeah. I mean

I'll go back to what I said. It does. I mean, you know your people way better than we do in your district. So, if that is something that you believe is good, then I just think they need two ways. Whatever that second option might be, I just think they need another option other than just getting a letter to say, "Hey, how do I get my input to you?" And they need to that's all, however that works. Is there is there way we can putformational information about it on our website and in the letter saying contact this website if you have more want more information. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Picture of what aware date is because I have no idea. I would need that and I [laughter] Yeah. Yeah. Maybe between you and Chase and do we still do that lake level thing coming? Maybe we can just put it on there. Although I find people get lost looking for that thing. Yeah, I mean it's a little disorganized per se, but maybe we can work on that and getting it a little bit more.

But I like that it's both ways, Rex. I mean, that's a good idea. Put it on our Lake Level website. Get the letter out and have a way to get feedback at a a time. Document that feedback like we've done on everything else. So, you've got it in your back pocket. And it sounds like it's not going to be an issue if the majority of your feedback is that that's exactly what they're wanting anyway. And I'm not saying there's not somebody out there opposed to what. It's just I haven't encountered them yet. Yeah. But it's a great way. It follows a very similar process and a very similar strategy of what we do. If there was, we've documented it. We have it written. It's no different than how we've handled other things. Right.

What I think is helpful. Maybe a lot faster and quicker. You don't have to do a big meeting or a big what have we called them when we had the one for Higgins? Oh, meeting. No, it's not. Public hearing. Public hearing. It's not like that. It's just, you know, make sure you give them time to give feedback if you need it. Document the feedback and [snorts] Yeah. I think it's important to pick a date that would be workable for the township folks. I know that we've had meetings on Tuesdays and people complain that it wasn't on the weekend. So, I think we're at the point where design can't continue without the court order eliminating. No, I think that that's probably important to do that.

So, I know that the attorneys were hopeful of getting this taken care of before spring. Yeah. But I'll contact them and thanks Rex. Thank you. Three building emergency and catastrophic weather closure policy discussion of the whole Commissioner Wolfson. This is your project. This is the policy I picked for this time

and it might be a good time of the year to go over it and make sure we don't have to make any changes to it or anything. Um, most things in here that need to be addressed probably are going to have to be addressed by our controller. And she's just handing me stuff. Um on number two on her definitions, she would like to add health and salary concerns,

safety. And that's just a definition. Mhm.

Essential employees. Number four. She wants to cross off employees presence at work is required to assist the agency or division in meeting an operational needs and put in deal directly with public health and safety. Are some of these by law we need to or just to meet the labor laws? Um those would just be recommendations from be good people. Yes. Under non-essential

she wants to eliminate the last sentence in number four eliminate that last and put in deal directly with public health and safety. A number five. She wants to I don't know why you want to eliminate offsite depending on nature. Or don't you want to eliminate that? Do I want to add?

You just want to add. yet not a deterrent to public health and safety

under non-essential employee. The addition would be not a deterrent to public health and safety. Closure determinations will be made with direct input from the emergency or number two procedure halfway down. Closure determinations will be made with direct input from we want to put in emergency manager or director of building and maintenance if applicable. In other words, we're going to eliminate death sergeant. or proposing to do that.

Read how you want it read one more time. Those are determinations will be made with direct input from the emergency manager or director of building and maintenances as applicable. So basically cross off sheriff's office desk sergeant. Correct. We don't really have a desk sergeant anymore and they used to be the ones you could call and go how bad are the roads really. who that does the sheriff's department do that even though there's not a no so that is where you're going to be relying more on your emergency manager who would then be able to um I mean Vanessa has all the resources keep track of the weather too

Yep. She keeps track of the weather. She'll hear reports from the road commission. Road commission. Yep. Okay. It's kind of like the schools used to have bus driver on the road. Yeah. The director of building operations does that drive before the buses out every Yeah.

under procedure number three halfway down it it's about they want us it wants to read all board of commissioners and court administrative be added there before moving on to mapping information director. In other words, that sentence should read all board of commissioners, court administration, and mapping information systems director. Okay. Why do we need the mapping systems director in that?

Because they put it on the website for us from home. Oh, okay. Plus, if it's like a power outage or that situation, then they've got to batten up their hatches and come up and be ready to fix things. Under procedure number four, code red. We still have code red. So, we have something different than code red. We have Genesis now. So my thought was changing it to a more generalized alert system instead of whatever the specific one because obviously as cost and procedures change [snorts]

but we have to my questions when I read it I'm like I think we have genesis so more current system. Yeah. So, we're going to eliminate the first sentence in that. I don't think we're eliminating the sentence. I think we're just taking out code red. Correct. Well, we have nothing system contact all departments. Just taking code red out. We got a half a sentence yet still unless you put something in front of it.

That's what I'm saying. We're replacing code red with the words current alert system will be utilized to contact. We're not removing the whole sentence. Yeah. Is that right? Yep. Okay. And that system is coordinated by emergency manager. Is that correct? Just in case it's not Genesis that we always know is whatever the current system is is what I'm hearing. And director Varnner did use that last time and it worked really well. So, and it's something she can do wherever she's at, too. Okay. How do you get notification on that? You sign up for it. You sign up for it. Like all the signs that have been out about it. [laughter]

Oh, nice. We'll get you squared away, sir. I got an alert. We'll get the app for you. Probably went to your old phone number. [laughter] told me I was going to get stuck in the middle [cough] of your road. Didn't know you were going to get stuck in the middle of your road. [laughter]

Last page. Um, adverse weather and employee attendance. It's my arrows, isn't it? Yeah. She wants to take number six. at top before that and combine it with number three at the bottom. Okay. Yeah. So essentially make it all one paragraph is what? Yeah. We'd have to rewrite it a little bit because there would be some but there's a lot of duplication. So we have it all in one place instead of

multiple. And then about employee leave.

Yeah, you'll have to talk about that one because that's going to be labor.

Yes. So, under um this policy is I think about 10 years old now. And after it originally was put into place, there was a uh grievance filed by one of our unions for them continuing to be at work under that public health and safety requirement. So, a um agreement was made with a letter of understanding that those 24-hour departments, those people who aren't, you know, they are directly responsible for public health and safety, um receive time and a half. and they received the time and a half from 12:00 a.m. of that morning or to 11:59 p.m. of that evening. So, just for that 24-day period. Um, so that would need to be updated just to reflect current practices. Um, and I mean, while it's union, I should also say that we do have one department that we never think about that's non-union, which is our animal shelter. Um, they still have to go because somebody still has to take care of the animals. So they've received time and a half as well for when they go in.

So we need to add that right into employee pay leave section. I would agree. Yeah. Okay. May I back up because you're talking about unions? Because on the first page it does talk about this applies unless or if there's a statute or something in our collective bargaining. Is there anything in those last renewals that we did that would change or or they would be the same? It doesn't. It will it will be the same as what what I just talked about. Yes. All right. For this at least round of negotiations, we're good. Okay. Go ahead. Sorry.

When when we talk last page, reverse weather and employee attendance. Number two. Mhm. When we talk about employees not reporting to work or reporting late due to adverse weather, is that talking about adverse weather in their specific circumstances versus countywide?

Correct. So, let's just say for instance, you got stuck in your road on an icy day, but the building wasn't closed. You're using proper call-in procedures to your person. and they are not to be penalized as far as being written up for not coming as long as they've followed their department. Each department has their own specific this is our requirements for calling in. Yeah. Conditions can be different from one side to the other. Absolutely.

That's a big part because when I got up this morning it was raining in my house over by the state police post. By the time I got to the schools, it cleared up. By the time I got to Prudinville, I got another batch of batch of rain. By the time I got to the Diano building over here, it was snow and ice. So within period of 25 miles, saw a huge weather. Yep. You look at the difference between Grain and Gaylord. Mhm.

25 miles. So basically, we'll make these corrections, send it back out, and then have it on next meeting. A motion to adopt. If an employee is late for work, do we dock their pay or do we let them have pay?

In this particular circumstance, um, you would they would Traditionally, I have left it up to the discretion. Normally, what we allow them to do is to um flex their hours. So, if I'm an hour an hour late coming in and I'm an employee, Joe, if Joe comes, if Joe calls and Joe lives on a rural road and Joe was late coming in because she has to wait till the plow, I will allow Joe to work through lunch, which she does a lot anyhow, to make up her hour of time versus using that. Otherwise, yes, you would need to use your personal. Could we have something like half an hour is forgiven? That would be up to the discretion of the board. Um,

that's a thought. It's a thought, but I kind of like the discretion of the department heads.

So, let me ask this question. if because we do in traditionally love the department heads to have some control over their employees and they even have a different policy group as well as the county policy. So they still do that. I like that it stays within the department head, you know, unless you or department heads can share. Look, this is becoming an issue. I'm feeling like I'm always giving and people are abusing it. That's there's your only risk if you don't clarify it with verbiage word word word word which gets tough. It's a discretion thing and I think as department heads they should have that. If it becomes a problem then they need to change their own personal can't they change if they're going to pay them or not?

Absolutely. They have that option. So I would leave it up with the department heads. Yeah. I I like what you're suggesting with a half an hour but department heads should have the flexibility. We don't need to become time washers. Oh, so we should let the department head decide whether they're going to offer

unless it's become a problem and we need to be better clarified. And I don't know that from a historical perspective, but you guys have heard, look, we need it clearer, then we should make it clear. But if it hasn't become an abused policy, then why are we adding more work than is needed? I just I just think, you know, half an hour, you know, sometimes it's just a matter of getting there safely versus I would agree and I think if you were a department head, much like our other department heads, they'd go, "Absolutely. I understand. Problem, get it. I got it. I I just I don't know that that wouldn't be done by a department head." And said, "Yeah,

it's probably a lot already done and we just aren't even aware. We're not aware." You're laughing, clerk. Yes. Any comments? Any thoughts? Leave it to the discretion of the department head. You're not there. You don't know what they do or how they operate. So, I don't really feel like there's any need. I think your bigger concern would be if you had employees coming and complaining because they're constantly having to use their time because their department head isn't okay. address, you know, being like, hey, because every we most of your I think all the department heads have been here a significant period of time.

That's not an issue. Everybody works with their staff to make sure they're taken care of. I just want to make sure we're covered on it. The clerk's comments solidified my resolve. Just let this department handle it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Maybe some don't know they have that authority. We don't we don't want to make it a problem. Yeah.

Madam Chair, I just have one other question so we don't have to labor this for much longer either. But under section 4 employee pay leave, it talks about, you know, the essential worker who does work, you know, um that do not close and therefore are not denied work will receive no additional compensation. So the essential person says, "I'll work." And I I don't even know how to say this. If what would prevent somebody to go, I'm not getting paid. Why am I working? They're getting paid time and a half. That's the portion that will be removed. Yes. Got it. Okay. I'm good.

When you make those changes like you do, will you continue to make those in the color change? So, thank you. I don't lose track my old memory. Anything else on that one? Okay. Substance use disorder request discussion of the whole. So at my meeting this month um we received a request um and for anybody that is not aware, the substance use disorder funds come strictly from our liquor tax funds. and we received a multi-county request. Um, I emailed you all showing exactly what that request was for. It was coming from the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center. And basically what they wanted to do was put a coordinator in place to do literature and education and substance use. Um the problem I have with that is we already have for the youth um Joe Gene Thompson that goes into the schools. Um there's no clear definitive explanation of how this coordinator is going to be split between the six counties that it's involved. um how they came up with the requested budget for each county was based on population. I'm not sure necessarily is that's the best solution of doing it and there was just a lot of unknown for me. Um, and I'm not positive that educating a youth why they're going

through something traumatic is necessarily the best place and source of refund, you know, source of funds to be doing it in that atmosphere. So, um, I just said that I would bring it back to the board, ask for feedback um, and thoughts on that. Second of all, um before these new requests come, they are supposed to reach out. So, somebody from the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center was supposed to reach out to the person that sits on the SUD board for each of these counties, which was never done. Um Rebecca was just in here, gave us her year end. She never mentioned anything about this request knowing that it was going to be coming forth. Um, so when it came forth there was a lot of unknowns and so at this point I had voted no on it to remove Ross Common County until I was able to discuss it further with you guys. Thoughts?

I would ask Rebecca just for clarification. We come in front of the board in two weeks and explain the concerns. Um, and it almost sounds like the coordinator is going to have multiple hats and this is a way of basically being able to pay for that multiple hat thing. Madam Chair, as I read it, that's

not the first thing that came to my mind, but one of them as well. It's and without hearing a presentation about how it's working, it is When you read it, it's a it almost seems to me like they're trying to get another full-time person paid that can do other things, but we'll find this way to write it to get that fund. Um, and we didn't hear, and I'm a big supporter, don't get me wrong. I think this center is phenomenal, and I personally and business-wise support. The other piece that I struggle with this proposal is our staff don't get 100% of their benefits paid. our own employees this county. Now, it is the Children's Assessment Center decision to do what they want, but if I'm funding, it shouldn't be funding more than what we would fund for our own employees. That was a big red flag for me.

So, I just don't think that's fair. They'll need to come up with, if this goes through, they need to come up with another way of funding that because that's not what we do for our own employees. Madam Chair, yes. Um, I'd like to see this put on hold. until I have a chance to talk to her about program I laid out this morning for opioid funding.

I also always struggled with the idea that our employees don't get that good of fringe benefits. Maybe where our money goes shouldn't either, but I think we're going to run into that regardless, you know. state employees get better. You know, does the road commission get better? I don't know. You know, we're going to run into that problem. But, you know, if we can control it, then we can control it. If not, we not I agree with you, Commissioner Wolson, that we can't control it all because it'll happen a lot.

But I believe as good stewards of our county dollars, it's a restriction. set a restriction and they'll have to come up with another way to run their budget. If not, we continue to fund and take away from the things that we need to fund. That's that's not our job. Our job is to take care of this. So, if other groups that they're interacting with pay that, then that's just their way of coming up with how to handle their own budget. And I know the Children's Assessment Center is going through an awful lot from us giving a building to all the other things we contribute. and I and trying to make that happen and grow. We don't run her department. She's got to figure that out from a budgetary perspective. So,

I I think we may be able to put something together with the opioid monies that'll cover this and cover other things for this employee to do, right, to make it a full-time position. And as we kind of talked before that, I'll go on record to make sure that whatever that program looks like. I'm not in favor of supporting and paying for other counties to get the same services that we provide out of our dollars. I'm just not. It's got to be representational. I agree. It has to be representational.

And that's one thing that this actually doesn't show or support is how each county is going to be represented. How many hours is each is this coordinator going to be in each of the six counties? How is his time going to be divided? We can't prop up another county. And it's not that the funds aren't there up there in this.

Correct. I mean, Roscommen County, we have enough funds to cover this. That's not necessarily the issue that I had with the actual proposal. It was one how it came about not knowing anything about it kind of given to us about five days before I had to make a decision on it and not knowing about it. And it also came about um Iasco County um their representative they had been paying so much to the children's assessment center from their general fund and they were trying to find a way of maybe giving through this program versus taking from their general fund. And up there you can only use these these types of funds for educational purposes and things like that. So

whereas if we work it into our opioid program, it can be used for more things than just that funds can I I I I appreciate you reaching out to her and having her come and do a better presentation on how this would work and where each of those funds are coming from. And I I venture to say this proposal, they don't even know how many people they will actually reach even though they're dividing it up by population. How many people are are in Ross Common are going to be impacted by this and how many aren't? I'll need to go back to her last presentation she did that shows how many kids or not just kids, but how many people in Roscom County are we serving just currently in the current program

compared to other counties. So, I'll have to see those numbers, but I think it's important in that presentation to show all that. So, thank you for letting I'll set up a meeting with her and see what we can come up with doing it through our opioid program. and then working with the board and seeing I'll go with you. Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Thanks.

You want do you want to reiterate the double down part in regard to representational because often government has a tendency to flex. You know, one county has a little more money so they have they help out a little more. You can't do that. It has to be representational by population. only fair to our taxpayers. Correct. Um the 2026 deposiitories and investment policy, our county treasurer, Mercy Dinkert.

Good morning. So, as per public act 20 of 1943, we are presenting the Roscom County investment policy for approval by the board of commissioners. Um, this is something that is done annually. Um, I have know I presented to Jod a copy of the investment policy which hasn't um really changed over the years. It follows exactly what public act 20 requires. Um just so you know our objectives with this investment policy is first as always is safety of the county money. Um defers diversification of our funds so that um we have that safety um liquidity so we have enough available to meet our needs, bills, payroll, those types of things. And then lastly we look at the return on the investment. Um, we're always looking to make sure that we are having a good return but always protecting our principal at the same time. We're never putting our principal at risk um within this policy. So we we set those objectives within the investment policy and then the policy also delegates the authority of who has the right to make investments on behalf of the county and that is set by MCL 4840 which designates the county treasurer as that delegated authority to make those investments. Um we look at re at the reporting part of it. We are required to report at least annually to the board of commissioners on the investments of the county. We do report quarterly so we meet that aspect of the statute as well within the policy. It also describes the type of investments

that we are able to put our money into. um of the ones listed in the investment policy, we currently utilize certificates of deposit, savings accounts, um and poolled investments. Um the poolled investments would be the Michigan class um monies that we have invested there. There are pool. Um so the investment policy meets all the criteria of public act 20. Um just to let you know that. And then we are also requesting that you approve the depositories of the county to include um Chase Bank, CIBC Bank, Michigan Class, North Central Area Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Merkantile Bank, Horizon Bank, Private Bank, and MYIF as designated depositories. And th all of those um depositories meet the requirements also of public act 20. So I am open to any question. Any questions?

Straight forward. Thanks Marcy.

Yep. No problem. Thank you. Budget and finance committee of the whole meeting dates. Discussion of the whole where is our meeting? I think the dates that were listed work I mean, they kind of follow how we put them on, you know, our

calendars before. So, I don't see any. [clears throat] I didn't see any that I was concerned with. They kind of just follow like work session, whatever. They just follow on the same day flow of the rest of the meeting kind of like last year's. Yeah. I was okay with them. Anybody? We do every year. Commissioner Wolfson, any questions? Nope.

Printing of county minutes and public notices. [sighs and gasps] Clerk, register of deeds, Michelle Stevenson. Um, we're limited on our options of where we print our minutes and public notices. So, the most frequent that we have is the Hot Lake Resorter. Um, so that's that that's our option [laughter] for printing. If you want to continue to pub publish in the newspapers, you do have the option to not print in the newspapers, but we don't want to do that. No. Yep. That was an easy one.

Okay. Committee, organization, and appointments. Get So, I know it says by the chairperson, but we have always done this um kind of as a group. Where is mine? I know, but I've had mine here somewhere. It's probably in this grouping. Here it is. Got it. Okay. So, we have to fill some vacancies. Um the first one would be the 911 authority board. Um, I would like it if um Kim was the alternate if we moved her to the primary if there's no objections there. And then it's open for who would want to be the second. I don't have a problem being the second on it unless somebody else would want to fulfill that.

Is there a few more? You want to do that one? I'm sorry I couldn't hear. I said I can do that while you're in Florida. Okay. Well, it looks like or wherever. I'm not in Florida. Come on. You can you can put me down as a second alternate. So, airport. Um, I'm the primary and we need the secondary slashalternate on that. Is there anybody that would like to do that? do that because I'm at the veterans for 9:00 and I have VA at 11:00. But as long as it doesn't last longer than 55 minutes, I'm good. It starts at 8:30 in the morning.

You guys moved to 8:30. When did you do that? It must have been just this last meeting. This this year. Okay. 8:30. What day? The same. It's on a Thursday. Killing me. [laughter] Which I think goes into the veterans coffee hour. or if you go to the veterans coffee hour. Pull me down. I need to try to do both. Animal control. We were okay. Asabo Valley watershed zoning. We had Commissioner Wolson and we need a secondary. Do we need a secondary on that, Commissioner Wolson?

Usually not. It depends. Depends on how many other members going to show up. They need to have at least seven members show up. then we should probably have just uh they initially asked for two. Okay. Um some they've actually had to cancel meetings with person wanting a variance because not enough board members showed up before. Yeah. And this primary deals with river.

Yeah. It's for you know it's only a couple times a year at the best. It's it's doing with building on this river. Is it possible to say if it's only rare that you might not go that you just reach out and say could one of us instead of assigning because it may they want to in the past two of us well in the past sometimes two people showed up from us sometimes just one but do you is there a certain day or is it just when in the evening they schedule it okay any day of the week is there a specific it could be any day of the week It's when they get a petition when the DNR schedules it. Yeah. Okay.

It's when they have some sort of petition for work or something that would affect the river. River. I can put myself down as that. Budget and finance committee of the whole building and grounds. Commissioner Wolson. We need a second person for building and grounds.

I'll I'll take it. Moody just gave me the point, so Um, Central Michigan District Health Department, we have Commissioner Milbour and Commissioner Morley listed on that. Okay. Um, collaborative board, that one is vacant. Is that something that we should be looking at or staying out of or just attending when we're able to attend? So, my thought process on the collaborative board um and I've had some discussions with sheriff about this is with our new um new position that we have created for looking at that wraparound even though it is specific to that opiate. It might be nice to have represent representation from the jail and or that program to serve on behalf. um they give us great minutes, they give us great feedback, but that's where you're going to have the need to have that information. That's just my thoughts on it. Um because they do provide great great minutes and great information on a regular basis.

So we would want somebody possibly from there if they would be willing then. Okay. this is more of an assigned from us, assigned someone else to represent. Um, give us that update because I think that's what I'm hearing from the collaborative board is that they feel like our board doesn't have a connection and doesn't know. And if we can get somebody to go reports, not just the minutes, but just a verbal update from whoever is going to represent us

occasionally to say, "Here's what's going on. Here's where I think the connections are. here's what they're discussing or working on so things don't come before us at the last minute and then we have to make decisions. So, okay. But in the sheriff's department, you're thinking. Okay.

I think that's our best bet. Commission on Aging. We have Commissioner Belurn, Commissioner Wilson, um MCOG, Eastern Michigan Council of Government. We have um our controller Jod and Commissioner Wolfson. And this is something that we should be attending from my understanding. So, our Eastern Michigan Council of Government, um everybody has one. A council of government is what we have to utilize for um a lot of our different plans that that have to be passed out. They um they are that kind of oversight and they work into statute. Um ideally, I think that as they've come up, it always seems like there's something else going on. Um it's a Friday at 10:00 and there's a courtroom safety meeting or a St. Helen, you know, DM meeting. So when we've been discussing it, my thought was maybe that would be something that the board could rotate because they meet quarterly

and maybe it's just who can attend. Yeah. And then each of you gives you an opportunity to meet other people from around our region as well. So that there's more of a networking possibility than Okay. Can we get that I like that idea. Can we get that schedule and just dedicate like go put my name down now? Absolutely. in a sense so we can at least get it when because if you don't it comes up and then an email flies by and you have no clue who's going so let's dedicate ourselves to a time at each meeting and rotate that'd be fine are they still meeting in Gladin they rotate their meeting locations like this next ysu they've done that before she

um economic development um currently we have commissioner Belurn and Commissioner Mley Okay. Holton Lake Improvement Board. Sorry, can we go back to that since we just had this discussion about them breaking off and becoming profit? How does that impact our our role? That means you don't have one. You don't have one. January 31st, you won't have one. So, basically, these are null and void at this point. Null and void. Gotcha.

All right. Um, Hope make improvement board. Um, first is myself and we need an alternate. I would suggest that it either be Commissioner Wolfson or Commissioner Bilburn and that would only be you would be there when I am not able to attend. Probably should be me. My area

household hazardous waste. We have Commissioner Wolson, Commissioner Mley. insurance and retirement. We have myself and we need one other person for that. Commissioner Wolson, would you like to do that or Commissioner Morley? Madam Chair, can I ask about So is this similar to We have a wage and salary committee which we don't sit on apparently, but we there's an insurance retirement group that meets only when No, not really. It's when

yeah I've been here for 11 years and that has never met. It's never been convened by the commissioners. Um so to me and this is just mine. We have a personnel committee. Correct. Um so to me it's almost like a combination of the two because your personnel committee would then meet with like for instance for we want to next year um have discussions ahead of time very similar to what we had this time including the department head. So to me that would be the appropriate kind of put everything together. Personnel not only covers our union but it also should cover those items that affect personnel. I think and then the personnel and labor currently we have myself and commissioner Wolson. So if we're going to combine those then that's how

Okay. You guys have done this before. Does it it makes sense to me to combine them and not make a separate committee and have them handle all those issues if possible? I'm okay with that. That would be a good one to have an alternative on. Just an alternate on just in case. I think we learned that this year with negotiations for four. Yeah. So, right now it's and Wilson. Yeah. Keep that or you need another alter?

I think maybe another alternate because we need the two on there. So, if we do have a grievance um hearing, we do need to have commissioners present. So, if we could have an alternate to attend just in case. Those don't come up often, but they can be very hard to schedule. I'm okay if you need a backup. Okay.

Lake level management planning committee, we have Commissioner Wolson and myself. The emergency management, we have Commissioner Mley and Commissioner Wolson. materials management. We have Commissioner Wolson and Commissioner Mley. However, I think I'm listed on a lot of stuff with emergency management, so I can do materials management. Yeah. Yeah, I can take that.

I I'll admit Mr. Wilson is knows far more about all that than I do. So, if you're a better backup for signing documents and stuff, I'm happy to to do that. Michigan Works. I I am on that. And then Commissioner Milbour is the backup. MSU Extension Advisory Council. Um although all we do is support the basically their room right now. Um they still want people um available if possible. Um we have Commissioner Moley and Commissioner Wolson as a backup. I don't think they met at all this year, did they? There was no advisory group that I was aware of.

Yeah, there was a Zoom. Yeah, earlier this winter. Not this year, but earlier this year. Okay. We can always reach out to Julie and make sure that if there is that she reaches out to you to let you know what those dates are. Right. And I know in line with that there was a request for people to meet with them about how they're going to move forward. And I don't think that was something you wanted to do. I'm okay doing it. But so if there's no interest with MSU, I mean, I'm happy to be your alternate. If unless Commissioner Wilson wants to keep it, that's fine, too. Actually, you're the first one. Oh, I am.

Yep. Good try. [laughter] Not at all. Aren't you glad you came to a meeting today to have a little humor? Um, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, we have Commissioner Mley and Al Cambridge. I'll keep that. That's fine. Okay. Northern Michigan Counties Association. Um, we have Commissioner Wolson and myself on that. But at the same time, I think any commissioner that can make it is more than welcome to come on those meeting dates.

Um, Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Commissioner Milbour. However, I don't hardly hear anything about that. I'll be there. Many meetings. I'll be there tomorrow. Okay. Why didn't we have a meeting because of the the weather?

Okay. Opioid. Um, I believe that is Commissioner Wolson and Commissioner Milbour, if I'm not mistaken. Personnel and Labor. We already said we were combining with insurance and retirement. The Ross Common County Township Association. I think we were just basically again going to rotate commissioners going and just going to those meetings. Maybe we can get their schedule ahead of time and maybe if we can do that the same way, then it's up to you if you can't go to ask for for somebody else so they don't have a day where no one shows. Okay,

I'm good with that. I don't know what I plan to intend to do next one. Okay. Because I have to address some materials management with them. Okay. That's at one this month, right? Or is in January? Okay. 22nd, I think. Yeah. Um I think it's at Richfield, too. Township. Yep. Um, Spongy Moth, we have Commissioner Mley and Commissioner Milbour on that. And we do have three days picked, correct? Last night, last night you have P days picked. Yeah, we'll email those. Thank you. They're also up on the board. I post them on the board, too, Kim. Okay. February 25th, our next meeting.

Um, substance use disorder. I have myself on that. and Veterans Affairs. We have Commissioner Milbour. Is everybody okay with? And then I will get dates and send those out on those ones that we talked about and see if we can get people signed up and then we'll distribute everything. Sounds good. Okay, Madam Chair. Yes. Can you make sure that meeting information and meeting locations are correct and updated as well? Yes.

Okay. Last is the board of commissioners rules for review discussion of the whole. All right. Nope. I got it. So, this was sent out um to everybody. I know that there was a couple updates that we needed to make. Um, we'll just kind of go through real quick each thing and then there was a couple areas that Commissioner Moley had questions about. We'll see if we can get those figured out and then that way these hopefully can get passed at our next meeting. Um, number one, authority, nothing. 2.1 organizational meeting. Um, 2.2 to regular meetings. Commissioner Marley had a question about the work session being scheduled at 9:00 and the regular board meeting at 10:00 and hence our work sessions sometimes run over. Is there a different way? Can we either schedule it like at 11 or say something like following the work session be to be more cognizant of the public's time I think is

what you were trying to get at. Yes, Madam Chair, I would like to publish times for our public to know, okay, and do our best to adhere to those times, whatever they be. Um, and either we're going to have to make our work sessions longer or control what goes on our work sessions more.

Go ahead. I think the key word is control. Uh I think our meeting should years ago we we were going to do an 8:30 meeting. It failed because if you start at 8:30 it doesn't give the department heads and the public an opportunity to get here. If we still if we do it at 9ine you should still keep it at 10. You could always flex it to 10:15 but we don't want we don't some of our work sessions in in the past if less 20 minutes want the public to sit around for an hour and a half. But I think what the chair has as flexibility that if during a work session if something could always be moved to the regular meeting if is if if required or suggested by the but I think we should have the 9:00 work session 10 o'clock meeting we should try to be as as time as we as we possibly can be. Madam Chair, what if we was to move our regular meeting to 10:30?

That's not a bad option either, Commissioner Wilson. I mean, I think and let me My intent truly was you can see it in the faces and you can watch people go really. I mean, that's not fair to them either. Yes, we need to be good at handling our meetings, which I don't think we've done poorly at. But when you have a work session, I don't want to be strapped to going, "Well, let's not talk anymore or debate because we got to stop." That is to me a concern. We need time to do work. That is what we're here for. And it just it made me pause to say, can we do this different? Maybe our regular meeting because we don't vote on anything from a work session at 10 o'clock. We don't do that. We wait till the next week or two weeks. What if our first meeting is clear and cut? This is our meeting and we start our work session at 10 and it goes till as long as we need to finish our job and then the board chair can always say, "Look, this is drawn out or we're not being effective with our discussion. We either need to make a decision or we need to postpone it, put it on another work session." But I think you have a better ability. I just don't feel I feel like restricting a work session to a time so that we meet another one limits the debate and the discussion. That's kind of where I was coming from.

So basically you're saying put the meeting first and the work session second or we just make the work session a little bit longer in the meeting do better at that. I'm I'm okay either way. I just don't want to stop good conversation that we should be having in front of the public. My concern with the time would be is a nine o'clock meeting too early for the public? No. No, it's the perfect time. Okay. I was We have to hear comments from the public at a meeting.

Oh, if I wanted to go to my township meeting and my township meeting starts at 10:00, then I have to be here at work for an hour and 15 minutes, leave, be gone in the middle of the day. If there's a nine o'clock meeting, it's more apt for me to be able to go into work late to make my public comment at the beginning of the meeting that I feel is important. Um 10 o'clock's kind of like the middle of the workday, and that's always what I've I've heard complaints about. If you're not going to have it in the evening, then the earlier you have it is probably better for the public.

Well, it's time for me to bring this up then because I I kind of like the way it is and I and I brought this and I know I've had discussion with the boards throughout the years. I like the first public debate, you know, for public opinion to be not as needed, but as as as requested as as far as agenda items only. I think the public meeting, public comment should be always at the beginning. So if somebody wants to make a comment in regard to whatever, they should have that opportunity. They shouldn't have to wait till the end. I think it gives the public flexibility to be able to do their business and walk out here at a reasonable time. But I like to leave it at 9:00 and 10 o'clock. But again, I I appreciate Rex's compromise, too. I I'd go either way. 10:30 would be acceptable to me.

What about if we have the 9:00, 10:00 work session is going to be longer. This will continue after our regular meeting. Sure. The only caveat to that is if we have someone here presenting, we have to cover them first in the work session. But I would I would appreciate the consideration from the board to let instead of agenda items only let let the public have an opportunity to speak on any topic we feel so included. I think it's only fair to the public that way. It's a reasonable compromise.

I think it's a different topic. I think how we do a meeting agenda is a different discussion. I don't want to I don't want to blur those two to it's how do we do a good work session have good debate and fit our time frame where the people aren't either standing around waiting come in the middle like did I are they already in this meeting I mean it's awkward so let's solve that first and then if we need to talk about how we do board agendas we can maybe do that next yes

since you kept looking at me so my suggestion on this um I appreciate where you're trying go with it. My suggestion would be let's take a look and see how many meetings throughout the year that the work session actually went over into the regular meeting because if it's only a few times it's a matter of controlling what was on the work session agenda and this agenda today is longer because we didn't have our organizational meeting separate. Correct. So some items were included here and I know that we have had times where the work session has run over but we also have a lot of times where the work session is quick half an hour if that. So, um,

you know, flipping it and doing the meeting first, that's an option. Doing the meeting at 9:00, um, and then doing the work session after that because it is confusing for people that come in and they're expecting the meeting to start at 10:00 and here we are at 10:18 and we're just on the very first thing in the board rules. Oh yeah, this [snorts] it's it's in. So maybe we can do that is take a look at how many times we do go over and then I can throw some different ideas out there and then

yeah, let's land on that at the next meeting. Let's get that out and then try to figure it out. And Bay that point maybe we'll have some feedback from people who come to meetings as well and just see what we can do to make that just a little bit better for both public comment. I mean part of this too is there's groups that need to come and present and that does take more time and if we're requiring people in these agencies which was part of our other conversations. If we're giving you money you should be coming and presenting to us regularly on how that money is used. That's in a work session type of thing. And so that does draw a little bit of that time out if we're getting good presentations and good debate. So yeah,

or we could have them on different days. I would have a hard time with that. Well, the other thing is is that if you have topics that you know are going to be a lot of discussion, you could just have a special meeting for that. [snorts] put that on after the regular meeting as a special meeting or something.

You love special meetings. Yeah, let's get some of that feedback together maybe at the at our next meeting land on and maybe some of it's going to be like, you know, if a presenter wants to be on a work session, they have a time limit. You can do that. You know, usually we do some of that stuff can be incorporated. I think it's how we manage it a little bit, but it's also not restricting us doing our work. Correct. Instead of sidebar conversations between phone calls, we should be doing that here and we should be having the time to do that. And I think that that helps hear everybody at the same time on a topic.

Yep. The other one in that same section 2.2 two was um the following statutory meetings are also required and should be included in corresponding meeting dates such as April for state board of equalization act meetings September 14th October 16th for the annual meetings. Um, it was suggested that maybe we have like an agenda calendar um that maybe Joda can help put together that shows what those dates are ahead of time so everybody knows.

So Kim gave me an awesome template last year and I've looked at it several times so I apologize. Um, I will tell you that actually this whole sentence that's highlighted in here, the following statutory meetings that should actually be struck. Okay. Um, Michelle, have we had an annual meeting since you've been here? Um, yep. And so, a lot of these things, these statutory meetings that they're referencing to, like Michelle just had made a comment to me earlier, um, there's actually a certain time that you're supposed to uh, do board of canvasers on an annual basis. So, I think

that's your annual meeting held between September 14th and October 16th. So, I'm thinking maybe the best thing to do is email to email out to all these department heads and say, "Hey, if you have statutory requirements for meetings, I need that information. Then I can put that into that calendar format because there's some of these things that come up that I I don't even know about." Um, so I got last minute. Yeah. Yeah. And like I went through the last meetings, but they haven't always been at the exact same time. So, I guess I should get that clarification as well, too, and get that to you.

Okay. Um 2.3 Commissioner Mley stated something about the board of commissioners may meet in a special session upon notification provided to the clerk by the chairperson or vice chairperson and she has in absence of the chairperson

and I'll I'll explain that too because I think in traditionally board functioning It is the vice chair's role to fill in when the chair is gone. The vice chair doesn't get to say, "I'm just going to call the meeting without a chair's approval." So, I just think it was worded in a sense that kind of alluded to, you could do whatever you want. That's just me. But it goes by a lot of the other boards that I have served on over the years that the if the chairperson says I cannot do this. I need the vice chair. Then the vice chair can can do those. I think That's why I brought it out there, you know, just so that we're clear

that that's how because this is not because of who we are today. Doesn't matter who's serving in these positions. It is what does this look like going forward and how do you function regardless of the person? So that was just some clarity that I think needed clear in the rules. Any thoughts or comments? 2.5 Meetings shall be available via video conferencing platform when possible. Um possibly rewarding to reflect the ability to view via YouTube channel after the meeting. Um that way people are knowing. Is that why you were thinking it to be more clear

because it's we're not doing video conferencing anymore and so I think that should be rewarded. the state can and will be available to view immediately with the YouTube channel. However, we do that. So, it's still available, but there's not video conferencing done anymore. Right. Okay. To be clear, um so the next one was 3.4 notification to media and others. Um kind of like the last sentence may sign up for email notifications at www.restcon. restcount.net. Kim was wondering if that was the correct email and yes, that is the correct email for them to sign up.

It's not actually the email. They go to our website and then they sign up through a link on our website. So, that might need to be clear. It's clear to me. I could just email this. Sign up. Oh, you're not. No, you're read it together. So if you're reading it, individuals or organizations wishing to receive notice of posted board of commissioner meetings may sign up for email notifications at www.roscomcount.net. So they basically sign up for those emails. So is this the same as our constant contact? No. So if you want both, if you need emails and a constant contact info, you have to sign up differently.

Yeah. But constant contact doesn't necessarily always send out the same notifications that Okay. this. So, our website um built built into um the process, whomever goes online to Joe goes online to upload our agenda and when we publish an agenda, a special meeting notice, any of those things, it automatically emails. Oh, is how that works. Signed up. Okay. I didn't know that. All right. Gotcha. Okay.

Um the next one, 5.0. Um because we've changed our agenda meetings to Wednesday. I believe that halfway through that where it says 400 p.m. on that should be Tuesday. Correct, Jody? The week before. Correct. Um 5.1. Um, whenever the board is called into session, pursuant to rule 2.3, the agenda, um, Commissioner Mley wanted the word may be included in the notice of the meeting because we don't necessarily have to.

I'm not saying that I we have to change that. It was just, you know, we're supposed to review it to make sure that it flows and [snorts] it makes sense, but we are not mandated to put that agenda out there. Correct. though open meetings acts requires that we do that and we even put our packet which some don't until after those meetings. So I just think it's a may that's just my thought. I'm fine with May. It doesn't matter to me.

Distribution of the agenda materials. I know that you were asking about claims and accounts at the same time, but I know that that can't happen because they department heads have until a certain time to get their stuff in in order for that to be finalized. I heard that. Yeah. And we've had that we've I think we've had that discussion

a few years ago. This this came up as well in that. So, they have until um they have until that Monday at noon to get it in. So Joe or whomever, if Joe's on vacation, Noel, me, will be actually data entering up until potentially even Tuesday, just depending on how much there there are. Um, the way around that would be to change when claims and accounts are due, and that would be that big bill. So that would just be pushing that back. Um, you know, like the week before the meeting is when you do the big billings, the claims and accounts. Um, which is a possibility. and I don't think makes a difference much to anybody just on how you change it in. But

I don't want to put more work on the department heads to try to get their stuff in earlier. I just know that if they come late Tuesday, it is really hard with my job to try to make sure I review that and then I'm going to be I kind of felt like in this year I get pushed to the point I'm like I barely know that and I'm voting on it which I shouldn't and then I'm going to pull it which is an irritant to the people who put it all together. I don't want to do that. So, I I was just seeing if there was a way that I could get them a little bit, but if we can't, then I'm just gonna have to make myself a mental note that no matter what's happening on Tuesday night, I've got to look it over before Wednesday morning.

So, my thoughts just strategically strategically thinking of how this operates is there could be a couple different couple different things. we could move the claims and accounts um which would if the claims and accounts came in were due the week before and those are obviously all your big big bills um those are going to be your things that don't approve interest um anything that you're not going to late fee on because those are the only things that should be coming through under your weekly bills and this week would just be a weekly bill week which wouldn't make a difference to you um because you're going to see it in next month's right

reports the other option if that sounded too confusing is we could don't kick me Joe from over there. We could when Joe runs the class A's on a weekly basis, we could actually pull that same class A report and email that out on a weekly basis for review to the board so that you're seeing those weekly bill amounts. Those weekly bills come through. So, the only thing you have to look at is your claims and accounts that night. So, if you guys want to think about it and let me know, we're more than happy to

only me out of us, I will work around it. I was just bringing it up to go if I'm the only one who's feeling that way, I will make a way to work. You don't have to change things for your staff. I'll figure I don't I mean, I don't think it would It's okay. We'll talk later, Joe. But I mean, for our other commissioners, if it's fine, then I'm good. I I No problem. What I can say is um the longer you're doing it, the easier they become to read and understand. That is true. That's true.

I mean, I I was in the especially my first year trying to see different things and understanding where numbers were coming from was a lot harder than it is now and understanding some of that stuff. But okay, sounds like everybody else, it works good. So, don't don't make changes. Don't add more work for You know, another option is I know that you are in here on a weekly basis for your office hours. Anyhow, you literally can grab the folder of bills and flip through them anytime you want to, Commissioner Mley. I mean, that is an option for you, too. So, I'll be fine. Make it work.

Um, the other one on that same one was all materials must be included in the board packet in order to be on the agenda, including all work session and consent item agenda items. Um, that's because we post that's because we post everything to the public. Um, I don't mind posting the whole agenda packet. I think the part that gets somewhat confusing is sometimes during our work sessions we don't have all the material and sometimes we're getting people handing it out the day of

and then that does make it hard as we're having a presenter or somebody giving us stuff to ask questions after the fact because you can't read the material in front of you and listen at the same time. And for me, it takes me a while sometimes to think of questions. I think of them after the fact. It's something I think we can improve on. I would agree. You know, if we have that in advance, at least we can have a chance to review it

and then pay attention to that presentation because I think the combo of what you read and what you're hearing even makes your questions might have answered a question. It may not, but at least you're ready. And I'm not trying to follow here and and not give that presenter attention. So, in our office, we have run into this um we run into this frequently where there's somebody that is on the work session um that has not provided us the information and I will just as a for instance um this week we cut it really close with what we were receiving for Lake St. Helen um or that's an example. Um, there are other times like when we were doing the benefit reviews, we didn't have information on the benefits until the Tuesday morning before we had the meeting.

Correct. Type of a thing. So, in those circumstances, um, specifically for our office, I would ask for grace um because I know that we have tried very hard to improve through the years on that. But in some of the other instances where we have outside presenters, outside department heads um that are not providing us that information, we would we had discussed last year removing them from the work session. You cannot present if you have not provided your information. Um if that is a line we want to draw or put that to the discretion of the chair to let us know before we send out the packet. Um because that's one of those like

we want all the information but you can still come and present type of a scenario. Um because I know equalization we had that with equalization this year too where there was last minute changes that had to be provided. Um so I guess that's where from our office point of view was sending that out like can we go to the chair and say which is what we've been doing like hey we don't have this what would you like to us to do? Yeah. You know I'm okay with it as commissioner Milbour too. I mean, it can be the discretion and we if people kind of just need to know that's what we really really prefer and don't be upset if we don't have questions because then we hear well why did I do a presentation they don't even ask me any questions absolutely because you didn't have anything to review beforehand and I will tell you that

Joe's anxiety when that stuff is not in is at an 11.5 on a 10-point scale when when those we want to discussion of the chair is always important we don't want to get so concrete that we can't came over, right? Okay. Order of business. [sighs] Um, call to order. Pledge of allegiance. Um, I know Commissioner Mley asked something about a prayer possibly. Um, that did come up from some of people in the townships that I represent that we do that. Why don't you just It's just a conversation. Madam Chair.

Yes. I'd like to maintain separation of state church. Great. Any other comments? We we've done prayer for different different occasions like some in front of the canon. We've done prayers but not normally in a regular board meeting. Those are special special ceremonies.

Okay. Um roll call. Approval of the agenda. Approval of the consent agenda. Minutes. claims and accounts, class A's, correspondence, monthly department reports, controller report, clerk report. Um it was mentioned that um some would like the controller and or clerk to possibly do a verbal and maybe a written in the packet. I know this goes back back and forth, so we know what this goes.

Yeah. So let me because I take ownership for whatever I have written and said or my thoughts. So I believe the reports are great. I think they're important. This intent is not what the past intented ever. Then I read it and then I'm like I want to comment on that. I think that's great. Or tell me more because I have a few. Well doing that I don't want to have to take that time separate. I think our public hears all the things that we do and understands the work that is being done is helpful and I think it just sheds positive lights as well on what is going on with these departments, what they're doing. Budgets are tight. If there ever comes a time for a millillage and people have they only see the the things that we just kind of talk about here and pass and move, they don't know. They don't know the work that's gone on. And that's just for me from an outsider. I'm okay if it's uncomfortable and people don't want to do it or the rest of the board doesn't want that. I I love to hear the report and hear the work that has been done. I don't have to say it all, but here are the key things I want you as board members to take away. This has been good. here are my challenges, this is what we're working on. That's all. It was just is there a way to do that verbally and not just bury it in a consent agenda. But that's just me.

Yes.

I look for some common ground. You know, I always appreciate Jodie Valentino's comments in in her board report. I read it this week and I was amazed by how much stuff she does and her staff. I know we've kind of done a hybrid and I've always appreciated the chair saying we've read the reports. Is there anybody that would like to comment and I've always appreciated the fact that you look for that compromise. I think we could we could continue with that same type of format. Uh it does give our controller an opportunity to be able to showcase things that are going in the county. So if the chair feels comfortable with the same format, you know, I was the big pusher for Jod to continue to read a report. Looking back, I was probably right and probably wrong at the same time because if Jody has something she wants to talk about, I think it's important for her to be able to give that opportunity. So, I'm I'm fine with a hybrid, but I do think it's it's nice the chair has always offered that flexibility by saying, "Miss Valentina, would you like to offer some comment?" Gives her an opportunity to to showcase what goes on. So, I'm fine with it. Whatever you guys decide.

Yes, Madam Chair. While I see some merit in Commissioner Mley's comment, I do want to keep in mind this is a report from a department head to the board of commissioners and also we've been discussing keeping on time the meetings. So, yes, I'm a long talker. Is that what you're saying? I'm a fast talker. Well, I like to maul over what you're saying and I can see it on paper.

I know. So, um, but Kirk Stevenson and I have talked about this on and off through the last year because us personally, we don't have a preference. Um, written is great, a verbal is great. I wonder if there could be um some caveat in there of where when you do get those reports on Friday and you're looking at the packet over the weekend if there is a is a commissioner that feels like that might be noteworthy to contact and say would you be willing to give your report verbally this week. Okay. Um so so that if there's information I also know that clerk Stevenson has not been shy when she feels there's something important she should speak about that she does ask to comment on her report. So another option is you could also just include in the agenda a a place for department head report and then you could invite other department heads in because I know not every department provides a report and uh I'm pretty sure in statute So

the elected officials are supposed to statutoily provide reports to you on a quarterly basis. But um you know so you have that option too. So then you could give it makes the meeting a little bit longer by doing that. But if there's no reports there's no reports but whatever you want. Madam chair I can talk fast.

I'd like to see reports from other departments but I guess that's up to them. But in this light, we get a written report, we read it, we come to the meeting. If we have somewhere where a person has a question and wants more information on it, it can be brought to the table at that time. I don't have a problem adding actually a thing under before we go to public comment for department head reports that would give the option of okay it's included in the consent agenda but does a department head does there need to be elaboration on it

one way or the other I don't think it's a read the report if that was the intent in the past to physically read exactly what was in our packet That's ridiculous. But if it is, these were important things. Like we have stuff on your report about the Children's Assessment Center and the selling of that building. That's okay. That's a big thing and it's a paragraph or so. We read it. We go consent agenda and we don't talk about it. Then nobody knows what we're doing.

And it's nothing against them and their reports. It's how do we communicate and get that information out too is is for me anyway. Um, if we put it under a um, like old business, it's department head reports. Who has one? Yes, we had it in the packet. I really want you guys to make sure this is what's happening with this the sale. We are struggling. We can't get this done. We have to do that. Any questions on it? So, it's they're quick. It's not a I'm going to sit up here and give you a dissertation. If that's what I if you thought I meant I didn't. It was just more here's what I want you to take. Those reports can be filed which are great for the public but is here are the key things I want you to take away from my report. So like highlights

pardon highlights. I don't know under department reports would or the commissioner can make a motion to pull that report from the consent agenda for further discussion and then it makes it too complicated. Well, I mean I don't want it but I don't think it makes it more complicated. I just mean we're probably going to be pulling some consent agenda reports just so we can make good comments or ask a question and I I think that that doesn't make us effective in the meeting. We could have a section here where highlights of a report we could have added

department head reports at a on a just a piece of the agenda item. If there's not a report there's not a report you move on. So is the intent then that the department heads reports would be verbal reporting just the highlights I would think. Well that's what I'm saying but in vermal format not written format. So that would be or brought to the table so questions can be asked and and that's the reason I I'm just thinking that occasionally we have had um like a judge come so that would be an appropriate spot to have your judge Yes. We'll have you speak during the department heads to make your you know Yeah. And and is that going to them? Would you make that available then for department head comments as well to the board of commissioners as far as Okay. I mean,

which has been a Yeah, it'd be a good way to stay in touch with they don't have to speak public comment. Yeah. Yeah. I think it helps solve some of what he's trying to accomplish in our agenda as well. I mean, I think it kind of kills two birds. Doesn't have to be set in stone. You have to. We've asked for department head reports. We get a few. Um, and we get our clerk and our controller all the time. And I just think those get I think they some of the highlights don't some of the highlights just don't share all the work that gets done. I think that's important for our community to hear and see. We'll look at how to incorporate that into the next

um let's see. Madam Sher. Okay. You can talk about public comment. Yep. The next one is public comment. Agenda items only. Please limit to five minutes. This is where Commissioner Milbour does not want the agenda items only in the first public comment.

I'll make another comment if you like. Yes. I always feel strongly that what we do is we stifle the public the public to give an opinion. And if somebody wants to talk about snow removal or MSU extension, they have a question, they have to wait till the very end of the meeting. They should be able to be able to address their concern and be able to leave if they so desire. So I feel that we should remove the uh items only. That's just I'm not I'm not hard and fast have to do it, but I would appreciate the recommendation or support of another board member if this feel that something that we should include or exclude. Madam Chair,

yes. And I was pretty open the last time we talked about this as to why I think it doesn't run and why many other counties and townships don't do that anymore. Um, I'm okay if you want to do it, but I think what we need to avoid is you can't come up and speak at both times saying the same thing and read your comments that you've just typed up over and over and over. That's not good use of anyone's time. However, there's no way to stop that if you open it up. Exactly. So that is my point of saying if you want to comment on what's going on agenda then that's why it's important to hear it first before we ever vote. The rest is anything else you want to talk about because they're not duplicate. That's my take.

The kicker is though if somebody wants to come up and talk about an non-aggenda items it's difficult for the chair to stop that person. You can g them down best you can but it's still difficult to remove them. So the bottom line is just let let the people give it because I hate to allow if somebody want let's say Rhonda's here today wants to talk about transportation. She has to wait till the very end of the meeting. What we're doing is we're we're we're not allowing Rhonda to be able I'm you sorry we're we're not allowing Rhonda to be able to speak on her topic. She has to wait till the very end of the day. I don't

I don't think we should we should hold her host I hate to use the word hostage but it might be appropriate for this comment. rather not stifle her comment. Let's let's let her give an opportunity to give her comment now. Get out of the way so she can get on with her business. But I appreciate Kim's comment because the bottom line is is we can't stop somebody. But if somebody wants to come up and do comment twice, there's really nothing we can do about that either. Madam Chair,

yes. I like agenda items only because this is the start of our business meeting held in public and if we restrain it to agenda items only it allows us to go ahead and continue our business for the day and then at the end of the day people can comment on anything they wish. I I agree with that because it is our business meeting and if there's a way that we could say and I think we talked about this last time. If we're going to use you again if you knew that you needed to say something and did not want to wait do it under visitors.

Would you come to the chair and say I would really love to have it a permission to speak at that time because I do need to leave. I don't think you'd have ever said no. I don't know why they can't do it under visitors. We could do it under visitors too. If if it's absolutely necessary that somebody has an important topic that they want to see, they need to say it before they leave. I I hear where Commissioner Milbour is saying. I think that's a hindrance for them, but we we try to it's it's a work meeting, too. We need to make sure we keep control of that and make sure that we do our work. So

maybe there's a way we can say at that point somebody can say, "May I have permission to speak before this? it's on this particular topic um because I have to leave. I don't know. The common citizen's not going to walk up to the chair before a meeting and go, I have something to bring up. I'd like to be able to speak at at any time I want to. The common citizen is not going to do that. They're going to they're going to follow the rules. So, I I I appreciate the consideration. We had a gentleman raise his hand. I don't know if the chair would like to recognize individual had a comment question you're worried about somebody [snorts]

um you can't do well it's not beneficial to do that because the agenda items only we do our motions before then they would get to speak on their agenda items. Okay, Madam Chair. Yes. Also, if we leave it agenda items only, it assures that our meeting business meeting is not going to be hijacked by public comment. Correct. It's the people's meeting though, Rex. It's the people's meeting. It's actually our meeting held in the public. It is our meeting.

It's our meeting. But if somebody does have something to say, I just hate to see them wait for an hour and a half, two hours to be able to make a comment. And I app it is our meeting. Let me The bottom line is the public should have that opportunity to be able to speak at the at the end of the day. The collective wisdom of the board will will and I'm not going to bring it up again, but I just think it it gives the public that opportunity to speak when they want to instead of have to wait for two hours. They also have the option of emailing the board of commissioners. There's always options. Okay, I got another option before we just we'll just bury this in the ground for another hour. [snorts] Um, please limit to five minutes.

It says agenda items only. At that point in time, the chair could easily say, is there anyone in the audience who has to leave that has a special request? Like it needs to be clear. So if they come up and they are derailing, you can say that is not what this is for. You're declined. I mean, I know that sounds harsh, but if you could at that point in time verbally open it up and say, is there any particular department or any I mean, not department head, but is there somebody who has something they need to share with the board because they can't stay until the end? I I I you could offer and then you they have to sell the topic and what they're going to say and then you can accept it or not. I don't know.

That's an acceptable compromise, but that's up to the chair. How comfortable or workable is that? Madam Chair, I I would feel comfortable with Kim's suggestion. The end of the day, I will relinquish whatever you feel, but I think Kim came up with agenda items only for any visitor that needs to say something before. I could do that under visitors. It work for me after public comment. Let's do that. I like it. You could always go back to switching your meetings. So, the regular meetings first, then you're limited to an hour and then you have your work session that takes a long time. Yeah. But just also that idea very reasonable compromise

also be uh cognizant of the fact that if you allow them to speak during visitor that is not timed or has not been timed. So we would need to make it yes timed. Yes. Our meeting. Okay. All right.

5.6 there was a comment there. Um, basically this is the board's comment dur. So if I guess if somebody were to make a derogatory comment during public comment, if you wanted to use your board comment time, you could to address it. That's up to each individual board member. Let's see the last 6.3 F. Commissioner Mley just the same as earlier just to clarify the difference. That's what I thought.

7.4. Um, I think it's always been that if you want your board comments to be included that you have to have that in writing and present to the clerk prior to the meeting beginning. It also has to be approved by the board. Um, 8.2 committee chairperson. Um the question is does the person listed as primary appointee serve as chair on the committee chair?

No. So that actually they are not the chairperson of the committee. That would be a decision for that committee to make. Yes. Y um 8.4. Um the question is do the internal committees keep minutes or written record is there we talked a little bit just to move this along [clears throat] question of mine I think most of our committees internal committees are just us

so it's not like separate I mean bigger boards have bigger subcommittees that need to keep that so that clarified that for me. I'm fine as is. And then a reminder that any meeting minutes that we do have from our committees that those are supposed to get turned into our clerk, such as Northern Lakes, Mental Health, all the different groups we go to, their minutes go to Michelle.

Yep. or at least for so Michelle knows where if to obtain minutes from if you know so that there's always a record. Um and the last one that I believe is 13.5 committee review. I guess um I could Commissioner Morley says I could use some additional explanation of this. So, I was looking this over um and it's I don't know. This was really confusing to me, too. I I agree with you because to me what the paragraph says underneath doesn't necessarily go with committee review, but um so the chairperson of the board of commissioners shall refer all proposed administrative resolutions to an appropriate committee of the board. So, I'm assuming that what it means is that if somebody presents a um resolution, i.e. to make you a sovereign state, that that would go to the appropriate committee list

to be reviewed and determine whether or not that should come before the board as business. Okay. No, that has not happened,

but I think it's a great idea. to start putting into practice because that will definitely save some of these longer. We haven't had many in the in the last um but Stevenson says I would like to have my office recognized for register of deeds personnel gets the email and says yep this should come before the full board of commissioners type of a thing. Does this have anything to do with all the other resolutions that get sent to us from other counties asking us to do the same? I would say yes, it should

because right now they just go into our board packet as communication and there's no discussion on them and and maybe that's okay, but they do get sent for us to say will you do this as well? Yes. So who who makes that decision? The chair. Usually, usually if something if we've gotten it, I know that we've talked about it in our agenda meeting sometimes about whether or not to put it on or for further discussion. Any of the board members if you're interested in it could take it to the chair. Yeah. If we see it and we want it, then say, "I'd like that." If not, just Yeah.

no comment in a sense and you'll you guys make that decision. That's fine with me. And then let's see, whoops, there was one more 13.8 notification. So my my answer to this is the fact that it says administrative resolution, which goes up to the ones. If you guys pass resolutions that are not applicable to our department heads, I don't share those because they're included in the parket packets, but anything that you guys do, um, half the time I'm emailing before I leave here, but anything that you guys do that affects our department heads or does get communicated from our office. So I will make some modifications and then I will email everybody out a final for thoughts, comments, questions so that we can

Yep. Any other questions or comments from any other board? With no other questions or comments because this meeting ran quite long as we knew it would today. Um, we will do a five minute recess and we will start our next m meeting at 11:05. Five minutes. Five minutes. Get to my sandwich. That's our job. Just brought it with you. Yes. What we're supposed to do, that's what the reason I'm looking at them, right? Yes, I agree. However, I don't

26 at 11:05 a.m. The pledge of allegiance. [snorts] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Spencer here. Here Russo here. Approval of the agenda.

We had a share. A second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mley. Yes. Spencer. Yes. Olson. Yes. Motion carried. Organization of the board. A election of the vice chairperson for 2026. Like to so recommend Mr. Rex Wolf and his vice chair. Madam chair.

I will second that and complement his ability to fill in when needed and do the work that was supposed to be done as a vice chair. Um it's been very helpful. And I would also like to add a caveat that Mr. Wolfson has earned the earned the respect of this board. I would agree with all of the above. Do we do roll call or are there any other nominations?

Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Any other nominations? Commissioner Wolson. You're elect motion to elect Commissioner Wolson as the vice chair for 2026. So move chair. I'll second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Yes. Wolfson, why would you [laughter] additional pay for doing it? So there's no monetary benefit. Wilurn, yes.

Marley, yes. Motion carried.

Approval of the consent agenda. Included in the consent agenda, we had meeting minutes from December 17th, 2025. Board meeting with hearing minutes. Class A's in the amount of $253,850. in claims and accounts in the amount of $681,67649. Correspondences from MSU MAC legislative updates Barry and county a letter regarding the special assessment district and letter regarding support for Lawrence Welk. We have our monthly department reports from the sheriff's activity report from October through December and animal control and shelter stats. our administrative controller report and our clerk register of deed report. Do I have a motion for our consent agenda?

I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda A through F is presented. Second. Roll call, please. Wolson, yes. Milurn, yes. Mley, yes. Motion carried.

Public comment for agenda items only. Is there any public comment for agenda items? Okay, come on up. This is Oh, I'm Charlene Cornell from uh Higgins Lake. This is more of a question. I think this belongs in number nine. So, this is business. you established that uh advisory board and you wanted a represent representative from each of the um several of the organizations around the lake and at that time the meetings were to be by zoom now I understand and I I haven't seen the letter so it's more of a question are you changing this to in-person meetings or will they be the advisory committee will it be by zoom if it's it will be impossible or nearly impossible for us to have our representative that you ask for to attend in person.

So, normally I don't speak during public comment, but I am going to answer. Yeah. So, I am going to answer that question. The meetings were always stated that they would either be in person by Zoom. There was a variety of different ways that each meeting may be done depending upon the need. Now, with this meeting that went out, because the engineer is actually going to be there, he is they're requesting an in-person meeting. Can you tell me when that meeting is? We don't have a date because all of the the dates all went out to everybody asking for a people's availability. Okay. Clarifies it. Thank you. You're welcome. Your time.

Yes. Yes, you can. I was told by Chase that have an inerson meeting will not able to be able to attend by Zoom. They may not be able to speak, but they could text him a question during the meeting. That's the way I was told it was. Now, I'm not a technical guru. I'm not either. So, okay, I'll pass that along. So, we're trying to accommodate good as best we can. We're good. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you for talking to me, too. Any other public comment on agenda items? One here.

Come on up and state your name.

Jeff Zable. And same topic uh point number nine. Just a quick comment of the DNR has made two nice brand new shiny dams on Bakis Lake and Bakis Creek flooding and have not been using it. Is there any way for the level lake control structures and who's controlling all that be in coordination with the DNR because they're you know they work together instead of fighting against each other. We need one entity that has control of that and possibly Reedsburg as well and you can maintain from Higgins Lake all the way down to Mskegegan River properly. So just uh see if there's any way of working with the DNR for controlling those Bakus Creek dams in coordination with the Higgins Lake, H Hotton Lake, and Reedsburg dams as well. It should be coordinated by one entity in my opinion. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other public comment on agenda items?

Unfinished business. Oh, sorry. Visitors. Is there any visitors? Okay. Unfinished business. A lake level control structure updates um for H Hotton Lake. Um according to the engineers, the gates are sized and they are preparing drawings. They will begin the structural and the hydraulic modeling once they have the final okay from the gate manufacturer and they are still on schedule. Um all of the lake level 2025 dam inspection reports have been completed and filed with the state of Michigan. Um, and do we have any update, um, Commissioner Wolson, as far as USGS?

No, we haven't heard anything back on that yet. Okay. Um, I'd like to add something on the H Hotton Lake. Apparently, it's been brought to our attention that we had put monitors on the Moskegan River downstream from the dam to see what's going on there. And I think that study's going to cease because it's kind of like, yeah, there's nothing you can do about it anyway. So, I think that project of it is going to cease.

They they were looking to see if maybe dredging out the river just down from the dam and making a curve a curve instead of a right angle would help matters. Um, Higgins Lake, I did send a group email out to all of the advisory committee members trying to schedule an in-person meeting as Prine and New Hoff will be in attendance. Um, we are still trying to get dates, times, and how that meeting is actually going to work because we do know that there are a lot of people that are out of state and we don't want to exclude them. We just don't know exactly how it's all going to work yet. Um the bid to fix the gates on Higgins Lake um on the extension of the gates came in at 7500 and hoping to be completed by February 27th. That was the permit that we had applied for and been approved for. Um the water budget study has been completed. Um that is one of the reasons for the advisory committee to meet to go over those results and once they have then Chase will come in and present options for the board on next steps and what to do. Do I know what the water budget says? No. I So that will be actually shared at that meeting. Um Lake St. Helen Commissioner Wilson. Um, no new updates that we haven't talked about earlier in this meeting. Um, we do have a resolution here to approve so that we can move forward with asking for a court date

remove the winter level. Okay. St. Helen,

which takes us to B, resolution to remove winter level for Lake St. Helen. And is there any questions or concerns or comments regarding that? Because that will be on as a motion today. New business. Amendment of motion number 14 from the December 17th, 2025 regular meeting. Um, basically we had in that motion for it to read 2025 and it should have been 2026. It's in our motions to amend that today. And now we are to our motions and resolutions whenever our clerk is ready. Motion number one, move to adopt resolution number 2026-01-01, the resolution authorizing investments of county funds and approving county investment policy as presented by treasurer Marciel Danker, effective January 14th, 2026. Resolution number 2026-01-01, resolution authorizing investments of county funds and approving county investment policy. Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of act number 20 of public acts of Michigan of 1943 as amended, the board of commissioners of the county of Ross common may authorize the county treasurer to invest county funds in certain investments. And whereas this board wishes to authorize such investments as permit as are permitted by act 20. And whereas section five of act 20 requires this board of commissioners in conjunction with county treasurer to adopt an investment policy which complies with provisions of act 20. And whereas the county treasurer has submitted a proposed investment policy

which complies with provisions of act 20. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of commissioners of the county of Ross common as follows. One, the county treasurer is authorized to invest funds of the county of Ross common in investments authorized by act 20. Two, the investment policy attached here to as appendix one is approved and shall take effect on January 14th, 2026. Three, before executing an order, [clears throat] excuse me, to purchase or trade the funds of the county of Ross Common, a financial intermediary, broker, or dealer shall be provided with a copy of the county's investment policy and agree to comply with the terms of the investment policy regarding the buying and selling of securities by executing the form attached as appendix 2. Four, the county treasurer is authorized to rely on the continuing effect of this resolution until and unless it is specifically amended or rescended by a future resolution of the board of commissioners.

Madam second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Milbour, yes. Spencer, yes. Resolution adopted. Number two, move to approve Chase Bank, CIBC Bank, MBIA, Michigan Class, North Central Area Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Merkantile Bank, Horizon Bank, Private Bank, and MLAF to be designated as the official deposiitories for the county of Ross Common. So moved. Second.

Any discussion? Roll call, please. Milburn, yes. Wolson, yes. Sensor, yes. Mley, yes. Motion carried. Number three, move to award the printing of the synopsis of the board of commissioners special and regular meeting minutes for the year 2026 to the Holton Lake Resorter. Move, Madam Chair. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Olson, yes. Spencer, yes. Mley, yes. Milbour, yes.

Motion carried. Number four, move to set the budget and finance committee of the whole meetings for the following dates February 25th, April 22nd, June 24th, August 26th, October 28th, and November 10th, 2026 for the excuse me, November 10th, 2026 following the regular board meeting. Move. I'll second.

Any discussion? I do. If in our board rules we decide to change our regular meetings to 9:00 in our work session, then we would have to change that following the regular meeting. We may have to come back and revisit this depending upon how our board rules fall. Good point. Good point. Do we want to vote on this now or wait? since that was brought up. Madam Chair, with your with your permission, put it lay it on the table for next meeting. Your discretion, Madam Chair? Yes. Is this a meeting that's subject to an open meetings act? Yes.

Are this is actually a separate meeting? Yes. Okay. The way it's worded doesn't say whether it what time of the day it follows the regular meeting. Yeah. But it says following the regular board meeting. Yeah, but it is it could be 10:00 at night. It's following that. So perhaps it could be after the work session on them days. I don't know. Why don't we just put it on the table right now? You have a motion. Have to vote. Yeah, we have to we have to vote.

Yes, a motion and a second. You should have tabled it before you made a motion. Yep. Um, let's just vote and if we need to change it, we'll go back and change it. Oh, roll call, please. Milbour, no. Wolson, yes. Mley, no. Spencer, no. Motion failed. Number five, move to set the lake level control structure meetings following the first board meeting of the month, April through September. I'll make a motion.

I think we should table this one. Table that one, too. I think this one should be tabled again. You're in the same situation, correct? Right. You probably should, Madam Chair, probably add the word 2026. Yeah. Oh, okay. Motion number five. We didn't get a second. So, we just move on. Motion number five is tabled. Yep, it's tabled.

Okay. Number six. Move to amend no motion number 14 as approved at the December 17th, 2025 regular meeting to correct fiscal year from 2025 to 2026. Motion to read as follows. Move to authorize the appropriation of $137,42.92 to the friend of the court fund for fiscal year 2026. So, Madam Chair, second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Wilson, yes. Mley, yes. Milbour, yes. Sensor, yes.

Motion carried. Number seven, move to adopt resolution number 2026-01-02, Lake St. St. Holland Lake level resolution number 20226-01-02 Lake St. Holland lake level whereas Lake St. Holland located in Higgins Township and Richfield Township Ross common county Michigan has established normal summer and winter lake levels by the Ross common county circuit court under part 307 of the natural resources and environmental protection act 451 of 1994 as amended. And whereas the Roscomin County Board of Commissioners and its delegated authority have jurisdiction for the operation and maintenance of the normal levels of Lake St. Helen MCL 324.30702 and whereas the normal levels of Lake St. Helen are operated and maintain maintained by the Lake St. Helen lake level control structure. And whereas an engineering inspection of the control structure revealed concerns with its structural integrity and indicated that replacement reconstruction is necessary. And whereas although a specific design for the control structure has not been finalized, preliminary discussions have identified certain benefits associated with a fixed crest we design including greater efficiency in managing the lake level. And whereas implementation of a fixed crest wear design will result in the maintenance of a single year round lake level and will remove the ability to conduct a seasonal draw down. And whereas implementation of a fixed crest weird design will therefore require a circuit court hearing to amend the Lake St. Halen lake level order to remove the normal winter level and confirm the currently established normal summer level as the year- round normal level. And whereas prior to filing a circuit court petition, the board of commissioners anticipates engaging in public outreach and requesting stakeholder input regarding the potential removal of the normal winter level. And whereas pending review and evaluation of any stakeholder input

received, the board of commissioners finds that updates to the lake level order are necessary to remove the normal winter winter level on Lake St. Helen. And whereas NCL 32430722 subsection 4 requires annual expenditures of over $10,000 to be approved by the board of commissioners. And whereas the for the reasons stated herein, the board of commissioners finds it necessary to one engage in public outreach regarding the proposed removal of Lake St. Holland's normal winter level. Two, pending the review and evaluation of any stakeholder input received, file a petition in the Roscomin County Circuit Court to amend the Lake St. Helen Lake level order to remove the normal winter level. And three, approve annual expenditures of over $10,000 for activities to operate and maintain the normal level of Lake St. Helen. Now therefore be it resolved one public outreach. The board of commissioners authorizes its commissioners appointed as liaison for lake level management to work with its legal council and professional engineering consultant to engage in public outreach regarding the proposed removal of Lake St. Helen's normal win normal winter level and to review evaluate any stakeholder input received. Two circuit court petition. Pending the review and evaluation of any stakeholder input received, the board of commissioners directs its legal council to file a circuit court petition on behalf of Ross Common County to amend the Lake St. Holland lake level order to remove the normal winter level and confirm the currently established normal summer level as the yearround normal level. CMcl32430707 paragraph 5. Circuit Court has continuing jurisdiction. Three, over $10,000 expenditure. The board of commissioners approves annual expenditures of over $10,000 for activities to operate and maintain the normal level of Lake St. Helen,

including the maintenance and repair of lake level infrastructure. MCL 324.30722, paragraph 4. This express authorization to spend more than $10,000 annually shall authorize annual expenditures of over $10,000 for all years in which work for the activities authorized herein continues to occur. Four, cost of activities. All costs associated with the expenditures authorized in this resolution, including retaining all necessary consultants shall be reimbured by a lake level special assessment district to the extent permitted by part 307. [snorts] So move Second. Any discussion? Madam Chair, [snorts] I just

Yes. Quick clarity. I know that budgetwise we contribute as a county 10 grand per lake on an an at least for this year for that. So anything this is saying over 10,000. So this is stuff that goes back to an SAD. Is that correct? So we can still spend more. It's just that we're only contributing up to 10. Is that the way I read it? Correct. I'm getting I got a correct and some not sure is that

am I correct? We're only spending 10. We're authorizing to spend more than 10 and that will go be added to the Okay. Just want to make sure I understood the the verbiage correct. I'm good. Okay. Roll call, please. Milbour, yes. Mley, yes. Wolson, yes. Spencer, yes. Resolution adopted.

Um, let's see. Committee reports. Commissioner Mley. Um, beginning of the new year. Don't really have a ton. Just a quick update on Northern Lakes Community Mental Health. Um, department, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. uh their procurement process that they were trying to bid out for the prepaid inpatient health plans um has been one it's been MAC is against it most of your mental health authorities are against it so a recent court ruling said that it's okay but they have to redo how they're doing the RFP process and requirements so um how this will pan out. They were supposed to start awards in February. That probably won't happen because now DHS has to redo that bid process and what they're doing. So, it's not illegal for them to do it according to the law, but the way they have done it has to be changed. So, more to more to come on that, but from a committee perspective, that's all I have.

Okay. Commissioner Melbourne. which is 12 hours Chicken number 27. This is missing. Everyone um I had the agenda meeting on last Wednesday on January 4th. I had a substance use disorder meeting on Monday, January 5th or January 7th, I believe it was. Um, we're going to the Northern Michigan Regional Entity will continue to look at block grant funding to help fill some gaps that are happening. They'll be taking it from each of the counties overall balances that we have with them

and they will update us on what that looks like at our next meeting. um in March, the amount will reflect um on the number of people that we're actually helping in Roscoming County. So, it's not straight across the board. It's county by county and how many people are being helped through that program. Um they're looking at the number of admissions just for Russ common county. Um we're seeing a decline in numbers. In 2023, um, we had had 276 individuals go through. In 2024, it was 221. And in 2025, we had 195 from Roscommen County. Outpatient is still the primary treatment setting at 61% with residential being 33% and intensive outpatient at 6%. Alcohol for Roscommen County is the primary at 61% followed by heroin at 11% and methamphetamine speed at 6% and other opiates and synthetics come in at 22%. Catholic Human Services is the top provider for our area in 2025, followed by Bear River Health and then addiction treatment services. Um the age group that is most affected currently is ages 40 through 49 which make up 39% of those cases so far just in 2026 and ages 50- 64 at 33% and ages 26 through 39 at 28%. In October we had 26 admissions and in November we had 18. Um, I do know that um we have been Lieutenant Beck and

Corporal have been working with Vicki at Catholic Human Services to make sure that um we're getting the services that we signed up for this past October. Brian had left um Catholic Human Services and I believe a new person has come in and they have been keeping a close eye on making sure that we have the people in the building that are supposed to be when they're supposed to be and I want to thank them for keeping me updated on that. Um airport committee, we went over the upcoming projects that will be slated for 2026. Fuel sales continue to be down about 12%. We're looking to I had actually talked to Jod about our $15,000 reimbursement. We have not received that yet. Um, everyone has been paid up for their 2026 hangar rentals. The EAA chapter 1580 has a new president, Mr. Bill Morley. The 4unit T hanger had an estimate of 685,000 with us having to pay 8,000. that was figured into the budget. However, our airport manager stated it could slightly be higher. Um, we're getting clarification on exactly how the math works out here to find out because if it's going to be more than that, they'd have to come back in front of the board to get approvals. Um, let's see. He's also following up on the land swap with the DNR. The underground storage tank has been inspected and the permit was issued. The rehab project has not been closed out yet by the state and they are looking to have somebody look at the beacon light um to look and make sure that it is at the correct degree above the horizon as the new LED light is quite bright and there's a

house that it is shining into. Um, April 4th is the Easter egg drop and June 7th is the fly-in pancake breakfast. Um, I would site knowing what different projects are on the horizon out there, um, we need to look at additional ways to raise revenue out there if we want to continue to be able to fund some of these projects. So, any ideas on that are welcome. Back in December, we had an animal control and shelter meeting. Meeting dates were set. The time was changed to 8:30 in the morning. Um, we looked at the total number of expenditures as far as regarding the animals. Um, with the veterary bills being the top expenditure, um, they lost the in-person vet that they had coming in. So now everything is going through the vet over in Southshore in H Hotton Lake and Prudenville. Those vet bills came to 35,3092 followed by flee treatments of 6,12231. They do get some um, grant reimbursements. the spay and neuter, they got $4,000 in a grant. Vaccines 1,400 and for animals there in the shelter and the public vaccines that they do at their public clinics got 1,600. Um, I know it was suggested, I don't know if it was by Michelle or Jod about doing a pie chart and maybe adding that to something um so that the public could understand where expenses and grants and everything come into play. And that's all I have. Commissioner Wolson.

Yes. Um had a meeting with the planning committee for materials management by Zoom. Um we were looking for what do we need or what do what do we think we need to improve on recycling and reverting stuff from going to landfills. Um I'm going to attend the Ross Common Township associations meeting and ask the townships to get with me anything they think they know of that will improve that for their township because they're the ones that has the handle on their people. Um been been working with my leazison from Eagle um backis township wants to put in a receptacle for recyclables on their site. they're putting in for an infrastructure grant on that and I've been working trying to co coordinate and rub the right elbows where I can to get that achieved. So, and then we've put in for our next reimbursement grant of a little over 10,000. I think it was $10,614. Um, and we're waiting to see if that materializes. Is it

okay? Public comment. Do we have any public comment? Okay.

I'm not going to take that long. It's five, by the way. So, this would be where it would be handy to have that department head comment thing. Um, since my filing of my report for the packet, uh, I received filing from Ross Common Area Public School District. So, we will be having a May election for those jurisdictions in the wraps area. So, and just wanted to update you on that. Great. Thanks. Hey, any other public comment? Okay. board comment. Commissioner Mley,

I'm not sure I have a ton more after all our conversation already today, but just just a few highlights from our controller and clerk's reports and the animal control reports that we get. I mean, just the numbers that have even expounded since last year. I mean, there's been a lot accomplished over this past year. I truly um appreciate the court updates on our lawsuits because I know that they just you read them all when they come through. The little synopsis that's in there is very helpful, especially when I have to report back to the townships when they ask where are things at. So, thank you. Um so, yeah, I I think I'll be good for now. Just a lot that was said today, I think, and that we've got a new year ahead of us. start working on how we function and our goals for this next year so that we stay laser focused and not get too distracted by all the noise that hits us in a day. So,

Commissioner Melbourne, I'm still planning forward to for our big anniversary Fourth of July, which is on Saturday this year, 2026, in front of the courthouse. Going to ask Senator Michelle Hoya to be a guest speaker. We also have Petolian, retired general, to be there. Bring that forward to the next meeting. It will be it will be uh September January 28th meeting. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um I just want to mentioned that I did attend um the Denton Township meeting and along with Commissioner Wilson attended that. Um they did adopt a um short-term rental ordinance along with an application and fee schedule. Um it is a starting point and they will make adjustments as they see necessary. Um they approve their ambulance um to replace a door that needs to be replaced. Fire is purchasing new two new radios and the police need a new computer um as they did hire another deputy. um the office in there will be getting a counter laptop. This way as different public come in, they can actually help look up different things right on that specific laptop. Um they did increase the amount that they're paying different board members for their ZBA PC and board of review. They also discussed if all members in that office um should be allowed to go to the MTA annual conference. Um if they all decide to go then that office would be shut down for a period of days. And that is all I have

um to go along with Mark's comment about this July 4th and stuff. He'd like to send a letter out to s Senator Hoinga's office inviting her on behalf of the chair, the board of commissioners, and the citizens of this county. And I'd like to have a consensus that for him to go ahead and send that letter out. I don't know if you all got a copy of it, but I did. Nope. But I read it. You gave it to me. I'll get that down to You want me to read it real quick?

Yeah, you can read it. says, "Dear Senator Horninga, at noon sat Saturday, 4th of July 2026 in front of the Roscom County Courthouse, we are planning a 150th celebration of our nation's independence. On behalf of Chair Darling Sensor, the Board of Commissioners, and the citizens of our great county, is my honor to respectfully and formally invite you to be a guest speaker at this historic event sign. Mark Milbour, and I have attached flyer that the Veterans Affairs put together." I'm fighting with it. I'm playing with it. Oh, yeah. I'm fine. So, you're sending that out to her? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Okay. Thanks, Rex. With no further board comment, this meeting is adjourned.