County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

We'll call please Russo Wilson Center here Morley here Milburn here Approval of the agenda to move madam chair We have a second

Any discussion? Roll call, please. Morley. Yes. Milburn.

Yes.

Wilson. Yes. Spencer. Yes. Approval of the consent agenda. Items in the consent agenda include the meeting minutes from July 22nd, 2026 board meeting. Class A's in the amount of $1,765,894.57. In claims and accounts in the amount of $426,090.48. Correspondences, Washtenaw County Resolution, Higgins Lake Foundation regarding washing boat and invasive species, a letter from Eric Osterkin, a letter regarding public road and safety and an invite to attend the open house at core educational center and rock monthly department reports we have june 2026 sheriff revenue report july 2026 animal control and shelter stats the administrator controller report and the clerk register of deeds update do i have a motion to accept the consent agenda second roll call please Wilson?

Yes.

Spencer? Yes. Morley? Yes. Wilbur?

Yes.

Public comment. Agenda items only. Is there any public comment for agenda items? Any visitors? Unfinished business. Strategic plan action update.

Commissioner Morley, would you like to start? I can start. I'll start with the budget part because it was one of the goals. Just a little more detailed update. We've talked about it before, but the meetings with each of the department heads have been scheduled and approved. So on Wednesday the 19th, we'll be looking at the airport, animal shelter, IT, maintenance, and equalization in Spongy Moth together. Then on the next day, Friday the 21st, we'll be going through the courts. We'll start with circuit court, central filing, district court, probate, and family court. On the 24th, then we'll do the clerk, treasurer's office, emergency management, and veterans. On the 25th, we'll work with the sheriff and the prosecutor. And then the final day is Wednesday, August 26. We will work on the administrator controller budget, the board of commissioners budget, as well as any of the funds that are out there in line items so that we can look at those. So right now, those are scheduled. And until we get through those and we'll know if we need to come back and redo. Cut me off. All good. I rehearsed that from my . So other than that, I don't think there's anything else under budget and financial development that we were working on right now. So anything else that you guys have updates on yours? Commissioner Melburn?

I know the controller and I talked about doing a 9-11 ceremony with the firemen. That would be 9-11 on, I think it's a Friday. Maybe 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, something like that. More information to follow, but I know that we're working on something.

And I don't have any updates on the water budget or water net water budget but water resource department at this time We don't have anything under new business so we would be on to motions and resolutions whenever Our clerk is ready

Motion 1, move to approve the 2025 County of Roscommon audit as presented by Tyler J. Waters, CPA, on July 22nd, 2026.

So moved, Madam Chair.

Second. Any discussion?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

I think it's imperative for the public to realize that at this juncture, correct me if I'm wrong, Jody, but we're about 22% fund balance. Important to note. Thank you.

Roll call, please. Spencer? Yes. Wolfson?

Yes.

Morley? Yes. Milburn?

Yes.

Motion carried. Number two, move to approve the interlocal governmental agreement between Crawford County Board of Commissioners and Roscommon County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of administering the community development block grant emergency housing programs for Ross-Pemmon County. This agreement is effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. So moved. Second.

Any discussion? Roll call, please.

Morley. Yes. Wilson. Yes. Sensor. Yes. Milburn.

Yes.

Motion carried. Number three, move to reappoint Dr. Brian C. Hunter, forensic pathologist, as medical examiner for Roscommon County. Cost per case will be $1,230 with an additional $500 monthly administration fee. All duties and responsibilities of the medical examiner are to be in compliance with Public Act 181 of 1953, County Medical Examiner.

Sure Any discussion?

I'm sure yes, it's important for the public to realize.

I think he's been the Emmy for what a decade It's all Thank You madam chair I do like just because this has to do with the medical examiner to remind everybody that I am a funeral doctor I do work with dr. Hunter and That being said, I don't feel that there's a conflict. He was the medical examiner long before I became a commissioner. We'll call, please.

Wilson?

Yes.

Morley? Yes. Milburn?

Yes.

Spencer? Yes. Motion carried.

Committee reports. Commissioner Wilson?

Yes, I've been working on materials management. Three trailers at the cost of about thirty six to forty thousand dollars and turn them over to those townships also Establish recycling facilities for Nestor Township which would be contracting with Bacchus Township for the cost of $40,000 for four years of service to Nestor Township. I ran that past my man from Eagle. He told me how to submit it on our FSR. Then the state approves it, put it in our plan, Townships have to approve our plan and the state approves our plan and at some point I'm going to ask the board for authority to Make those expenditures because it is a reimbursement And I don't trust the state of Michigan ever So, you know, we have to spend the money before we can submit for reimbursement. But we're going through all the steps we're supposed to go through, and, you know, you just don't know what happens.

Where does that money come from up front?

There is no up front money.

So it's out of general fund?

It's program at all.

I know it's a reimbursement, but we're going to have to pay up front? Can you share where we're going to pull that from at the beginning?

So in speaking with Commissioner Wolfson about this, it would need to be a approved appropriation from the board, from the general fund. We do have $50,000 in our contingency line that would cover the costs of what he's expecting. Out of contingency fund.

OK.

And then also, that pretty much ties up all the money we've been appropriated from the state for the first two years. I talked to the consulting company the other day. Even though we want to wrap all this up by the end of the year, I want to have a tag hanging out there so that we're still open to receive $71,000 next year if appropriated by the state. I'm sure work that we could possibly do we should be able to find some words to you know use that money enhance recycling in the county Sounds good, okay Commissioner Morley

A little bit of updates here. After our last meeting, I did attend one of the road commissioner meetings, listened to them kind of talk about their push for the millage that was coming up after that. And just, they're really, one of their biggest topics was around the permits and signs at road ends for people trying to, I know they spoke with our undersheriff. So just looking through what do they traditionally do and how does that process work? Right now, it looks like they'll just continue the same process. there's discussion about should those signs be all uniform, they all look the same, regardless of who asked for that, because that's the person who has to pay for it anyway. The Road Commission is the only one, they just give the permit. But whoever wants it has to pay. They're responsible for paying and maintaining it. So that was probably one of the biggest discussions on their meeting. attended Steve Hall's retirement for our Central Michigan District Health Department and bid him farewell on our behalf. On August 4th, I was sitting on the interview panels for the Garish Fire Department. We had two positions open. On August 5th, I listened to Senator Sotkin did a webinar on the Road to Housing Act that they passed. There's a litany of pages of laws and changes, but if you bucket it in a couple things, the existing programs that are going on, they're really looking at how do they ease those regulations on those things. They're looking at infrastructure needs, which become one of the largest drain of money when you're trying to redevelop. lot more access with HUD programs and homeless housing but then there's a lot of new initiatives that they're trying to push through that would really help with those developers once again HUD programs turn vacant and abandoned buildings into some housing so but the caveat to the entire hour-long presentation with all the details was really around this is all based upon appropriations at this point. If they're programs that there's no money difference, it's just a different way of operating it, no change. But all these that are new are all contingent upon whatever money is given. And then HUD will be, or Health and Human Services will be the group that will start saying, this is how it's going to work. Now that we know what we're going to get, then they'll be the ones communicating. Did I catch all that? I don't know if you saw. I did.

Yeah, I agree.

All right. Let's see. What else we got here in my lovely little report? I wasn't able to go to the spongy moth meeting, but I know that was in our report from the controller. So kudos to that team, by the way, to put out they're not allowed to go on private property anymore without permission. So they've come up with a way that already went out. I saw the communication go, so I thought that was good.

Also attended the grievance hearing for a termination that had happened in the dispatch Commissioner Melbourne I went to the disability networks mid, Michigan party picnic down in Saginaw on the 29th of July I took my family my son my wife and and our friend Carolyn wrapped out it was interesting justice Bernstein was there I gave it quite a passion to speak about and of disabilities. It was a very well attended picnic. I attended the health clinic last week at the Holy Schools. Just a few folks that were there was Chris and Kim Ashcraft, Amy Otto, Rhonda Barhart, JoJean Thompson, Vanessa and Chuck Corwin, along with a bunch of other folks. It was very well attended. Last Friday and Sunday and Saturday, I attended the 100th anniversary of the Playhouse in honor of raising the flag at the historical village days. I think I've done that for about a decade now. Then I went to the COA car show and Music in the Air concert at the fairgrounds over here in Roscommon. I attended the veterans coffee hour at the airport and the veterans meeting at the county. I attended both the Nestor and Roscommon township meetings. And I went to the COA for lunch. If you haven't had a chance to go to the COA, go. And I attended the funeral of Diane Schneider's, former Bob Schneider's wife. Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you. I attended a few different personnel meetings, the grievance hearing, several lake level committee discussions with Commissioner Wolfson. We will be meeting with the DNR later today. And my meeting with Michigan Works was canceled. So I didn't have one. That's all I have. Any public comment? Board comment? Commissioner Wolfson?

I'm good.

Commissioner Morley?

I am pretty good, but I... We can table this if we want. I just wanted to comment. I do love when our department... You guys give us really good reports, and I just want to say thank you, because it helps. So, you know, on the Sheriff's Department, I know that... Revenue was pretty comparable, May through June. Usage breakdown, I love that we get how that's broken down, especially with Ogema work, federal inmates, and all that. It was just a really, it was even a more detailed report than we've had some other times, and I really appreciated that. Looks like animal control, you know, the last three months, nuisance and, you know, stray animals and dogs were pretty high compared to the past. But then dog bites doubled. They're not here, but I'm assuming that's because there were a lot more strays. Don't know, but that would be my assumption on that report. Control, I really love the legislative updates. If you could give us, if there's anything you want to share today about how that might impact us, some of those were in there, and I won't go through the details, but if there's something there you'd like to share. And then for our clerk, I know elections, they're kicking in. Any updates on things that go smooth? Did you feel like... There's been a lot of activity, and so I think people like to know how hard it is.

Yeah, absolutely. So overall, it went smooth. We had overall about 35% turnout, which is big for a primary. In my visits with all of the jurisdictions on election day, everybody had a steady flow, pretty much had a steady flow throughout the day. That didn't include their AV ballots that were also cast. Overall, it went smooth. There's some things that can be improved upon. So we're going to be working on that. And yesterday was the filing deadline for proposals for November. So I don't know if I have any. I think I have one, but I'm not sure. So I got to work on ballot administration now for November. The canvassers are meeting tomorrow to certify the election because We had outstanding move ballots So we can't certify until six days till after the six days because they have six days to return those which was Monday so and then we had meetings today and It all worked out, so we're doing that tomorrow So we will be certifying the election tomorrow and then getting out those certificates of determination to all of the entities and the taxing entities so that they know what to charge. Heard from some that early voting had really low turnout compared to the day of it did yeah, there was about 500 and Like around 540 something I think early voting Individuals for August and then like I said we had 35% turnout, so it was pretty good I will tell you that I've already informed controller Schultz that The day after the November election, my office will not be opened until at least 1230 because we were here until 3 o'clock.

AM or PM?

AM.

AM. But it's still a lot to go home and try to go to sleep and then get right back up and be here at 830. So I'm putting it out there now. My office will be closed the morning of November 4th.

To your team and all the people. Thank you. That's it. Commissioner Mulver.

Madam Chair, I see we're cordially invited to attend the open house of CORE Educational Center on Wednesday, August 26th from 1 to 3. I know we have our meeting that day, and I have a COA meeting at 1 o'clock. It's rescheduled for a week later. And Kim and I have district health that night, too. But also, with the board's permission, I'll swing by CORE right after our meeting, have a chance to do a quick See what's going on let them know that we're there and then run over to see me So Kim and I can be at the district health at Harrison at 4 o'clock that day Busy day but I add to that because I communicated back with them about that and they've got several groups that can't attend They're trying to find additional days.

Okay, so And I think it's really for a tour The talk I think they want us to see the new building and everything so I don't know what those new dates are But they're I think they ran into that with some others so they they're also gonna have an ice cream truck Yes, I just think it's important that if they invite us that core is an important part Thank You madam chair

I'll just piggyback off of what Commissioner Morley said as far as the reports that we get from our department heads and things like that They're very helpful and there's a lot of good information in those reports and showing What they're doing on a monthly basis weekly basis daily basis and stuff like that Also just on personal note, because of different things with the animal control shelter stats, anybody that lives in the Prudenville area around White Deer Golf Course, if you have any small animals, I would suggest that you keep a very close eye on them because we have a nice coyote in the middle of the day that likes to wander. And we've had it on video several times and he's not shy. So with no further board comment this meeting would be adjourned and our next meeting starts at 10 o'clock Thanks for having me

Here to talk about a state local project. MDOT was given $5 million as a grant to aeronautics. It came from the general fund from the state of Michigan. And any airport in the state of Michigan could apply for a grant. So I went ahead and applied for a grant for some grounds maintenance equipment. There were 114 applicants, and the total ask for the 114 applicants was about 23 million. So all the airports are scratching for whatever they can get. Million just doesn't is not enough, but we were one of 50 that were awarded that we were awarded the grant and so That's a good thing are some of our grouse maintenance equipment is tired We do keep it maintaining it But it's costing more and more each year to keep it at a high level of maintenance and so in your packet there we actually had a The original estimate for the three pieces well, let's let's show the three pieces up here Where's Andy oh? Okay, so this is what we applied for Through the grant Three three different pieces of equipment Okay, that's a seven Z 930m that is a commercial grade and Zero turn mower 60 inch deck mowing deck The one we have is it's a 540 series. It's probably 18 years old and it's tired and we use that piece of equipment to mow a The front of the airport grounds, we use it to mow around guidance signs on the airfield. We use it to mow around runway lighting, taxiway lighting. Okay, so that's the one piece. That unit right there is $11,707.08. Okay. And we have another picture. These are John Deere products, okay? This is what they call a flex-wing rotary mower. It is 15 feet wide, and we pull this mower behind our 9100M John Deere tractor, okay? We've had our tractor about 13 years now, and it's still in great condition. The one the one we currently have the the rotary mower is Well, it's over 20 years old. It was at the airport when I came on board and That thing is a beast And it the one we have now it just requires a ton of maintenance to keep it at a high level of operation This is a more heavy-duty unit and And this is really what we used to mow most of the grounds on the airport, okay? And that piece originally the original estimate was thirty four thousand four hundred and eighty four dollars and fifty two cents This is these prices are through the state program Okay for state government Price actually no it was thirty one thousand four hundred and eighty eight dollars and twenty four cents it went up the thirty four thousand four hundred ninety four dollars and fifty two cents It was about three three thousand six dollars that went up between Because these estimates are good for 30 days Okay Next picture All right this here is a ten foot wide They call it a box blade. It's a snow pusher. Okay. We've needed one of these, well, in my 19 years to move snow. And so I went ahead and applied for this piece too. It's a quick disconnect for our John Deere tractor. And so this piece really is going to be utilized for clearing our terminal apron, the ramp area where we have aircraft parking. The apron area we have to move all the snow from the east from the west to the east we got to push it away from the terminal building and off to the east and We manage with the with the equipment that we have but this really going to be a time saver here and it's going to reduce our man hours of Moving snow and that it will all we can also push back. You know when you move snow out and to the edges, it piles up. And so we could use this piece to push back the banks. Okay? So that one originally was $4,400. It actually went down $250. So it's now $41.50. So there was an overall increase from the original estimate to the most current estimate of $2,756.28. Okay? So I received, okay, because it's a state local project, I received a sponsored contract for the original amount, $47,595.32. And the new estimate was $50,351.60. So I called Jim. He's kind of the administrator of this entire grant. I said, Jim, can you... y'all cover it the overage he said yes we will so i told him i said we already received a sponsor contract and he said well just disregard that and we will send you a new sponsor contract contract is a contract between us the county and the state okay it's a standard procedure same for a federal project if we were doing a federal project okay And so I received the new sponsor contract last Thursday. And I forwarded that on to Chairperson Sensor and Jody. Okay, and so the amount is $50,351.60. This is a 100% funded grant. State-funded project, there is no local match a 100% state-funded Good deal and this equipment will last us a long time Okay, so what I'm asking today is for you all to Likely like we have in the past you're gonna pass a resolution allowing chairperson sensor to sign a Sponsor contract on the behalf of Roscommon County and that you all will have a motion to approve the contract As soon as that is done and the contract is signed and returned to MDOT MDOT aeronautics will release exactly half the funds to the county electronically And then the equipment has already been set aside. It's already there waiting to be delivered. But we got to pay the first half. So as soon as we get that money, around $25,000, we'll cut a check to Hudson. Actually, it's John Deere, the headquarters. And then we will show them our check that we have paid, and then they will release the second half. It's a little bit different than a federal project, but the important thing to understand here is that this is 100% state-funded, coming from a grant from Michigan Treasury, the general fund. I can digress on the general fund at the state of Michigan, but I'm just not going to get into that. Any questions on the sponsor contract? Excuse me Yes It does It's a quick disconnect Pictures not there, but yeah, I mean literally it takes one minute. Well you got Bobcat disconnect Yes, same kind of quick attachment, and what do you do with the old equipment? Well, we can sell that It's worth something to somebody, some other smaller airport that is in need. Okay, so we will get the word out there. You know, I'm going to be going to the Michigan Association of Airport Executives Airport Conference in September, okay, and I will get the word out during our general session meetings that, hey, we have some equipment. And, you know, I guess collectively we can put a number on those things and see if we can recoup some of our cost on that. Okay.

Is it worth it to have it back on?

Won't need it. Good enough. Won't need it. We're going to maintain the new stuff just like we have the old. Okay, oil changes, mower blade changes, hydraulic oil, Works they're gonna get maintained at the same high level that we have been for all these years on the old stuff Oh August 26 is your next meeting?

Just a couple questions because I know this contract had the old amount in it 47 yes, that's right So the new one you have has the correct, it will, has the correct amount in it. Got it.

Yeah, I forwarded that on.

It's in the, yeah, it's in the packet.

It is.

Current packet, Joe updated.

Okay. Yeah, what you have is the original sponsor contract. In my packet. Yes.

I have the old. Yeah, because I don't look at that before the meeting sorry and then the sponsor for us I just just for clarity to for We have to keep the records and is that you as an airport manager or is that our controller who has to maintain? The records for three years and submit all the information back Regarding a like a project Well, it's what the responsibilities are listed in the agreement that the sponsor is supposed to do, which is us. So I don't know who us is. Is it the controller or do you? Not just you, Eric. Any manager of the airport will have to be responsible for those. Yes, that's right. You do those reports to keep this contract viable, right?

The sponsor contract, it's like 40-some pages long. I mean, if you... Okay, and basically I Don't want to oversimplify it, but I mean It really it's to make sure this that the state understands that if there is a Sponsor share or County share that we're we're good for the money Okay now The grant assurances Is it?

No, and maybe I wasn't very clear. I'm sorry. I don't mean to cut you off. All I want to make sure is on that one page where it says, with regard to audits and record keeping, the sponsor shall, the sponsor shall. That's a lot of reporting. It sure is. And that's a responsibility of the airport manager, not the controller.

Correct. So traditionally how we have worked with this is the airport manager and the assistant airport manager, they maintain those records relative to any of the projects and purchases. Traditionally when we have like a building project, the engineer... has all of that information. And then on an annual basis, when it's audit time and I yell at Eric, he provides me with all of that data so that we have that in a file.

Right, cool. And so you dovetailed right into my last question. So if this contract is a lot longer than this, and it states if something goes over, we're responsible. Some of the past projects, prices went up. And at the last minute, we had, or you, have to find money out of your budget. Are you pretty confident that if that happens, that there's money in the airport budget to cover if the prices go up and we have to do more for the project?

That's a great question. I've had a number of conversations with Matt Lahone. He's the sales rep for John Deere. And I said, we can't have another increase. And so I'm drafting a letter of intent, which I'm going to submit to him, hopefully Friday. And that's going to lock in the prices. I've had a number of conversations with him about this.

Well, and I do believe that because it's a purchase, there's not labor and all that, that the Timing of this delaying too long and then prices increase are not going to be an issue this time But I know we've had this in the past.

I just want to make sure If it is something happens, and that's all they're gonna cover that there's money in your budget Okay, the original estimate came out in April okay, and as soon as I learned of the grant I I contacted Matt Lajon, and I said, can you put me an estimate together for the three pieces? So he came, and we sat down. Options, went through options and things like that.

I'm comfortable with the second proposal. I mean, I'm comfortable with the explanation and I feel good.

I just want to make sure contractual language that I understood That's why I asked about the hookups on the pusher.

That's right because some pushers come vacant and It's the same bucket that we can put on the load or if we need our bucket if we need our forks If we need the box blade Okay, so if they're all quick attach implements Go smooth I'm okay moving this you know that's what the request is to put this on the next agenda Permission to sign them and get that rolling for sure and I pushed Jim I pushed him on the overage of you know twenty seven hundred dollars and change I said can you guys you know It actually it was because how the grant was rolled out and it took so long You know the first estimate was in April well. It's good for 30 days and And it finally didn't happen until weeks later.

That's state for you. But it's nice that Jim said yes, we'll cover.

Excuse me? Delivery? They're going to deliver it.

Okay. Okay? And I'm hopeful that we're going to have all three for our next airport committee meeting, which is on September 3rd. Okay, we'll have them out on the ramp. Anyone can come and look at those. It's really amazing equipment.

And it's gonna last a very long time Appreciate you looking for grants and stuff to cover those so yep.

Thank you like I say I mean it was a five million dollar give by Treasury 114 applicants 50 got the money it's a lot for this county so thanks it does Okay, sure yes, I also think we should move this on to the next stage for us I

Yeah, I'm good. We'll be done for our next meeting then.

Just a couple other notes. We've been doing our last two months, we've had Young Eagles events at the airport on Saturday from about 10 to noon. They've been pretty well attended. The weather hasn't really cooperated that great. But the Young Eagles events are, it's an Experimental Aircraft Association program where our local pilots donate their time and resources to introduce any young person to aviation. They get an airplane ride. They get a walk-around airplane 101. And they get a little log book. It's to help foster the interest in aviation. So stay tuned for more. We're going to talk more about our local EAA chapter and what we're doing to promote aviation in our community. Okay? So stay tuned for more. Great stuff. The T-Hanger project, the four-unit T-Hanger, that that hanger is being funded by India India Juliet Alpha funding, IIJA funding, 100%. Okay? MDOT is still waiting for that money to flow from the feds to the state so it can be administered. The project may not happen this year. We're hoping it will. I've already have the four hangers rented. So if it does not happen this year, it will happen next year. But we will also be expecting a sponsor contract for that. Okay? So I just want you to be aware that you're going to have another sponsor contract coming through that we're going to have to go through the same procedural resolution, motion, and things like that for that four-unit T anger. Okay? I'm hoping it happens this year. I can't predict what the feds are going to do with the money and how soon it's going to come. I just want to let you know.

So if they are already rented, obviously you can't get rent if they don't have the hangar. Are those people still confirmed if it has to wait another year or will they go find something else? They understand.

They understand. Some of our current tenants want to move into the new hangars. And so I've put other people's names in the old tea hangers. They're good. They understand what's happening. So it's, you know, practicing patience here. Sounds good. Waiting for the money to flow.

Thank you.

Any other questions? Thanks for the time.

Thank you. See you next month.

Sale of the annex building to the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center. Our administrator controller, Jody Schultz.

So the board, I believe, started this about a year and a half ago. And this is obviously our Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center has already finished their phase one of building project. They are starting their phase two now that they have received the official allocation from the federal government, which was lovely of a million dollars. And that grant process has been applied for. So where we are at now is finally to a stage where we can actually release our interest of that parcel to an MCAC. In looking through all of this, I wanted to provide you a little bit of history because that building next door is a conundrum, to say the least. We did have, back in November, we did have an actual survey performed that We set up those parcels based in actual usages so we can realign those descriptions and to make sure that the deeds actually will match what is there. There are two owners. There is ourselves and then there is the Ross Common Area Recreation. Our parcel is what exists currently as the Northern Michigan CAC and then encompasses our emergency management. For emergency management there were some funds put into that building specifically from FEMA grants about seven or eight years ago for a full full building generator stand-in generator in order to make emergency operations so in order to keep the generator there we have to keep emergency management there and Therefore, where we sit is we need to enter into some sort of a sales agreement with an MCAC that would allow us to offset rent per square footage, which that is established already through an in-kind contribution contract we do annually with an MCAC. So that dollar amount we can look up, we can re-review, have that for the value of the building as it stands right now. That would be prior to, which is roughly $54,000. There's not a lot of value in that old schoolhouse. And for those that might not know, the annex building is actually the building next door to us that is the craft center. Original portion of it was built in the 1930s as a schoolhouse. It has been added on since. And then as the schools transition to the three buildings we currently know, people have taken over parts of that. There's there's not a lot a lot of value to that building as it exists And of course they put a million dollars into it since so that value lays on them I just want to make sure that the board is still okay with heading down that that route before I Start formulating what that contract agreement looks like to then bring that to you to review at a work session so

It was helpful to hear what that annual in-kind contribution because I think that was the sticker It's not like we give it to you for a dollar can't do that correct, so it has to be in this format Yeah, that's pretty jet. That's average about what we've been doing as a whole anyway. Yes, right. Yeah, that's what I thought

They're reasonable and equitable.

So we will work on what that looks like and those dollar figures and then we can get that presented to you at a work session.

Was there any conversation or was there still trouble with trying to divide out what the emergency management building holds and whether it's, I don't say insurance, I don't know, there was a, I don't remember what it was, Jody, but there was some conversation about how to divide that out. Yes. IT and everything.

Yep, and that's what we were looking at was how do you figure out How do you figure out how much that value is for rent to them was kind of our big question. Liability-wise, we can cover our building under our portion under the MMRMA. So we will be able to continue to do that.

Security and all that remains us. Everything else is on their own. Yes.

Yep. We are finalizing. So emergency management will actually have a different secure entrance now. They will utilize the entrance that faces that kind of courthouse area of the parking. And then NMCAC will have that portion. Thank you.

Thank you for your work.

Thank you. OK, next we have NMCAA updates.

I'd like to introduce Carrie Bachman and Shannon Phelps, Madam Chair. Thanks for being here today. In full disclosure, I've sat on this board for the last 15 or 16 years.

Good morning. Thank you so much for giving us some time on the agenda today. And I'll share a few updates about Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency's work, otherwise known as MCAA. And Shannon is our Director of Child and Family Services in the in our organization. And so when we get to that slide, I'll turn it over to Shannon to talk a little bit more specifically about our services in Roscommon County. So in case you're not familiar, community action agencies can be public or private. And we're a private nonprofit in Northwest Michigan. And our mission is to support households and individuals who are experiencing economic insecurity become Economically stable through a variety of services that span from prenatal to senior services Again this is our mission to foster positive change by providing these opportunities that promote self-sufficiency Improving quality of life and building stronger more connected communities, and we have been around just over 50 years at this point It was originally formed in 1974 and it was a merger of two of the initially chartered community action agencies in Michigan and a couple other counties and Ross common was part of the was called one cap so it was like the first Community action agency so became a part of Northwest, Michigan some things about Community action that make it unique the first is that we have a unique board structure and that one-third of our directors are publicly elected officials and we're so thankful to have Commissioner Milburn sit on our board and has been for a period of time to bring the voice of Roscommon County and Questions very specific about how are we serving in the county to ensure that? We're serving equitable across the board a third of our board members are private citizens who have interest in the work that we do and then a third are individuals who have used or qualify for our services and I've mentioned the breadth of services. It's a very comprehensive approach in that someone may come into our organization through an early Head Start program, perhaps, and then through that have access to all of the programs and services of the organization. So they may also receive budget counseling support. They may also have home repairs or weatherization done on their house. So the relationships that we make with the individuals who come to our agency are generally long term. And more support for them and family and friends who may have need. So there are over 1,000 community action agencies across the nation. So we're not unique. We are part of a large network. In Michigan, there are 27 community action agencies. And so I think on the next slide, you can see the map of our service area. That swoosh kind of went over the map there. Ross Common is our furthest east county. And so when the state makes regions for different programs and different grants, they don't always match. So some of our services are provided by Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency. Roscommon is unique in that way. But we try to ensure that we're working together to provide everything we can for the county. So this slide shows the three main areas of our services. Housing support, educational opportunities, and economic stability. Every three years we do a community needs assessment. Consistently the top three needs are housing, child care and early education, and food stability. So these buckets sort of encompass the breadth of our programs. The first area is housing support. So for Ross Common County, we typically weatherize five to seven homes a year at an average cost of about $12,000 per home. We provide all of our financial management services to support first time home buyers, to provide home buyer education workshops, budget counseling, credit repair, those types of services. A lot of those bullets up there are related to our homeless prevention services, which are provided in Roscommon County by Northeast. Those are just some stats about housing support. And I have some annual reports that if it's all right, I can leave on the table for distribution after. And we'll have contact information for all of our offices. The next bucket is economic stability So this area will include our tax program a free tax program and our food programs and we have a number of other smaller programs that we operate so in this space We provide the commodity supplemental food program. So we have a warehouse in Cadillac that is our center of distribution. And we work through two emergency food programs in Roscommon County. One works directly with pantries to distribute emergency commodity food. And then the other is our commodity supplemental food program for 60 plus years, for 60 and over. And so we have, on our website, we have a distribution schedule. But in Ross Common, we are at the St. Helens Senior Center and the Houghton Lake Community Center Wednesday and Thursday of the month. And those distributions are simply our truck and people driving up with their car, popping in the trunk, and we will load the food into the trunk for them, sometimes up to 70 pounds worth of food. Our free tax program is also something that we offer. We're working to strengthen connections in Roscommon County to bring more local sites for drop-off and tax prep. The director of this department is fairly new, and she is from St. Helen, and she has lived and worked in Roscommon County her whole life. So she's already on the ground for the next tax season making connections and trying to see what more we can do. And then I think that will take us to our educational opportunities. And for this section, I'll turn it over to Shannon to tell you a little bit more about those programs.

Thanks, Carrie. I'm so . I'm sorry. Madam Chair, would it be better if we do questions after each section, or do you want me to wait and come back after you finish the whole presentation? It's up to you guys.

Oh, it doesn't matter to us. Either way.

If you want to ask, that's fine. Yeah, we have a couple. Can you explain, because on the housing support, we also have Hannah Lohr, who does a lot of our economic housing stuff for repairs that are needed in homes. Do those overlap? Do you provide that? What's the connection? Or are they completely different people who need completely different things?

So in the 10 counties that we serve, in seven of those counties, we administer those CDBG program income dollars. In Roscommon, it's administered by the county. We don't do that work in this county Okay, but we do get grants on occasion to do home rehab that when we do receive those We'll work really hard to get grants that will support well and septic replacement and repair and those will cover the ten counties and You know and when we do get those grant opportunities We make sure that we let everybody know and bring that information back But right now that that home repair program income is not something that we do in most common

Was just trying to make sure from a duplication of effort and money and services and so that kind of goes into the other piece for Food assistance laundry price, you know these pieces the collaborative group in our County meets every month as well for all the different services, so Are you guys obviously a part of that so that there's no duplication in who's getting food from what group to make sure that we have enough because everybody suffers from not having enough, right?

So I'm a member of the Human Services Collaborative Body, and a survey was actually just sent out to talk about the structure of the body. So super excited for that one and thinking that that's going to move us along a little more and the connections being made with those services.

From my perspective, I think that's a very important move because we all need it, and everybody's needing the money and the resources and what grants come in. And when we duplicate effort, it just doesn't seem to help us go further. So I'm glad that they're not duplicating in that. So I'm good. OK. Thank you.

Okay, so I'll just cover real briefly the educational opportunities offered within the county. So we serve families prenatally and then also families and children birth through age five. We have home-based services, and again, that will cover the whole spectrum of prenatal birth through five. We come in, we walk alongside families, offer weekly home visits to talk about child development, provide activities for families to work on with their children throughout the week, We have assessments that take place, hearing and vision, to make sure that they're set with a stable base when it comes to that piece. And then eventually, after they're done with the home-based program, we do transition them or try to transition them into one of our preschool programs. We have two preschool classrooms in Houghton Lake, and we have one preschool classroom in Roscommon at this point in time. And then our newest addition of service would be our early head start center-based classrooms. So we actually have an infant toddler classroom in Houghton Lake serving eight infants and toddlers, and that was new just several years ago. A big focus of what we do is not only working on school readiness and child development, but we take a two-generation approach. So we really believe in setting a strong foundation for families. And a beautiful part of being a community action agency and working with other entities within the community is that we can connect families to resources and support them with goal setting. So while we're working with a family and a student on child development, We may also be working with a family to go through the process of buying a house or get a car repair or whatever their goal might be. So setting that strong base and strong foundation so that they can then further support their child as they become ready for kindergarten and beyond.

And as community action, what makes it work is the entire community. And so we have a staff of about 350 right now. So we're a fairly large employer in Northwest Michigan. But many of our programs are driven by volunteers. So our tax program is driven by volunteer tax preparers. We do Meals on Wheels in four of our counties and have a whole cohort of drivers that volunteer their time. So there's lots of ways to engage in community action and it's the engagement of our staff and volunteers Our board donors that that really make it work and so I would say in relation to that You know what serves us is if anyone you know has an interest in volunteering to feel free to reach out to our office and Also, if there are connections in the community that you see You know might serve avoid duplication to To work collaboratively in a way that we can really recognize how to best use the funds that we have and the services that we do To complement each other if there's things that you see that you would share with us you know we would be more than open to that and appreciative and so Certainly Commissioner Milburn brings that information to our meetings, but in an ongoing way It would serve us in the community So this is just an overall. I mentioned we've got about 350 employees. We have about, you know, over 50,000 volunteer hours each year to make everything work. And our budget typically is around the $30 million range. So with that, these are some connections if you're interested in learning more. We do have a podcast that highlights community partners and our programs, which will help you take a deeper dive if you're interested in anything in particular. But I will, as I mentioned, leave the annual reports for you to look at and you will see contact information for our three main offices in Petoskey Traverse City and Cadillac I Think that was just it's a high-level overview, but um if there's any questions if you have Constituents that are looking for assistance even if we don't provide that service we are happy to take the call and work with individuals to connect them to something that might be in the community that we don't provide and Madam Chair?

Yes. And I'm pretty sure because of the collaborative work that 211 has your resources. I mean, if somebody's calling 211 and they're looking, but all of these are connected in that system as well. Yes, that's correct. That's what I thought. OK. And my last question was just out of curiosity. I mean, housing, education, and economic. If you had to pick one of those pillars that you think could be the best collaborative work amongst all agencies, what do you think needs the most?

So I think in terms of all of them like Shannon and I are leaving today and we're going to an early childhood coalition that we're working with to do that just that very thing we've got a systems change grant and we're trying to figure out that very thing so I think it's important in all you know in our community needs assessment housing is always the number one issue I before this role I worked in the early childhood field I was the Head Start director and so my heart and my belief system in those early years and I

Foundation that they lay you know always puts that as a I tie that with number one Thank you, thank you Like to thank the director madam madam chair and the board for allowing me the privilege to continue working for the NMCA and thank you ladies. It's an exceptional organization and I appreciate the good work that you do for our County and our state Thank you both See you next Thursday.

All right. Thank you. Bye. Thank you.

Next, we have the mid-Michigan community Health Center program with Melissa Dunkel and Chris Ashcroft.

Well, good morning, everyone. Thank you for having us and letting us talk a little more about our food program. I'm the CEO, former Michigan Community Health. And this is Ashcraft. He is the director for our food distribution program. So we, a little over a year ago, started the food program in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. So as you know, we have a footprint here in West County and a seven-county footprint. And we serve food program. goes beyond our health center walls, so beyond the exam room. The food program has access to looking at the healthy food as medicine and offering healthy food to not only our patients, but the communities. And Chris will go into a little more detail on the counties we've served and all the statistics on the number of people we've served and things. BUT SINCE WE STARTED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, WE'VE MADE SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AS WELL. AND CHRIS WILL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GO IN THERE OF THOSE AS WELL. BUT MICHIGAN SUPPORTS THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS PROGRAM. SO WE, WHILE GRANTS, DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HELP US PROVIDE FOOD, SUPPLIES, STAFFING, RESOURCES, so we can continue to grow. Most importantly, our doors are open to anyone that needs food support. So we also are here for a partnership and resources throughout, like I said, Roscommon. But we're very proud and excited to share kind of where we are to date with our new program. So I'll turn it over to Chris to kind of give you a few details. I know in your packet we supplied you with some information too regarding numbers. Statistical numbers, stuff like that. Yeah, statistics, things like that. So just so that you have an awareness of how fast and furious our program has developed and the importance of that in our communities.

I'm chair sensor rest of the commissioners. Thank you for inviting us here today So this program actually started in February of last year There was a lot of Phone calls to be made emails to be made it all hinged on the food bank of Eastern, Michigan and without them We would not be able to do what we do We didn't get up and run it until August, but it really went really quick. I was shocked that this came about in about five months. But the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan had been waiting years to partner with a health center. And we, you know, we coined it, you know, food is medicine. And it is, and I have stories that I can tell you how it has impacted our community. But because of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, we are partners with the Holton Lake, Crudenville Walmart. They are an affiliation of Feeding America. In less than a year, They have donated 19 tons of food just to our food program. We are not the only food program pantry in Roscommon County that also get that. St. Vincent de Paul and Prudenville, they also get donations from Walmart. They are a very strong partner. Generally, that food goes right straight to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, gets dispersed in outside food trucks. I'm pretty sure our deputies are well aware of the outside food trucks. But just recently, we've also gotten a partnership with Four Dollar Generals. also through the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, also through Feeding America. So really important connections that this agency, and they cover like 27 counties, Three, four hundred different levels of programs, pantries, churches who may have a door open for people to come in. So, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, they are an outstanding organization and we're proud to be partners with them. In the last year, we've also had two other partnerships. If anyone is familiar with the Forbidden Fruit apple orchard here in Roscommon, last year went out, talked to the owners, Chip and Carol. By the end of their season, they had donated 75 bushels of apples to our program. And they're ready to do it again this year. And they are amazing individuals. Lastly, this February, through the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, we began a partnership with Aunt Millie's. There's an Aunt Millie's warehouse in St. Helen. Most people don't see it because they don't advertise on their walls and their trucks are out so early in the morning. Most people don't even know it's there. That has become an amazing partnership. It was a little overwhelming at first, and it probably still is, but I love the challenge. Basically, Aunt Millie's, twice a week, is donating one ton of bread products to our program. There's no way on this earth I can spread out one ton of food through a program, although I do donate to St. Vinny's, both St. Vinny's. There's one also here in Roscommon. But in total, in six, seven months, we have donated food, bakery products to over 25 different nonprofit agencies in our community. I have people who literally take bread to every worthwhile agency that needs that support. Our school based health center gets it. All the agencies you'll see in our list. When we got going, First major need was we needed to equip our building. Now the building, the utilities, everything is an in-kind donation from MidMichigan. They are footing the bill on that building and everything that is associated with that building. Water, dumpster, insurance. Without that association could have been hard to do.

We were fortunate to have our building there for student housing.

They juggled a couple of agencies that were in that building. And I mean, this is how strongly Melissa felt about this food program. And it's taken off quite well. But we were able to get two eight-foot freezers and three commercial coolers, vital to being able to pass out food every day. We pass out frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, dairy product, produce. We are able. to give the people who come in our doors, our visitors, our neighbors, food support that isn't just a box of food. It's important that they get fresh, healthy food and that we do the best that we can do. So first month we were open in September, we did 136 families. And the model for the first year was 200 families. The last six months, we have averaged over 425 families a month. And with my background and experience and all that, I kind of knew it was coming. We're a very rural area, and food insecurity, food support, You know, through the TFAP program, through the commodities, it's important. And people say, why is there more than one food program pantry in our county? If you go see the numbers, you'd understand.

Well, and we're unique in that we serve anybody in the state of Michigan. Relations or things like that. Our goal and our mission is for that healthy food. Fresh produce, we have meats, we have breads, we have milk. We give people the choice. For us, we're unique in that. It's similar to our services for our health center. So if you're not familiar with... We serve patients no matter their ability to pay. We have several services... offer resources for patients. We have our outreach in a moment. Give them the resources for their resource. So they come to us for all those things, primary care or urgent care or PT or lab or pharmacy, any of the medical services. We're here. All of those things at all ages.

So as of this week, we have had over 1,100 unduplicated families come to us for food support. Just short of 200 of those families are outside of Roscommon County. And we are the only food program that our doors open to everyone. There's no one that gets turned away. It's hard enough for a lot of these people to walk through our doors. Because the majority of them are older seniors. And we want to make sure that they're comfortable. They know that we're there to take care of their needs to the best of our ability. We give them choices. We just don't give them a box and say, here you go. We ask them if they want 2% or whole milk. We have a list of frozen items that they can pick one off of. And as far as the meat items, the same thing. Then we have fresh produce that we get from local farmers and churches. So we're able to do a lot of good things. We have been able to give all of our visitors fresh eggs. They're hard to come by. There was a time where I couldn't come by them. But we have been doing well to be able to give them eggs, milk, butter. stuff like that. Very important. When we got this going, there was really three major things that we had to have done and we had to have done as quick as possible. Through the Roscommon County Community Foundation, we got a Generac generator think the second month we were open and everyone knows Roscommon County very well and the power seems to flicker every time the wind blows and the Generac has saved us we were actually open the week that our County was without power and we did serve some families and They were kind of surprised that we were there, but we were. I had volunteers come in, and because it used to be student housing, we had a backroom shower. And we literally had volunteers coming in and taking showers, and we were making some hot meals in the back kitchen and feeding our volunteers who hadn't had power in their house for four or five days. But Generac was a huge thing thanks to the foundation. Through a grant from Molina Healthcare, Melissa was able to secure for us a 20-foot box truck, which was another game changer because of the Walmart donations and the Aunt Millie's that we didn't even know was on the horizon pickups. We had a site visit a couple weeks ago and our coordinator from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan said of all their Full time pantries, we're considered a full time pantry because we're not open one day a week or two days a month. We're open five days a week. We are their first program that has a 20 foot box truck. But I let Melissa know it was a priority. It would be very good for our business, and it has been. We use that truck two, three times a week. The last major hurdle that we knew we needed to get over was a walk-in freezer. And last month, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan gave us a grant for $20,000. And we were going to have a walk-in freezer. It is important so that if an agency like Dollar General, if they go down for four hours Corporate rule is to disperse of the food. In the past, it was dumpsters or calling people and saying, get over here and grab. Well, now, with this partnership, it'll be able to come to us, and then we'll be able to spread it out across everyone in the county or outside the county. I've got relations at Camp Grayling, and they are actually waiting for this freezer to come about so that they also can donate to us. Just recently, I donated 400 hot dog and hamburger buns one of their companies over there and they had a big cookout so I'm in contact with them through one of our providers one of our managers her husband works there so they're on our radar also and of course any donations we get are just they're huge local gas stations and convenience stores also donate to us which I appreciate it's just It's amazing to see the people who see and understand what our rural community goes through. We do use the phrase, food is medicine, Commissioner Morley. And I will tell you a story that is very near and dear to my heart. A gentleman I met six years ago through a different agency, healthy as could be, was diagnosed with cancer. And he has gone through all the treatments. He has gone through everything to get himself well again. And he has. The biggest problem is he lost a lot of weight. And I said to this gentleman, Do you do protein drinks? He said, I love them. Absolutely love them. Can't afford them. I said, well, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan gave me cases of protein drinks. Guess what? They're getting protein drinks. And I've been doing this with him for about five months. And he stood there one day, and he talked about how grateful he was. And with no prompting, he looked at me and said, this is food is medicine right here. I appreciate you all. As we've said before, our doors are open to everyone. We try to keep somewhat of a restriction. It's an unwritten rule that most programs try to provide food support to people once a month. We are also in that. gray area of that too. But if there's a special emergency, we're very understanding. And with my background, when a family comes in and they've had recent devastation, it's usually a fire, a house fire. Without knowing where Hale, Michigan was, which is about an hour and 20 minutes away, I told an agency I would take food up there, and I did. And me and my wife, Kim, got home 9 o'clock that night. And the man's lucky to be alive. I mean, the building blew up that he was in. But each case is different. But people, they need the support. And we're doing everything we can to give them that support. Questions?

You covered it. Be thorough. Not even with numbers, but Madam Chair, I do have a couple.

Par for the course?

It is. Why would you want to come if no one cared and listened? Right? If you didn't want questions, then why not? So are there any other mid-Michigan, you know, facilities that might be going to, because this has been a big passion. It was because of you. I've known the past CEOs. And you've really been a spearhead for this. So plans to maybe expand this type of in other areas? Facilities of yours. Absolutely.

This is just the starting point for us. Yeah, so we like we said we've distributed bread food to our schools We do bread runs. We have employees that you know rotate between all of our locations So if you know, we serve patients as far as down in Coleman. We have our school-based health center there Gladwin County Beaverton medical offices and So yes, we've already started expanding with food and breads. And we'll have, like Chris said, if sometimes we have excess breads, we will deliver and have those at our front desks for our patients. We're able to do that we've talked about partnering with backpack programs in the future We just this is this is that was a great question, but this is just the beginning we did bag food bag For our patients in Roscommon, so we'll do that for health center week last week That's of yeah, there's it's there's like Chris said we're we're

I think the facility there is very unique as well, especially because you did have some housing for, because that's always an issue in health care too, right? When you've got interns and people rotating to try to find a place to live when they're doing those job shadows. So just a great facility. It just couples with a bunch of different things that you can do. So kudos to you guys for making that so effective and efficient.

Thank you. And if there's ever questions or if you'd ever like to come in through our facility, We are unique in that we partner with My Michigan Health as well. So we have specialty services there, you know, for patients that aren't able to outside of the county for, you know, for some of those services. Try to offer, kind of be the hub and offer all of those services, not just health care, but other services that we have access to if we weren't there.

Just a great leadership role for MidMichigan. to take that, because I'm not sure if there's, serving on Munson's board for so many years, I've never heard of them use this as an avenue. And so I think, they might be, I'm not gonna say they don't, but I wasn't aware, and I just think that's a great leadership role that you guys have taken as a healthcare system.

So during the power outage that we had, Under Sheriff Ben Lowe reached out to me and said, hey, we've got some individuals who could probably use some food support. So MidMichigan made the decision to in-kind 35 bags equipped with food to the Sheriff's Department so that they could go out to the people they know, that they deal with, and I mean, mostly seniors, and they were able to provide food to them while some of them actually sat in their cold houses.

Well, definitely kudos for Chris because he is a true one of the most passionate people I know when it comes to food insecurity and the work that he has done. So you have a great person leading that as well. So thank you.

This is not a casual comment. I've known Chris and Kim for years. This program exists because of your leadership and passion. I can't imagine how many times I've gone through Walmart late at night or a store and I see Kim and Chris with Gallons of milk and bananas walking through the store. It's not just once, but many, many times. Thank you, and your volunteers. Thank you so much. Thank you too, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being with us today.

Yep. Is he here?

Mark are you able to do five for he because he's not here, okay? I'll be quick bill moan is here today, and he's our nominee Wait just second Ross Common County Veterans Committee board member nomination Commissioner Milburn.

Thank you, ma'am bill. Would you please pop up to the chair? Everybody knows Bill Moten. He's our nomination to be on the veterans board. Bill, would you like to introduce yourself?

My name is Bill William Moten. I'm a resident of Roscommon County. I moved here full time 2019. And known these great people since probably then.

It would be the recommendation of the Veterans Board to nominate Bill Mountain at the next meeting.

OK.

Thanks, Bill. Short and sweet.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Bill.

It would have taken longer.

Okay. With nothing left on our work session, this meeting will be adjourned and our next meeting will start at 11.20. Structure meeting for August 12, 2026 at 11.20 a.m. Roll call, please. Here.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Approval of the agenda.

So moved, Madam Chair.

Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Public comment and agenda items only is there any public comment for agenda items?

Working already, I mean started talking You want to you aren't gonna reach that that are Just teasing That's the reason I'm here is closed sessions Public body going into closed session To negotiate the the property dispute or this property Of course this board is both delegated authority and Only commissioners, I I don't know how you can actually do do both. One office is subordinate to the other office. And I guess you put on a hat when you're one and another hat when you're the other. Of course, the county commissioners are bound by the Open Meetings Act, and the delegated authority can pretty much run a Wild West show as he so chooses. If the delegated authority was negotiating your contract, they wouldn't have to go into closed session, I don't believe. I don't think there'd be a reason for it. And I don't know why you would have to go into closed session as well. This whole thing with our lakes is revolving around this transparency. What's truthful? What's right and wrong? this is basic to our Constitution. We pledge allegiance to the flag for truth and justice. And anyway, here at Houghton Lake, we're banking water again. You should realize that banking water does harm to me and my family. And You're here banking water again. Oh well. I probably won't stay. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other public comment for agenda items only? Next we have Houghton Lake. obtainment of easement property Houghton Lake Lake level control structure We would need a motion to move into move to enter into closed session for the purpose of consideration of the purchase or lease of property for easement access to the Houghton Lake Lake level control structure MCL 15.268 Subsection 1D authorizes the public bodies to enter into a closed session to consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained. Do we have a motion to enter into closed session?

So moved.

Do we have a second?

I'll second.

Any further discussion? Roll call, please. sensor yes wolfson yes milburn yes morley yes can we clear the room for the closed session please design of the holt lake structure um so commissioner wolfson and i did meet with prina newhoff to discuss the new design um Discuss approximately how much land that might be needed if we kept with the current design that was being talked about We could scale the structure down if we needed to They're not going to start on the permit process until after Commissioner Wolfson and I Have some conversation and let them know on that We also discussed if the DNR was going to work with us in the regulation of Reedsburg, especially in the spring during flooding times. And Commissioner Wolfson and I are meeting with the DNR later today. We're hoping that we can get an agreement to work collectively with them in the manner of operating the structures. That's really all I have on Houghton Lake, unless you have anything more. No, just on that part of it.

Oh, okay.

High five. Madam Chair, on the meeting today with the DNR, are they anticipating hopefully some agreement on some? I think so. Not like, hey, we're going to talk about it, now you guys go think about it? No, no. You may have some maybe today?

Keep the line of communication open.

No, that's not a guarantee. I was just curious if.

The hopes would be. And make sure both parties are using the same scale as far as above sea level. Yeah. That was an issue earlier.

And their monitors were also off in the spring. They had discovered that as well.

Thank you for continuing that conversation and helping, because that will be critical for us too, I think. Yep.

Hi-fi downriver monitors. Currently, Prine and Newhoff still use these hi-fi monitors downriver. I did reach out to them and ask if they still wanted those monitors. They would like them for one more year. Because they were originally with the county, that's why we get the notification. But Prine and Newhoff actually pays the bill. Like, we pay it, and then they reimburse us. So, yes.

Those were put there to study the feasibility of water flow and dredging downstream, but agreed that that was never going to happen anyway.

They are still looking at them. We just got something the other day on it from Prine and Newhawk.

So they never got the message to discontinue the study?

No, they did. They're using them for the new design.

Oh, for the new design.

Yeah.

Okay.

And they need that information for whatever the updated manual is.

For now.

Yeah.

Okay.

I'm sure one, just on that same note.

But they should need two.

It doesn't change how we're reporting. We are going to continue. They may need it for their issue. That's all it's for. We're sticking with USGS, and that's how we're going to report so we don't cause more confusion, even though there's a hi-fi thing out there. Yep, they're downriver.

We had him there by the county originally and then the study was started and so they were going to utilize them. The engineering firm was so they were going to reimburse us. Well now apparently they want to use them to monitor the river. To apply for their permit and so forth for the new structure. So as long as they're going to reimburse us.

Yep. The rate is $1,495 per monitor, and that's for a year, which is the same rate that we've had the whole time with them. They haven't gone up or anything like that. So the engineers would like us to still get that renewed for them.

I'm sure yes, who sees the readings on them. Do we get up?

No, just Yeah, because they're the ones paying for it.

Okay. We'll have to have discussion with them about Sometimes them hi-fi monitors go wonky.

Yep.

They know that okay be aware of it.

Yep Okay Lake st. Helen delegated authority update commissioner Wilson I

Lake Saint Helen is about an inch or so over little over an inch over yesterday. I didn't check it today yet. When I left home, we were just starting to get some rain. I don't know how much it rained. I'll check the level before I leave. If I have to, I'll stop and open the flop gate. 50%.

OK, anything else?

Had a conversation phone call with the hunt club people on that lake Didn't go well They were trained one one member on the phone was trying to feed me some information that I know for a fact was it true because I was sitting in the boat looking at the shoreline he's telling me about and And I told him, I says, dude, I'm sitting right here and looking at that property in this boat. What you're telling me is not true. So they tried to convince me that there's hundreds of trees down from erosion in the lake. And I know for a fact because I fish on that lake weekly. But I told him when we thought we'd be out for bids. And then we discussed that we're not doing flop gates because of the cost Part of the conversation was good They'd like to see it emerge Okay

Higgins Lake delegated authority update Not really much to report other than all gates remained closed at this point But again, we'll look at the levels after our meetings and if we need to make any adjustments those will be made Nine unfinished business James Tiffany recommendation for Higgins Lake Per Commissioner Milburn I did ask mr. Tiffany if he would like to join us currently he is in his summer crush as he calls it so He's not able to I did reach out based on our previous discussion And asked for clarification in regards to his initial assessment that he had sent I So I will read part of that. Based on our previous discussion, I recommended an engineering study that covers all the following. Complete calculations to estimate how much water could be saved if some type of spillway control was placed on the uncontrolled outlet and the sheet piling at the far left of the dam were raised. I had asked, is the structure sturdy enough and in shape to be able to place a restrictor plate, seeing as there's no footing, and is the sheet piling sturdy enough to raise it, being it's 70 plus years old? His response was, we will need an engineered solution. I was not explicit enough. The sheet piling at the far left needs to be replaced with new sheets that have the top set higher than the elevation. provide recommend his next was provide recommendations on whether the entire game should be replaced or just portions of it controlled spillway for uncontrolled bay and she piling at the far left this would involve a review of the original plans if that for the damn if available i told them i would see if we have the original plans although since the modification i do not believe there's anything in our files His comment was we will have to work with what is available Whether it's the correct information or not. That's what he would have to work with Estimated cost of the above study that he was suggesting would you like for me to put a proposal together? I had said yes Okay, I'll put a proposal together. It's going to take me a bit because the summer crush of work is here I don't think we meaning the board and the engineers should make any decisions now as to whether we replace the entire structure or work with what we have. The main question to the answer is, can we make a difference by having a different spillway configuration? At this time, we're still waiting on the proposal. He has other summer projects, and so I touch base with him, and I'm still waiting for response at this point Any questions Applications for the lake level control structure operator Commissioner Wolfson and I sat down this past week and went over the applications that were turned over to us these Applications I know I have three of them here One was from Mr. Keyes. One was from a Mr. Norton. One was from Mr. Shepkey. And who was the other?

Trevor Taylor.

And one was from Mr. Taylor, Trevor Taylor. Commissioner Wolfson has reached out, and we will be doing the interviews next Tuesday. Since then, wage and salary recommendations have come in, and so we will go over those as well and discuss that. Currently, it looks like a lake operator was a grade three. However, it was noted by the committee that it was hard description to grade appropriately as it contains little or no information that effectively correlates with their evaluation plan.

At this point that's kind of what we're working with unless we want to get more detailed With the job description and send it back to wage and salary I'm sure yes Since this whole board is the delegated authority and we're holding interviews next week perhaps it'd be useful if we had a price range to offer and Before we have those interviews. I think it's imperative for wage. I mean. Delegated authority has to make the decision on what's going to be paid. And so, you know, if we're willing to have that discussion today, it would be helpful for next Tuesday's meetings, perhaps. Well, it's up to you guys. What direction you wanna go here?

So I'll throw out, and then you can throw out any ideas that you have. The 2026 non-union wage scale starts at $19.21 an hour and goes up to $22.60 an hour. So that's what their range would be.

Can you help me think through what? It's an hourly position. About how many hours does the job description require?

We initially thought it should be a salaried position, part-time, considered part-time, no benefits, at will employed. But the salaried, then we're not going to get haggling about how many hours were spent this and that. And of course, mileage would have to play into it. Since it has to be charged to the SADs also, If you have a set price, it's kind of cut and dried and easy.

I'm in favor of a set price.

I mean, we've had that performed by salary, by hourly wage before. And I think it became a little bit of a confusing issue.

So you're proposing not doing an hourly wage. You're proposing a salary of what? What do you think the salary should be and how many hours?

My suggestion would be up to $10,000 per lake per year. I said up to.

And how many hours do you think this job is supposed to be I haven't really read the whole job description. So well are they taking over every day during hold on monitoring? Reporting or are they just taking your the delegated authority to say go move a board or not?

They're gonna monitor every day keep records and keep daily logs and also Operate gates or put in and take out boards as necessary Okay

So they're taking, because you guys have been doing a lot on your own right now to review, post, and do all that. And they will be taking that over.

Well, I think we'll do the posting yet, correct?

Yes. Well, we have to post it because only some people can post. But they're going to be taking some of the legwork that you two have been doing about lakes.

And you know, there's been a lot of talk about, well, in the winter, they don't have to do nothing. Well, no. Every day, they still have to do this. Yeah, they may not go to the structure.

I think back last January chase was pulling boards out of dams in January One week in June I alone went to st. Helen structure three times that week I'm not I don't do it all so I'm not sure is that a 20 hour a week job is an average for a salary position I that's why I was going if you want to go salary and if you're proposing ten per leg, that's all we have allotted as our If I'm not mistaken, we said 10 per lake is what the county will contribute regardless. Where does any of the other maintenance, or where do we get any other money? Or is it just to hire a lake manager? What else are we going to need to spend?

Yes. So just a couple of things. So we already do have that contracted for our treasurers for their services, for overseeing, updating the roles. They are going to be managing those splits and combinations for us on an annual basis. So there's already a little, you know, and as collections go down, there's less money that the contract incurs. But if you do another SAD, then it's got to be included in there. So you figure to the treasurer's office, $2,000. If you are going to do mileage travel, which of course, if somebody is going to be driving their vehicle to do that, that would be in there. So we traditionally have budgeted for that not a heck of a lot, like $500, because it really should be pretty well coordinated per lake. So you're really kind of looking at, then on top of that, any Medicare or Social Security that we would have to pay work comp that comes out of those. 7.5% on top of that. Yeah, so another 7.5%. So you're probably looking more at $7,000 per lake as the actual salary for doing that.

If you would allow an expenditure of $10,000. Yes.

Out of the 10, about seven's for that. You've got two grand, is that for treasurers to do their role for SADs? Is that split between the three lakes?

No, that's per lake.

So there's another two, right? You're at nine. What about permits and all the things that we have to do to maintain and keep it up? So that would not be in that $10,000? We have money somewhere else for that?

Not anywhere different than that $10,000, no.

So was it the intent of the board? that the $10,000 per lake would cover all that and a lake manager with no problem. We have nothing else to, you know, there's no wiggle room. Once it's over, it's over. So I just want to make sure that if we're spending almost $9,000 on a person, that only leaves us about $1,000 per lake to do anything else. I'm just trying to understand the numbers.

Just discussions about what salary we'll offer an employee for this job.

I understand that.

And you're offering... Funds for the job come from the SAD. Not necessarily the $10,000 we're going to put in.

So your comment is that our commitment of $10,000 is only for a lake manager and nothing else?

No.

Then where else are you thinking that money is going to come from?

It's billed to the SADs. Everything like that is billed to the SADs.

So we're going to use the whole $10,000...

No, I don't care about that 10 grand sentence in that file. We can utilize that money for this because that's already committed by us. Right. And then we wouldn't have to put it onto the SAD.

I agree with that.

But that's a separate issue.

I think where the conversation comes in is how do you figure that in down the road into the SADs because the thought process is that each of these would only have possibly one more SAD.

So how do you figure that in? That's exactly where I was going with that. Better said than what I was. But at some point, we just can't keep SADing just to maintain. That's not what we told people. And if we use everything that we're committed just for a lake manager, we won't have that after those SADs are done. And I don't want to go down SADs every year from now to kingdom come just to make everything maintain. That's just me.

Well that well, that's where the 10,000 that she's talking about it's coming from Basically I don't know how the SAD Compensations the cost went down but typically you have administrative cost lying on them and So when you do your final SAD assessment, there's money there. Also, you need to have money left in that account for maintenance in the future, just like the drain districts. And that draws interest, which can be utilized for that purpose too.

I understand that.

So the issue of funding this person and the issue of what we want to offer from wage are kind of separate issues. But if you want to roll them into one issue, that's fine too.

Help me, I'm sorry. I'm probably not as diligent at it as you are or as smart as you are at it. I don't understand how those are two different things. You're trying to figure out a salary and you want 10 grand from each lake for that person. That's the money we've committed. So that's what I'm hearing. is that that's what we're going to spend, and we're going to hire a lake manager for that money.

If that's the way you want to fund it, yes.

But you're suggesting what other way, I guess, maybe you can explain that to me.

It can be funded, it goes on the SAD.

He's saying to fund it within the administrative costs of the SAD. Which then you would have to sit down and figure out approximately how many years at this and that. It could potentially mean we're going to go out for more SADs. No, well, down the road, but you're hoping that what money is left in the SAD between contingencies, the admin, as it sits in there over the years, the interest that it makes will help. Okay, I understand that.

And until we know that, unless you can articulate what that is, Rex... I don't know how to give you a better job.

I'm just asking her today, do you want us to offer a job at what price?

We'll sit down and we'll do some calculations. I'll get with Jody and we can sit down and do some calculations.

I understand you.

We didn't list a price, but when we sit down and talk to them, the guy's going to say, no, I ain't doing it for $4 an hour.

Okay, let me rephrase. Understand you should give a salary if you're already job posting and interviewing you better know what you're gonna pay somebody We didn't know that before we started that process you jumped the gun. That's my take you should know that before we got to this point Do you need a motion no no Bottom line.

No, we just need a consensus of the board. I find either way Bottom line 30 grand

You could foreseeably offer somebody $1,750 salary a month and fall comfortably within that $10,000 and then re-evaluate as things move forward.

I like that. No more than up to. OK. I'm OK with that.

Why not buy me again?

For all three likes. Monthly salary $1,750 for all three likes. and then reevaluate it.

$13,000 for all three lakes. It's $21,000. For lake, for all three lakes.

No.

$21,000 a year for all three lakes. Okay. Yes. And then we cover, that's all of our workers' comp insurance, whatever, and reminder that they're an employee, so therefore they don't have to pay for getting sued or named in a lawsuit, which to me is a pretty good thing. But I would say that that then has to be

Evaluated annually to see if that and then based on that Hours that they're working and you can do that in your employment agreement We can say this will be evaluated at the end of your first term and we will see what amount of work has been done And that needs to be adjusted, right? We have to if you're gonna interview and offer him a job you better know what if the number is Well

Know where else the money's gonna come if we run out Any further discussion on that at the moment, I know there will be more discussion coming on that I'm sorry

And all these people are aware that in this position, they're not able to bid, that this is a separate role. That is still a part of that. Is that correct? This person can't be also bidding on projects. Correct. OK. I just want to make sure.

Inherent conflicts of interest.

Yep.

OK. OK. New business. We have none. Motions and resolutions whenever our clerk is ready.

To authorize chair Darlene sensor and vice-chair Rex Wilson to discuss with attorney and draft a financial offer to obtain an easement for access to construct and maintain a new Houghton Lake Lake level control structure on parcel number zero zero six four seven one day zero zero six zero zero zero zero so move madam chair I'll support any Discussion yes, okay, and make like to make it clear.

This is not for an easement to drive between two people's houses I This is for the rights to build a structure on said property.

And maintain.

And maintain.

OK. All right. Any more discussion? OK. Roll call, please. Spencer? Yes.

Milburn?

Yes.

Morley? Yes. And Wolfson?

Yes.

Motion carried.

Public comment do we have any public comment come on up?

State your name make sure the green light is on Just real quick, I know you can't or don't answer questions like point a couple things out Why would you keep the highway on the river for another year if you're already ready to discuss a structure? What's the point of disgust of? You know if you decide on the structure now What's another year of hot fire information going to provide you? You can't go back and change the structure a year from now or you a year out from approving a structure Also, there was a delegated authority report on the other two lakes today, but not openly You discussed the property and then there was no discussion of potent lake today I do know for a fact they were on the day. I'm trying to close gates today when I left for the meeting and Couldn't get it they were gonna go home and get some other material and come back, but that's another point and You say that you will close that structure to people? What stops the next board from allowing people when you get your authority when? We present an offer here Can you tell us permanently that no one will be standing in our front yards even after you're not board members two years from now? What pips the next? Person from opening that structure back up to the public a public abuts my property. It's in my front yard mine is and You know yeah as far as driving through our houses. You're saying no, but you know it still says easement in the paperwork you need to erase that word because it's not an easement purchase and And I had emailed Darlene about this. If you move or extend the structure this way, it's going to scour the bank in front of my property. This is any engineer, Google, anyone will tell you that. You can't asymmetrically. Asymmetrically move a structure on a river what it does is it moves the entire bank with it so coming 40 feet this direction Means eroding 40 feet in my front yard, which would literally put the water in my living room. I'm about 45 feet water right there directly Would be some questions I have for your engineers she emailed me back on the 24th telling me she would talk to the engineers about this I That is a question, a significant question. Thank you for your time.

Any other public comment? OK. Board comment?

Commissioner Morley? No, I think I was talking to Comptroller that, you know, Little bit of an update on each of the lawsuits to just continue and the delays and how long it's to I mean Well, we got three or four of them out there Maybe at some point at our next one or a little bit more detail on what's that doing to us and how much longer you know? We'll just as it just seems that people forget that they're still out there lingering so have not been solved and continue to be appealed and Add that maybe under new business for your next like meeting. I Okay, just a little better description that maybe it's good but After so long just kind of has a better idea of yeah, it's still there. We don't know or yep. It could come soon.

I don't know Other than that I'm good mission about good mission Watson So I will just for my board comment. I will respond to mr. Reeves as far as The engineering wanting hi-fi, their comments as far as that goes is they want it for the operations manual and what that's going to look like, the new operations manual, and that data they need in order for them to determine different levels. It's being designed differently than the current structure. They want the information. That's up to them. They're the engineers. And I am still waiting for them to give me the information that you had requested that was sent off to them. I'm still waiting for an answer. When I get that answer, I will make sure that I get that to you. Yep. And as far as the delegated authority update it just wasn't listed But everything that we talked about would actually be considered under Houghton like as a delegated authority update. We just broke it out differently Have no idea they have we have not instructed them to do so yet because I So if there's somebody out there closing up Houghton Lake then they're doing it without the delegated authorities knowledge so With no further board comment this meeting would be adjourned