[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531221,"mediaKeyId","3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149","parentId",3585248,"title","Votes at a glance: Alpena County Board actions on grants, tax rates, cards and budget adjustments","audioSeconds",283,"startMs",1001000,"endMs",1284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149&start=1001&end=1284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149/thumbnail_1001000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531221/Alpena-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Alpena-County-Board-actions-on-grants-tax-rates-cards-and-budget-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531221-7cfb900d1095587e81fd47bca860790b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307218&Signature=FT-80b4i38NyGfIyqBhywv9Z12ObE1D9F8J6jEufeZ4SydEl8xi0yknnrvftDsIpT~RFkliSc6rEhOCV6A3sCa8RhjfFgMK9vMy9O8bzIetexKjgfdzZG8xvDfwO3dRam17q92i5nUW4-pazCrCYqtyMUc-puaJg0cmyfP~0xFaZ2NAGB~3M-QyDuZn0WP2D1FCh6SftN1~WvlBCp5RcJXVyNgmmjWlXWg29rd0aHHiPgVYl55LG0Yx1HXHyX5WKsdHDWO7l4aOUAOL8joeC7OKxuJA0SfuriHXNDbzHUfXySmN3PyczJXRrpV2iGJHRlc8sm~mJs8s~W9Ux5Xiugg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alpena County","date","2025-05-27T18:35:58Z","article","At its May 13, 2025 meeting the Alpena County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal actions on grants, fiscal housekeeping, and policy changes. Below are the motions the board approved, with key details and outcomes.

Veterans service grant application — approved
The county’s veterans office requested approval to submit the FY 2026 County Veteran Service Fund grant application; the board approved submission. The grant requires no local match, and the county intends to use award dollars for outreach and marketing (radio, newspaper advertisements and promotional items).

2025 tax rate resolution — adopted
The board adopted the county tax rate request for 2025, imposed as summer and winter levies pursuant to the General Property Tax Act and Public Act 357 of 2004. The adopted county operating rate is 4.7599 mills and the extra voted rate is 4.7339 mills. Specific voted levies listed in the resolution include library, ambulance services, county jail, older persons and veteran services; the resolution directs the county clerk to deliver the form L‑4025 tax rate request to local treasurers.

Treasurer’s report — received
The board received and filed the treasurer’s balance sheet for the general fund, including an ending fund balance and available unreserved fund balance as presented by staff.

NEEMA joint USDA grant application — approved
(See separate article.) The board authorized a joint application to add NEEMA as a co‑applicant on a $2.7 million USDA recycling grant and to set up a joint account for project funds.

Credit cards: receipts policy and card assignments — approved
The board approved new language requiring receipts to be submitted for county credit‑card charges and made cardholders financially responsible if receipts are not provided. The board also approved issuing three replacement credit cards under the recommended names: John Kozlowski, Edward Mick Higgins and Nick Akins (to replace prior cardholders who left county employment).

Budget process timeline — approved
The board adopted the FY 2026 budget process timeline, which begins July 8 with subcommittee assignments and schedules department and elected‑official presentations through October and the budget presentation and readings in October–December 2025.

Budget adjustments and payments — approved
- Home improvement (HOPG/HPG) grant: commissioners approved an increase in revenue and expenditures of $14,500 to finish an ongoing HPG grant workload, with staff noting the housing fund will remain net positive.
- Public conservator reimbursements: the board approved two emergency client‑related reimbursements. One expense was documented at $1,504.38 for hotel placement following an ice storm; the second emergency hotel payment was approved as documented in the packet (amount not specified in discussion). The county will be reimbursed by client funds thereafter, per the public conservator process.
- Emergency Management and Plus Pool adjustments: minor budget corrections — including correcting line items for grant payments and the plus pool — were approved so previously received funds can be spent as intended.

Consent calendar — approved (one item pulled)
The board approved the consent calendar after pulling one personnel item for separate discussion. Minutes corrections were directed for the facilities and personnel committee minutes as noted.

Emergency manager hiring — paused (see separate article)
A separate motion to pause the county’s plan to hire a full‑time combined emergency management/9‑1‑1 position was approved; commissioners asked for additional research on funding options because Montmorency County declined to partner.

Adjournment
The board adjourned the meeting after public comment.

Ending
Most items were routine fiscal and administrative actions; the NEEMA grant application and the pause on emergency manager hiring were the most consequential items for the county’s capital planning and public‑safety staffing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance, Ways & Means Committee Meeting 05/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a range of routine and substantive items on May 13, 2025, including submission of a veterans‑service grant application, adoption of 2025 tax rates, new credit card policies and several budget adjustments; one personnel item (emergency manager hiring) was paused for further study.","taxTitle","Alpena County, Michigan","taxId",71580,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531226,"Michigan Association of Counties director outlines revenue‑sharing, court funding and roads priorities",673,33000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149&start=33&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149/thumbnail_33000.jpg","/articles/6531226/Alpena-County/Michigan/Michigan-Association-of-Counties-director-outlines-revenuesharing-court-funding-and-roads-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531226-5f19d0d68853c50e2e0ba66f445919f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307218&Signature=W~T32UqxhN1Of5qiXeTdh6992IzOyrrGLYxrTqn2GJvUnTm~U4pGY539df0rZnNooCVCN91mWz-VYylTPB7mb-aUZJFvt1s8~myOHd7fGgx8BECXAgjZo7NHuvUuTPLS10llxuiltwF5ZgyCHczJZcf80HF~QU0LNtKK~xYx9nuXkwQDjhT99eWaSkYJFtfOw0iv7O0eJulB8xJhG3~F568FulrZdgnch6yIbYhc~eEVOEdNfJK3dNSFVxk1mKJD8D19IPLGZCuKOd4h4KXsX2mY5vLmvJizm3t40HJjOZKSba81fEleJ0VpuAxQf7cf0KXv1M3MB8yPbLAni87izw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steve Curry, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, briefed the Alpena County Board of Commissioners on MAC’s role, services and the association’s 2024–25 legislative priorities in Lansing and Washington.

Why it matters: MAC lobbies for county interests, provides educational programs and services, and tracks legislation that affects county revenue and responsibilities. Curry outlined items that could affect Alpena County’s budget and county services.

Key points from the presentation
- Revenue sharing: MAC supported a large increase in county revenue sharing in the previous budget cycle; Curry cited a $3.23 billion increase statewide and said MAC will continue to press for a revenue‑sharing trust fund and related bills in the current session.
- Trial court funding sunset: Curry said a statutory fee sunset tied to trial court funding is scheduled to expire in 2026. If not extended or reformed, he said counties could face roughly $30 million in lost court cost revenue statewide; MAC will look for legislative reform or another extension.
- Health and human services: MAC is working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local partners on a federal 1115 reentry waiver to preserve pre‑arrest health coverage for people held in county jails awaiting trial so counties are not left with emergency care costs.
- Roads and taxes: Curry summarized House proposals that would replace sales tax on gasoline with a revenue‑neutral gas tax and shift corporate tax revenues to support roads; he said those changes could pressure local general funds and that MAC will advocate for county road funding.
- Other items: Curry reviewed MAC services such as cooperative purchasing (CoPro Plus), a student loan forgiveness tool (Savvy) and MACPAC political activity supporting former county commissioners in the legislature.

Ending
Curry asked commissioners to participate in MAC committees and upcoming conferences. He encouraged counties to monitor the court‑funding sunset and revenue‑sharing legislation as the 2026 session approaches.","Steve Curry, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties, briefed commissioners on MAC services and legislative priorities including revenue sharing increases, a court‑funding sunset, 1115 reentry waiver work, and proposals to shift gas tax revenue to roads.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531230,"Alpena County delays hiring full‑time emergency manager after commissioners request more study",615,3575000,4190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149&start=3575&end=4190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149/thumbnail_3575000.jpg","/articles/6531230/Alpena-County/Michigan/Alpena-County-delays-hiring-fulltime-emergency-manager-after-commissioners-request-more-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531230-ebdefe536354414e3c3103f7c5ef9935/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307218&Signature=AXI75SZRunAoba2NDILD6jLQR-MUUYxWk9800heUXG3c6Nb2nzpXpxaaxuhLxZvqoDELbKTlMbWzCmdF~G03TcLUF7M~Pq3N~1Q5UuBMZ7fUqBljYRM-MkZtwqTdNgrb3u7kj7Yp5GMxofE1QinFFh7Pdwe1FlWg47WI2R4EX514YrNvQe~KPPri~GNgJnriT6zAzHS7bhVHpvxPuB0HOiD0Z076WsqOqFeOx2xu4M6RuzgPcZyBlUhYJxeNwCncjB1L-L7S6723Eq-9jFogTuZ2aYFvGd3m2O3HsPAi9VYzOwu4JRCdvqO9OpAn-0jl1JVwKw8S7V1szzszpBEr-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to delay filling a proposed full‑time combined 9‑1‑1/emergency management position after several commissioners asked for more research into costs and partnership options.

Why it matters: County leaders had planned to hire a full‑time emergency manager after a proposed cost‑sharing arrangement with Montmorency County collapsed. Commissioners said the county would be asked to absorb about $45,000 of additional cost if it fills the position alone, and they want to review funding options and alternatives before committing.

What was proposed and why
County staff and the public safety committee had recommended filling the emergency management/9‑1‑1 position without partnering with Montmorency County. Kim Elking, Alpena County’s emergency management director and 9‑1‑1 director, said the combined role has carried heavy responsibilities and that combining duties has been common practice for years.

Commissioner John Kozlowski, who pulled the item for discussion, said he was disappointed Montmorency decided not to share costs and expressed concern about the long‑term expense to Alpena County. He asked the board to pause the hiring and explore other options. \"I would like to hold off temporarily until I can do some research and look at other options,\" he said.

Board action and vote
A motion to hold off on filling the position while the commissioner conducts research was made and seconded. On roll call the board approved the delay; one commissioner voted no. Kim Elking told commissioners she would work with the board during the pause and help develop options for sustainable staffing.

What comes next
Commissioners directed staff to gather additional information about funding sources and operational alternatives and to return with recommendations. Commissioners noted possible offsetting revenues and state or federal grants that could reduce local exposure.

Ending
The board’s pause keeps the current staffing in place while the county explores cost‑sharing and funding alternatives; staff will report back with options for a measured path forward.","The board voted to pause filling the combined 9‑1‑1/emergency management position that had been proposed to run solely under county control after Montmorency County declined to partner; commissioners asked administration to study cost and alternatives.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531235,"Alpena County approves joint application so NEEMA can receive $2.7 million USDA recycling grant",607,1557000,2164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149&start=1557&end=2164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585248-d418f7f9caf796c4b63dc0456b8fd149/thumbnail_1557000.jpg","/articles/6531235/Alpena-County/Michigan/Alpena-County-approves-joint-application-so-NEEMA-can-receive-27-million-USDA-recycling-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531235-7a1b3b36f18a363f4199fdbd25b0a0b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775307218&Signature=W4QXUGXL~W1q38ykCkIblVswtaaGqw4NyIIKjNIvJ15X14~j7BMvS8Et0-~eqhgNRDsW7Qgn5ElFiW0dnipe5kiDUrnEJAkCNfq9640lVAHhPy5KtjkjeWh5agTyp6lzptkflQH70xfb5WdQb~kP4X9j86IGJUb5qVPwVdlQrOj4feEES~wImK80XTjSPLcwaxlJMfYkXHWVhXBTgwnt3TOHqQ0uJvwl-x7Z~mPDqsS35tYroRK1nehwbIWmroPzFklAtmNDvP5TUvA1EsRXgqMuUnYFLwwoujwk3f1lHvsVnMXJ4BMp1lxq6~jHU~xlpjsFSiJyuSpCLySfUG8DEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize a joint application that will add the Northeast Michigan Environmental Management Authority as a co‑applicant on a $2.7 million United States Department of Agriculture recycling grant originally awarded in the county’s name.

The change, which the county must submit to USDA before the money can be released, will place all grant funds into a joint account and allow NEEMA to administer bidding, contracting and reporting for the proposed recycling facility. Mayor Michael Johnson, speaking as chair of NEEMA, said the USDA will not release the funds unless the application names NEEMA and the funds are in a single account.

Why it matters: The grant is the largest single federal award tied to the proposed regional recycling facility and NEEMA leaders said the money must be pooled with other local bond and grant funding before USDA will transfer its portion. Without USDA’s release of the $2.7 million, NEEMA and partners cannot advertise bids or begin construction.

Background and board discussion
Mayor Michael Johnson told commissioners that the original application was submitted in Alpena County’s name before NEEMA was formally established and that USDA counsel requires a revised, joint application. “The county put in the application for recycling for $2,700,000 … It’s in the county’s name,” Johnson said, and the solution presented to the board is to submit “the same application … except that NEEMA has to be in it.”

Johnson said NEEMA would administer the project and that the county would not be required to perform day‑to‑day project administration: “All the money … will be in that joint account … the county doesn’t have to do any of that. We’ll do all the reporting.”

Commissioner John LaHaye moved to approve the joint application and authorize the county’s participation; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote.

What the vote means
The board’s approval allows NEEMA staff to complete the revised application and provide the county’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and other requested documentation to USDA. NEEMA representatives said USDA will not transfer its $2.7 million portion until the joint account is established and other bonding/grant commitments are in place.

Implementation details and next steps
NEEMA staff said they will finalize a draft joint application once the county provides its UEI and a document the transcript labeled “NOFI” (not available during the meeting). NEEMA staff expect to submit the revised application to USDA and — if USDA approves — to move to the procurement phase, issuing requests for proposals for construction and related services.

Ending
Commissioners indicated they expect NEEMA and county staff to circulate the joint‑application paperwork for signatures once the UEI and other required paperwork are available, and NEEMA asked to be notified as USDA moves the application forward.","The board voted to authorize a joint application so the Northeast Michigan Environmental Management Authority can be added to an awarded USDA recycling grant originally issued in Alpena County’s name; the grant will be held in a joint account and NEEMA will administer construction and contracting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Alpena County Board actions on grants, tax rates, cards and budget adjustments

Michigan Association of Counties director outlines revenue‑sharing, court funding and roads priorities

Alpena County delays hiring full‑time emergency manager after commissioners request more study

Alpena County approves joint application so NEEMA can receive $2.7 million USDA recycling grant