[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,74,86],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6512910,"mediaKeyId","5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a","parentId",5083464,"title","Votes at a glance: Clare County board approves expenditures, budget adjustments and airport appropriation","audioSeconds",3515,"startMs",54000,"endMs",3569000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a&start=54&end=3569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a/thumbnail_54000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6512910/Clare-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Clare-County-board-approves-expenditures-budget-adjustments-and-airport-appropriation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512910-52162cbbc7562b431e6b93bf6e8f77ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754868&Signature=WY8FtYfP~XmzMyFO7BGRKJUgYcbVK3DkZQaddNXN0v~Jbnrqr4hx-EfWohi~VqbL0UWQsA6QvWg~ujjqY~V-LIyTRs2tP52QON9nsqmPDuJ1vMims75C7eE8uelLDn624jI4WJQSV-m9RPFExcCYR9kDmgEW~3eH0MU7OCuSdvmCMw-YCMGKOoXadk0uQZvWMGvKDtEYLIv6HX6EoJyxzuL5yMxZxQbfJftISRsQR87Pm03oUCpY-LxmFzn8Ho7CT5NzFvB6uZM3iojUgqtAYC32BqwmP109NPwIycY0wORv8xwToKMvAV72UqDq3dvXW4dYUbBW~rUoAbF~sOtPkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-26T18:55:47Z","article","At its June 16 meeting the Clare County Board of Commissioners recorded several formal actions. Key results:

- Agenda changes: The board approved the meeting agenda as presented with amendments. The motion was moved and seconded and the board voted verbally in favor; the chair declared the motion carried.

- Minutes: Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the minutes from the prior meeting; the motion carried.

- Closed session motion: A motion was made to move into closed session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations under MCL 15.268(c). That motion did not receive a second and therefore did not proceed.

- Resolution 25-13 (Crooked Lake): A commissioner moved to adopt resolution 25-13 for Crooked Lake pursuant to the cited statutory authority; a roll-call vote followed and the resolution was adopted.

- Finance committee minutes and expenditures: The board approved statutory finance committee meeting minutes and approved expenditures for May 2025 in the amount of $1,548,617.89 (general fund expenditures reported as $695,762.67). The board also approved budget adjustments 25-104 and 25-117 in the amounts of $245,384.46 and $70,000, respectively.

- Meetings and travel: The board approved attendance at the Sixth District regional meeting with David Greenberg.

- Airport appropriation: The board approved an immediate appropriation of $7,000 to the airport for the hiring of an airport manager; staff said they expect to request $30,000 in next year’s budget for ongoing funding.

Why this matters: These actions finalize routine financial authorizations required for county operations and reflect the board’s near-term budget and staffing priorities. The closed-session motion failed procedurally because it lacked a second.

All actions above were recorded during the meeting transcript and taken by majority vote as documented; where a second and roll-call were recorded the board’s votes were unanimously in the affirmative in the transcript roll calls presented.

Ending: Staff will carry forward approved budget adjustments and the airport appropriation; the board scheduled a special budget review meeting for July 14.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","06/18/2025 Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Clare County Board of Commissioners approved several routine and fiscal items on June 16, including May expenditures, budget adjustments and a $7,000 airport appropriation. A motion to move into closed session failed for lack of a second.","taxTitle","Clare County, Michigan","taxId",63546,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6512914,"County seeks airport manager and taps National Guard design support for airfield work",1023,2500000,3523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a&start=2500&end=3523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a/thumbnail_2500000.jpg","/articles/6512914/Clare-County/Michigan/County-seeks-airport-manager-and-taps-National-Guard-design-support-for-airfield-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512914-42aad046e9b6fab1ca796fbe0ea875bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754868&Signature=kzMB~WzWor0osBE-ZqpkWWUy7LGmPwxzy84LMQs7QQTaUY8iOnJmf4u~fc39fvz8bbVQn93DKRrHPUuwMyLl-m7l8k256HZFXlFab4NGzAvGpgNRAlnrzEkdN-JDfzOqcGNDs0taVm2vrh0NI7XsZzYQIk5yLZ1Nw4JxINySFjzKFP9Ol8JV3MqoCbU5H~y0oNBHzry649ns0Dmoe5Mkdd83fXxL~jsHbriq9jc5Ee2LFibjrNxnE1Biv6FLleKZtWbXVmZKuyF-CMnzLW-RhuDDAowXEL19T5uOTlkUosoNR8VTZDdEpwmtE2DrVyIJ1175pFGqkYHzBuGvwjb5Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County officials told the Clare County Board of Commissioners on June 16 that a five-member team from the Michigan Army National Guard visited the county airport to perform a site survey and prepare design materials as part of the Innovative Readiness Training program.

A county speaker described the unit as an engineer battalion that conducts organic survey and design work and produces “build packets” — design documents that can be used by construction units. The packets can support projects including terminal repairs, drainage work, perimeter roads, taxiways, turf runways and design studies for a potential new runway. The county indicated the National Guard would supply labor and technical expertise; the county would be responsible for building materials and fuel costs.

The speaker said the packets are submitted to the Department of Defense for approval and, if accepted, can lead to on-site military construction at minimal labor cost to the county. He described the program as providing training for Guard units while offering needed engineering and construction design help for local infrastructure.

Separately, commissioners voted to appropriate $7,000 from airport funds for immediate use to hire an airport manager; the speaker said the intent is to increase that appropriation to $30,000 in the next fiscal year. The motion to provide $7,000 was seconded and approved by roll call.

Why this matters: The National Guard design work could accelerate airport maintenance and infrastructure projects at low labor cost to the county. Hiring an on-site manager is intended to provide day-to-day oversight of airport operations and projects.

County staff said they have been unable to secure contractors for some terminal work and see the Guard survey/design as a way to obtain design-ready documentation. The speaker said the Guard’s engineer units include both horizontal and vertical engineers — equipment operators plus carpenters, plumbers and HVAC trades — which helps the unit accomplish a wider range of tasks as part of its training.

An official noted that the county would still need to pay for materials and fuel and that any construction timelines depend on Department of Defense approval and scheduling. Commissioners requested updates as design packets move through approval and when potential construction dates are known.

Ending: County staff will proceed with the airport-manager hiring process and will update the board on the Guard design packet approvals and any resulting construction schedules.","Clare County officials said a Michigan Army National Guard engineer unit surveyed the county airport to prepare design “build packets.” The board also approved a $7,000 immediate appropriation to hire an airport manager and indicated a $30,000 request for next year.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6512918,"State auditor issues clean opinion on Clare County finances; board discusses fund-balance target and July budget schedule",687,512000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a&start=512&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5083464-6b98714dd1bbca1d51aedf572d02c86a/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6512918/Clare-County/Michigan/State-auditor-issues-clean-opinion-on-Clare-County-finances-board-discusses-fund-balance-target-and-July-budget-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512918-cc368f04e0b1c8537ab28970319859b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773754868&Signature=lRGLRfLcFiGpuelDmF3nJ1-9Ah7~v06v6RX8DD8QsloOs5HKPRp2snUUPQ-SCvgbrhq4q0x73PcpiZTt~2RcY8~UwqzoQiG7DvXavxcDtAoGBic-RDXt7kwJjsGDlcaF7rt4TBgbbPFuIzKYPMyNaE6LHcgjTRfB6rkk2ngw2rcocW2XFFqTHTGguyeVeWr1lnPWM6YbmLJiXqzeJ9vn7~2LV0-gVCF9LFgixD51rdfP9mtIqzc1U77qqYvD7Lz32Q1vZxliLJbNvp2KPhGe19U1Wvb9gHX8yiJuKShTEPSMGu3ikdmANU9ZPFfiv2MyZPxnoD5n~nGDF8oHiI4skQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roxanne Foster, senior auditor with the Michigan Department of Treasury, told the Clare County Board of Commissioners on June 16 that the county's 2024 financial statements received an unmodified opinion.

Foster said an unmodified opinion — commonly described as a “clean” audit — indicates the statements were prepared in accordance with state and federal guidelines and “present fairly stated numbers that they could be relied upon.” She recommended the board consult the management discussion and analysis section of the audit report for a high-level overview of county finances.

The auditor added that governmental funds showed a modest increase in net position year over year and that the county’s business-type activities, including delinquent tax revolving and transit, also gained net position. Foster noted some long-standing audit deficiencies remain, including auditor assistance in preparing government-wide financial statements, a small deficit at the end of the year in one special revenue fund (the front-of-court fund), and expenditures recorded in excess of appropriation tied mainly to capital classification issues. She said the county is working on a uniform chart of accounts but that it was not fully implemented at audit date.

The audit matters came during the board's administrative reporting. The county administrator also told commissioners that the county has a balanced preliminary 2026 budget and that a draft capital improvement plan is under review. The administrator said the general fund began the fiscal year with about $5 million and ended with about $5.9 million, and that total county net position increased roughly $500,000 year over year.

Why this matters: An unmodified opinion supports the county’s ability to rely on audited financials for borrowing, grant applications and budgeting. Commissioners used the audit briefing as the starting point for setting fiscal policy targets and timing.

Commissioners pressed staff about establishing a formal fund-balance policy. The administrator said staff would draft a proposal; participants discussed potential targets. One board member said a 50% target was desirable but unrealistic, and other comments suggested 35% or a commonly cited 30% floor. Staff proposed returning a drafted policy for board review at a future meeting.

On scheduling, the board set a special meeting for budget review on Monday, July 14 at 9 a.m., with the intent to hold any required public hearing and consider adopting the 2026 budget at the regular July meeting after line-by-line review or to adopt following the special meeting if appropriate.

Commissioners also heard reports about external fiscal risks. During administrative remarks members cited state-level proposals that could raise county costs — including bills that would require bargaining over minimum staffing levels for public employees and a proposal to raise hazardous waste and landfill tipping fees. Commissioners and staff noted possible cuts to Medicaid and other state or federal funding streams that could reduce support for community mental health and other services, and discussed the board’s ability to make budget adjustments after October 1 if revenues fall short.

The county's retirement plan was noted as an item staff will present later: a representative from Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) will attend an upcoming meeting to compare plan options for new hires and provide updated actuarial detail.

Ending: Foster encouraged commissioners to review the first pages of the audit report — the management discussion and analysis — for a concise summary and invited board members to contact her office with follow-up questions. Staff said a draft fund-balance policy and a capital-improvement plan with equipment-replacement schedules will be circulated before the next meeting.","A Michigan Department of Treasury auditor delivered an unmodified opinion on Clare County's 2024 financial statements. Commissioners reviewed key budget numbers, discussed setting a fund-balance target, and scheduled a special budget meeting for July 14.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Clare County board approves expenditures, budget adjustments and airport appropriation

County seeks airport manager and taps National Guard design support for airfield work

State auditor issues clean opinion on Clare County finances; board discusses fund-balance target and July budget schedule