[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6511355,"mediaKeyId","5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017","parentId",5331682,"title","Land bank adopts its own purchasing policy to speed contracts; board requires notification for under‑$1M and full approval above $1M","audioSeconds",987,"startMs",6612000,"endMs",7599000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017&start=6612&end=7599","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017/thumbnail_6612000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511355/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Land-bank-adopts-its-own-purchasing-policy-to-speed-contracts-board-requires-notification-for-under1M-and-full-approval-above-1M","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511355-528c99903b087dbdf55dfb2fee886867/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032709&Signature=me1fdVN4X-zJbb90hQYgIVH6T-jzClaqMDZqcZPXd~xYAwFmUipWQN-IsrvVx8c1eBZCx9jWV48qkuPUSXuZtDSkPOJAZx~en7oPWFUPVVmEq5KreQRmeD5D8qmcFC9w~As4bZA1PpL52fqXMxZEYuY-h6GPA1jH3g-fmawarSTkLSBejWwE743Z7wu57aR2QcCncRwza6Co8uSeKsiBeFLpA6LIdUz0xmDyaLOqg2m6TqaLdJw6XClxzY4Cq78yu-iYUKAMHnj8xhvzh3jUkiRTjCcKyOWBmBPJXC1-c~4XKJEhsyH4S1kFt2eEF4UqAAT52AKf~Fd-WYYkIhouNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Van Buren County, MI","date","2025-07-09T07:54:31Z","article","The Van Buren County Land Bank Authority presented a separate purchasing policy intended to speed contracting on grant‑funded projects, and the Board of Commissioners agreed to allow the land bank to approve contracts under $1,000,000 with subsequent notification to the board and to require Board approval for contracts exceeding $1,000,000.

Lizzo Ransler, a land‑bank representative, told commissioners the land bank is required by the state to adopt its own purchasing policy because it has received state grants and the state required the land bank to be in compliance with a standalone policy. She said adopting the county purchasing policy in full would delay land‑bank work by requiring contracts to pass through the land bank, the Committee of the Whole and the full board — a process that could add several weeks to time‑sensitive projects.

“Because of this, they have asked us to adopt our own policy that is basically the same with the exception. It does not bring it to the, county commission,” Ransler said. The land bank’s policy retains standard purchasing controls — sealed bids or competitive quotes for large procurements — and conflict‑of‑interest safeguards.

Commissioners and land‑bank leaders discussed a large, active grant: a $3,000,000 state land‑bank award focused on property remediation and redevelopment that must be executed under a state timeline. The land bank said several contracts for remediation and asbestos removal are anticipated and that delays could jeopardize grant funds. Because of that timeline, staff proposed approving the land bank’s policy but building in a notification requirement and a $1,000,000 threshold for Board approval.

The board amended and approved the land‑bank policy, instructing the land bank to notify the Board of Commissioners of contracts under $1,000,000 and to bring contracts above that threshold to the full board for approval. Ransler said many of the current contracts are in the $200,000 range, with future construction contracts expected to be substantially larger. She also said the land bank’s grant contract requires that some approvals be retroactive to the grant’s start; the Board accepted retroactivity for items back to February 2024 where necessary to comply with the state grant requirements.

The board and land bank agreed to revisit the policy if implementation showed problems or delays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07/08/2025 Board Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Van Buren County Land Bank Authority adopted its own purchasing policy to speed grant‑funded projects; the Board approved a compromise requiring notification for land‑bank contracts under $1,000,000 and full board approval for contracts above $1,000,000.","taxTitle","Van Buren County, Michigan","taxId",52299,"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},6511362,"County adopts updated address‑assignment policy, adds rural ID and private‑road oversight; fee proposed to fall to $50",490,4106000,4596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017&start=4106&end=4596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017/thumbnail_4106000.jpg","/articles/6511362/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/County-adopts-updated-addressassignment-policy-adds-rural-ID-and-privateroad-oversight-fee-proposed-to-fall-to-50","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511362-558ee698ac6f6df65371e57e2d86b64e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032709&Signature=IQWos4r9UlgGwL3oq48LY26ziNL0fYWcIv68T8xYIZVLljM2AFyXoN6SpfO2P~E1cyvVX~EWsxbUiwC2C~eSQRTM-GjKoNhaJiyxcm1~vi4NRRjE7aBGz2GUdJ46j5PbL7QaxBsnpp3y0BVODBfv7-fBKZjd1Xr4PklX2U-3Zoea-iF1U33sbj4lfnFhSO62Hlx4K35qBEhVSy6TtrLgrA7XA26QvQ-mS8jezdxRPtTnlInt92SuAkp4JgBmdZPLOsRnwX7L9treq9CAPGC3ykCRd5zmLokgKS23ukRYFyx1cM5z7~ltncmrG8B-U6-~DNnj6XAyKTB9lZbpX~Rubw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Buren County’s Digital Information Department presented an update to the county’s address‑assignment policy and the Board of Commissioners approved the proposed updates at the July 8 meeting.

Digital Information Director Jerry introduced Walter Elsner, the county’s addressing administrator, who described four principal changes: a rural ID for undeveloped parcels, requiring driveway permits from the Van Buren County Road Commission in some cases, oversight for private roads with more than three residences, and inviting cities and villages to opt into the county’s addressing process. “Rural ID is essentially a way of, addressing undeveloped properties or vacant land,” Walter said.

Elsner said the rural‑ID signs would be visually distinct and not acceptable for building permits, voter‑registration addresses or as a substitute for a final address for permitting. He described the red rural‑ID sign as a way for responders to find people on undeveloped land: “The red sign is basically for the people responding to see that and say, okay. I’m not looking for a structure.” He told the board the green numbered signs for residences will continue and that numbering for rural ID will follow the same coordinate system.

The department also proposed an online portal for address applications and recommended lowering the standard address fee from $100 to $50 based on projected time savings from digitization and process streamlining.

Commissioners asked how the rural IDs would interact with driveway permits and whether the numbering on the signs would match street locations; staff said driveway permits will be required in some circumstances but not strictly for rural IDs, and that the numbering system will align with existing patterns to avoid out‑of‑sequence addresses that can confuse dispatch.

After discussion the motion “to approve and adopt” the updated addressing policy was made, seconded and carried. No roll‑call vote with named tallies was recorded; the clerk announced the motion carried.

The department said it will offer the updated addressing service to municipalities at no cost to the municipality, with the $50 applicant fee covering county costs. Walter told the board the county plans to follow NENA (National Emergency Number Association) standards and that the updates aim to reduce duplicate efforts, improve data accuracy for dispatch, and make addressing consistent across jurisdictions.","Van Buren County adopted updated rules for assigning addresses, introducing a rural‑ID option for undeveloped parcels, tighter private‑road oversight, a municipal opt‑in and plans for an online application system; staff said improved efficiency could allow the county to lower the address fee.",{"_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},6511367,"Circuit Court reports drop in filings, specialty courts expand; state time study flags need for judges",1339,2315000,3654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017&start=2315&end=3654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017/thumbnail_2315000.jpg","/articles/6511367/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Circuit-Court-reports-drop-in-filings-specialty-courts-expand-state-time-study-flags-need-for-judges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511367-6beb0632c7905709d9de15e0d19bda1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032709&Signature=SB5eJdGBjJoaKFw0FHlxkOeMXGy85zMBLHQwUFh53XOFX~qebnp667sf7hUGsezuz1TPyrzn5Hlbe5jRW15OhhpyNJkQkoaeo0UKVz2Kpl65yK3iZqfjIOd27z9NkqdFJ~MMe2OACXfNwoaup8z8CNpRbCRIU2pBUO1eDdwRrj-ogGNu3crptTVhF9ZBvM3XmeOz1PSR0MqckMwo~s319kdX-IiuQW1Vr-iTiaFgyUVf38NauDpsEnukhga2JGN2gELp9LQpsnfJvr5BgjYo7QljZMsjrgHlWfbHkTGn515SRJMd-dZ4hvF1HrHaoIKlCeOUQ4vOT6~5A8UgbO56IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Buren County circuit and district court leaders updated the Board of Commissioners on case loads, specialty courts and staffing needs at the July 8 committee meeting.

Court leaders told commissioners the county handled 38 jury trials in 2024, down from 52 in 2023, and that felony trials — which typically take longer than misdemeanors — remain the largest time commitment. “In 02/2024, we had 478 new case filings, criminal, felony filings compared to that bad year we saw earlier,” the judge said, reporting that criminal filings are down from earlier peaks.

The judge praised recent board-funded services and staff: “You gave us that funding for counseling sessions if needed, and so we appreciate that,” she said, referring to juror and staff counseling approved by the board to address secondary trauma. She also credited a county-funded research attorney for helping move post-trial opinions and motions along more quickly.

Specialty courts, which coordinate prosecutors, defenders, community mental health and the sheriff’s office to supervise participants, have expanded under local leadership and new grants. “Often, it’s lower recidivism rate, better results for less money,” the judge said describing the national evidence supporting specialty courts and thanking staff and a newly hired grants coordinator, Courtney Mihalka.

Juvenile court officers reported one recent milestone: roughly 7,000 juvenile records were set aside and removed locally under a recent state law, a measure the court said will help young adults move forward without those records on their background.

On a statewide resource review, the judge told commissioners the Judicial Resources Office’s preliminary weighted time study — based on a multiweek time study of judges and court staff — recommended Van Buren County might need about 1.7 additional judges to address circuit and probate workloads. She emphasized the figure is preliminary and will be refined during a “deep dive” into local practices, including the county’s use of referees and other alternatives.

“The preliminary report right now…shows Van Buren, in need of point of 1.7 additional judges to handle circuit and probate,” she said, adding that the recommendation would be adjusted after local information is submitted to the state. Commissioners asked whether the study represented a requirement or a recommendation; the judge said the number is preliminary and that any final change would need legislative approvals and local decisions.

Court leaders also described ongoing operational work: outreach and prevention programs, a courthouse fall festival, backlog-clearing after COVID-era delays, and a multi-county digitization and records-cleanup effort with Michigan State Police to update mental-health orders.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the court report but asked for continued updates as the time-study process moves into the secondary-analysis stage and as the court seeks state or legislative steps to change judicial staffing.

Looking ahead, court leaders flagged two issues that may return to the board: (1) how a statewide alternative-funding proposal that would make court employees state employees might change local budgets and (2) capital and space needs tied to specialty-court staff currently working in basement space that the court hopes to renovate.","Van Buren County circuit and district court leaders told commissioners that felony jury trials and post-trial work remain heavy, specialty courts and juvenile reforms continue to expand, and an initial weighted time study flagged the county as possibly needing up to 1.7 additional judges pending a deeper review.",{"_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},6511357,"Register of Deeds gets board approval for $35 retrieval fee after staff warns of heavy demand",920,5878000,6798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017&start=5878&end=6798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017/thumbnail_5878000.jpg","/articles/6511357/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Register-of-Deeds-gets-board-approval-for-35-retrieval-fee-after-staff-warns-of-heavy-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511357-60720f503a1bed226400b42ca58ab63b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032709&Signature=De1Mp1lV41Dvf64GCQozEUM9q5GB~N~sARUhJ2NsIRNhiZMIMaJqPA4mVGgntvW70d6YK2KZ7aNcV5EFysF1O-8HnalFB9vsJTU1hxu4DAtrlRM9piGDiESpdDvYdJ84Rduz8rLgCeKcMqdnolpuIS2Mku0wYRhLAjAdvGvjE0v4Tzz59WEqfC163POgIt49gZLSideehIc8Lpn6EgG5azb~bnm7MJkyUQx6UpNa6~wVNkkqpGibjRzrdu6M1ljmNBM~7GllwknBtg~eI9KCmNMbqa6ZU8e79yuISfZqQrfk4rk9eTgwL8lxUvhaastj1rlpNCAtEdrC4m7R9Z5ByQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Buren County commissioners voted to approve a $35 retrieval fee for the Register of Deeds on July 8 after a detailed presentation on workload and digitization limits.

Paul Leona, Register of Deeds, told the board that remote title companies increasingly request scanned copies of older documents that exist only on film and that county staff are now doing the work previously handled by title companies. “We just can’t handle the workload anymore,” Leona said. “We will get requests for these copies at 03:00 in the morning... and when we get there in the morning.”

Leona outlined the steps required to process old film searches and said the office’s small staff cannot absorb the demand without compensation or more digitization. He and staff estimated the typical search requires roughly 30 minutes of staff time and that full cost recovery would be higher than the board‑recommended charge; the office recommended a fee to offset staff costs while the county pursues larger digitization projects.

Commissioners debated the appropriate amount; one commissioner suggested $50 as closer to the estimated cost, while others raised the possibility that title companies would simply absorb or pass on the fee. After discussion, the board approved a compromise of $35 per retrieval, with the revenue to be deposited to the county general fund. The transcript records the motion, a second and the clerk announcing “All those in favor…Motion carried.”

Leona said the registry will continue digitization efforts to reduce future demand for manual film searches and that he planned to return to the board if the volume or cost calculations change.","The Board approved a $35 fee for electronic retrieval of old film documents requested by title companies after the Register of Deeds said staff cannot keep up with the workload caused by remote title‑plant requests and incomplete digitization.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511350,"Votes at a glance: Van Buren County commissioners approve proclamations, travel, intergovernmental DID agreement, appointments and financial items",1097,3976000,5073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017&start=3976&end=5073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331682-e0467b1bfe4093862ba24892f731a017/thumbnail_3976000.jpg","/articles/6511350/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Van-Buren-County-commissioners-approve-proclamations-travel-intergovernmental-DID-agreement-appointments-and-financial-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511350-84254f8e3cbbfa38c816a7dc6e699d68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032709&Signature=Tt32fUE99o~Ghl-iPeqxACvuccevsO-5ZHqC9WrpVKNLBO0d3BtvCxlz5py~~Uie~O6ES2Wx-yhdaR4ahx2R7NHBLEb71pEptHbWbnjctsbN1Uz58dOHLEmfZNJbmCiMEqWPxXz75~J7mjJmv-BJgWT~Cqk4Bvdgq2aKYQGVuT6dqu6Fc-ZifZo30vLPqDEqHl~t60Qk5m0LLKTaDcptzdQ4SHZdaxecxpDNzOq0yaV9ELq-NlyZCOHI7otGr5MMdvXL4rjgm9qUcnVgsypiCsVAhBvu9ntE3zyGSpIYlI86bD5s9hx9~CoIL25279duGxbPshqwBfVLZdXcv0-S~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners took a sequence of formal actions at its July 8 meeting. Below are the motions and outcomes recorded on the public record.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamation for Sheriff Abbott (agenda item 7a): The board approved forwarding a proclamation honoring Sheriff Abbott (consistent with a state award). Motion carried; formal approval to be placed on the July 22 agenda for signature. (Outcome: approved)

- Out‑of‑state travel request, Prosecutor’s Office (agenda item 7d): The board approved travel for staff to attend the Crimes Against Women & Children Conference in Texas (dates noted in packet). Motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Address assignment policy (agenda item 7c): The board approved and adopted the updated addressing policy described in a separate article above (rural ID, private‑road oversight, municipal opt‑in); motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Intergovernmental agreement with St. Joseph County — shared Digital Information Department (DID) services (agenda item 8): The board approved entering an IGA with St. Joseph County for shared digital services. Commissioners and staff said security review had been completed by IT and payments/timing will be arranged after signatures. (Outcome: approved)

- Materials Management Planning Commission appointment (agenda item 7e): The board approved the appointment of Adam Brent to the materials management planning committee; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Appointment of deputy medical examiner (agenda item 7f): The board approved formal appointment of a deputy medical examiner (Western Michigan employee) with formal appointment to be placed on the July 22 meeting for signature; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Claims for June (finance): The board approved claims for June totaling $4,608,834 and routine monthly financial items; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Register of Deeds retrieval fee (agenda item 9d): After discussion board approved a $35 fee for retrieval of old film records, to be enacted immediately; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Van Buren County Land Bank Authority purchasing policy (agenda item 9e): The board adopted the land bank’s purchasing policy with an amendment requiring notification for purchases under $1,000,000 and full board approval for purchases above $1,000,000; the policy was accepted retroactively where required by state grant terms. (Outcome: approved as amended)

- Access and visitation funding increase (agenda item 9f): The board approved accepting an additional $1,238.46 from the state to support supervised parenting time and related services; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

- Friend of the Court staffing change (personnel item): The board approved eliminating a staff‑attorney position and adding a non‑attorney AFSCME position for child‑support establishment work, a net savings to the county; motion carried. (Outcome: approved)

Several routine procedural items — agenda approval, minutes approval, consent agenda items and monthly reports — were also approved without extended debate. Votes were recorded by voice in the public meeting; the clerk announced motions carried on majority voice votes for the items above.

If specific roll‑call tallies are required, the clerk’s official minutes for July 8 and the July 22 packet (where final signatures are scheduled) contain the certified vote records.","The board took multiple routine and programmatic actions July 8, including approving a sheriff proclamation, travel for the prosecutor, an intergovernmental DID services agreement with St. Joseph County, multiple appointments, monthly claims and financial reports, and the land‑bank and register‑of‑deeds actions recorded above.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Land bank adopts its own purchasing policy to speed contracts; board requires notification for under‑$1M and full approval above $1M

County adopts updated address‑assignment policy, adds rural ID and private‑road oversight; fee proposed to fall to $50

Circuit Court reports drop in filings, specialty courts expand; state time study flags need for judges

Register of Deeds gets board approval for $35 retrieval fee after staff warns of heavy demand

Votes at a glance: Van Buren County commissioners approve proclamations, travel, intergovernmental DID agreement, appointments and financial items