[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6549940,"mediaKeyId","5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f","parentId",5419201,"title","Sobriety court graduate urges commissioners not to cut Eaton County treatment courts","audioSeconds",264,"startMs",220000,"endMs",484000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f&start=220&end=484","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f/thumbnail_220000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6549940/Eaton-County/Michigan/Sobriety-court-graduate-urges-commissioners-not-to-cut-Eaton-County-treatment-courts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549940-128f4b6f64d632c0fac84164affa0c46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138669&Signature=fSyU7QnI2RcdV6M4SMs~j1sZxAID78Yyi7flLo5hQe4CKKe2CTJhaCIvyxzRA3OPWI7zZXL4ZjsjbghsQHmbkkox1iHlR92-dVGASnsqjNgDIleWYkWaClVS9YLcV3oMFdv7Ux-A3hy-9-8IO0f~046L8O~tIR3Vc2iVfljUmIigQffTDt1hDSBP6fbFvrzkP6yflyCj7q9aGW7-CH4tdISNvzMVQGHmf5amz7pqbY5FLjx~QKbX10BzxQsrCKARbybzmcw3WtUeeFbee0Xk7MIKXqS5PjHv8cl-LXNq6PFOU9blbJUGNZ1yEOy9~8OqmHVRh1NoN9EN7Li6HrpwfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Eaton County","date","2025-07-17T07:50:37.03Z","article","Kevin Tu, a graduate of Eaton County’s sobriety court program, urged the Board of Commissioners during limited public comment to maintain funding for treatment courts and described how the program helped his recovery.

“I graduated from the program successfully on 02/02/2022,” Tu told commissioners, describing a history of substance use, repeated DUIs and a serious accident that led him to residential treatment. He said the county’s sobriety court gave him structure, therapy and accountability that traditional treatment had denied him.

Tu told the board he now holds multiple credentials in addiction recovery, works at a local recovery provider and serves on related advisory groups. He said sobriety courts “work. They reduce recidivism, restore families, and help individuals build sustainable lives in recovery.”

Tu urged commissioners not to cut funding for Eaton County’s treatment courts: “Cutting funding to the Eaton County treatment courts would not only increase costs elsewhere such as jails, hospitals, and emergency services. More than that, it would rob people of hope, families of reunification, communities of redemption stories, and it will cost people their lives.”

Why it matters: Public testimony described treatment courts as part of the county’s continuum of care and argued they produce community and fiscal benefits by reducing criminal recidivism and use of emergency services. Commissioners thanked Tu for sharing his experience; no board action on treatment-court funding was taken during the meeting.

Direct quote: “Recovery is possible, and programs like the Eaton County Sobriety Courts make it accessible,” Tu said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7-16-2025 Board of Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","A sobriety court graduate told the Eaton County Board that the county's treatment court program saved his life and warned that cutting funding would increase costs elsewhere and cost lives.","taxTitle","Eaton County, Michigan","taxId",53092,"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},6549944,"Votes at a glance: Eaton County Board approves park lease, grant discontinuation, budget amendments and other routine items",2983,521000,3504000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f&start=521&end=3504","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f/thumbnail_521000.jpg","/articles/6549944/Eaton-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Eaton-County-Board-approves-park-lease-grant-discontinuation-budget-amendments-and-other-routine-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549944-023b4de8d977c8053cf3a93b5178ce54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138669&Signature=fjVRiPVnI9F6P13oLnARktjxE8-KAljJwADBuFXH5H2HrHDZfArmoOJV~beFMyw-TDkJlipyE6Znx228QZpWskZZjfcMJYHEg4OlRQCx5fWKvP8AaBMyzjOJhJBh-L3pPsYjRp~sGRT9kMrVPyJeRv4jePFb7mAkgHEYHoHuBnaPUI6XvlP6c2cpKpObnUugNq-dw4t0jpKRBYl4atZa9pJFz3X2UNtHfc-xXqFZYL50jXUZkUqqW566Kj~p6sRUWL88LP~t-7vRmZ5qmYMwmMB5mHv0hO5syGx4jdRRLifQf49jIr8ryNlMglXc074-4Sia5d0WE4fF-8F24cW4iQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eaton County Board of Commissioners approved a set of resolutions, minutes, appointments and budget items during the July meeting. Most motions passed on voice vote or unanimous roll call with little or no debate.

Key votes and actions approved during the meeting:

- The board approved a resolution to discontinue the Solace Solid Waste Alternative grants. (Moved by Commissioner Barber; supported by Commissioner Hanson; outcome: approved.)

- The board approved a lease for Fitzgerald Park. (Moved by Commissioner Barber; supported by Commissioner Pearl Wright; outcome: approved.)

- The board approved minutes for June 18 and a June 5 special meeting, including approval of closed-session minutes as presented. (Moved by Commissioner Barber; supported by Commissioner Haskell; outcome: approved.)

- The board authorized county delegates to MERS: Jeanne (primary), Ben Dawson (backup) and two staff members (Kim and Jen) as delegates/attendees. (Moved by Commissioner Drosius; supported by Commissioner Haskell; outcome: approved.)

- The board approved a motion to pursue an extended amortization for eligible MERS pension groups (authorization for staff to take steps necessary to re-amortize eligible groups). (Moved by Commissioner Drosius; supported by Commissioner Whitaker; outcome: approved.)

- The board moved the item on a state appropriation for a fire training facility to the next full board meeting to allow staff to confirm procurement and grant administration details with the state. (Motion to postpone to the next Friday meeting moved by Commissioner Drosius; supported by Commissioner Whitaker; outcome: approved.)

- The board approved budget amendments as presented and approved claims and purchases (motions moved by Commissioner Drosius with various seconds). (Outcome: approved.)

Why it matters: These votes complete the board’s routine governance work for the period, finalize housekeeping on minutes and budget housekeeping, and authorize staff to pursue pension amortization steps and clarify grant contract administration before funds are disbursed.

Meeting context: Several items were advanced out of committee with prior review; the board repeatedly noted that staff and external partners will perform follow-up steps and return to the board as needed for final contract execution or additional approvals.","The Eaton County Board of Commissioners approved several routine resolutions and procedural items at the July meeting, including discontinuing a solid-waste grant program, approving a park lease, adopting budget amendments and carrying routine claims and purchases.",{"_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},6549946,"Eaton County approves 10-year police services contract with Delta Township, pursues pension re-amortization",2381,603000,2984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f&start=603&end=2984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419201-a8947c1f6001fe0442e124deb2d2a99f/thumbnail_603000.jpg","/articles/6549946/Eaton-County/Michigan/Eaton-County-approves-10-year-police-services-contract-with-Delta-Township-pursues-pension-re-amortization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549946-6c60f1de517c6a75ad6537a8a4cac519/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138669&Signature=h4B-5AnwlCHTye416fiOY9hVCeeAAeoIzj6ZIxDi2b4qATHlZ3FhptfgbULdtYd4RTGoIw1lgavcL2Knaew5Cyl0VAxUL7EI9q8TepIz7I4RrgSYkAO5htvN~DWWQocuo9br-Hxvq474bYTCwxxL0IKhzMaQtUJkrdSypNRAOOmXucTLBNRTVEwEd1CenMwLg7fhqH-77e2PdD6DG36F3NuCsvUoqxQK7XexfTQJg8ql6W1lvwLgiYaUfyWeI6ihthRq9ISxkxd3IKjO7zJUoct9rcKkOGVKGNUi5MlVzFENODkHPmdDu7s~F5R7G-87AzJZita8KoWVrUzGaycqdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eaton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year police services agreement with Delta Township on a vote during the July meeting, moving responsibility for 40 full-time equivalent positions serving Delta to the township and authorizing related pension restructuring steps.

The contract, described in committee reports and presented by Controller’s Office staff, will commence Oct. 1, 2025, and automatically renew unless a party gives three years’ notice, the county said. Under the agreement, Delta Township will pay the “full cost plus the admin fee” for the services, and the county will continue to employ the deputies and retain payroll, benefits and liability responsibilities.

County staff said the personnel plan for Delta is 40 FTEs: 38 sheriff deputies that include a captain, a lieutenant, five sergeants and two full-time clerks. The contract states personnel assigned to Delta would not be used to backfill deputies contracted elsewhere and command staff would not be assigned away from Delta except by mutual agreement.

The nut of the financial framework is a multi-part reconciliation and support-service fee process county staff outlined: the county and township will prepare preliminary staffing and capital estimates by June 1, finalize the next year’s rate in October when the county adopts its budget, and perform a retrospective reconciliation each Feb. 15 to compare budgeted to actual expenses. If actual expenses are lower than amounts already paid, Delta would receive a credit in subsequent years; if they are higher, Delta would remit the difference. The contract also sets a 15% support-service (administrative) fee; a portion of that fee (described in the contract as roughly one-third of the fee) will be directed toward paying down the county’s MERS (Municipal Employees’ Retirement System) unfunded pension liability.

As part of the agreement, the county and Delta would make a one-time injection of $3 million into the command-group pension amortization: $1 million from the county and $2 million from Delta. County staff said that payment would allow adding five years to the amortization schedule for eligible pension groups; Delta would receive annual credit on that upfront payment (county staff described an example of a $200,000 annual credit toward Delta’s $2 million principal over the contract term). The board separately authorized county staff to pursue the amortization extension for eligible pension groups; staff estimated MERS projected savings of roughly $795,000 that reflect lower future required contribution rates, though staff cautioned the savings would be realized over time as contribution rates change.

The contract includes operational details: Delta is responsible for utilities and routine maintenance of a planned substation; the county will provide telephone, fiber and equipment costs per appendices; an emergency/unbudgeted purchase authority of up to $25,000 per contract year was included for speed of response; and procurements under the contract will follow the Eaton County purchasing policy. The agreement also describes a process for third-party overtime (for events) that would be billed to the third party and then credited to Delta at reconciliation, and it contains mutual-aid language unchanged from prior practice.

Sheriff Glen Reich told commissioners the agreement was a major step in addressing the county’s pension liabilities and public-safety staffing and thanked township partners. Controller’s Office staff and the county manager also thanked Delta and township officials for lengthy negotiations.

The board’s vote was recorded by roll call and passed unanimously. The motion to approve the contract was moved by Commissioner Drosius and supported on the floor; the formal roll call recorded each commissioner voting yes.

Why it matters: County staff and the board framed the contract as a way to restore a reliable patrol presence in Delta Township while addressing long-term pension obligations that affect service costs countywide. The arrangement shifts near-term staffing costs to Delta while using a combination of upfront pension prepayment and a recurring administrative fee contribution to reduce the county’s unfunded MERS liability over time.

What happens next: County staff will finalize contract language, manage appendices (personnel lists, capital and technology estimates, and pension calculations), and execute the agreement after township approval. The board also authorized steps to pursue the pension amortization changes with MERS and to implement the reconciliation and reporting timelines described in the contract appendices.

Direct quote: “I think it represents that commitment, not just from us, but also from the township, to see brighter days here at the county,” Sheriff Glen Reich said during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the Delta Township police services agreement passed unanimously on roll call. The board also separately approved a motion to pursue the five-year amortization extension for eligible pension groups; that motion passed on voice vote.","The Eaton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year police services agreement with Delta Township that shifts the full cost of staffing to the township, includes a $3 million pension prepayment arrangement, and authorizes county staff to pursue a five-year amortization extension for eligible pension groups.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sobriety court graduate urges commissioners not to cut Eaton County treatment courts

Votes at a glance: Eaton County Board approves park lease, grant discontinuation, budget amendments and other routine items

Eaton County approves 10-year police services contract with Delta Township, pursues pension re-amortization