[{"_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",6495306,"mediaKeyId","5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787","parentId",5547814,"title","Commissioners say animal‑control facility funding uncertain as state budget prioritizes drains","audioSeconds",454,"startMs",1607000,"endMs",2061000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787&start=1607&end=2061","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787/thumbnail_1607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6495306/Eaton-County/Michigan/Commissioners-say-animalcontrol-facility-funding-uncertain-as-state-budget-prioritizes-drains","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495306-69a495de38afbc8ce5588e35956a97ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004882&Signature=EyJXECiLuI31TLarkXty-Sjy8-0L7WaifqA7CUK7ThrSgbOhp2Jcl3DL20dNB5I77G~-5ENoIA4C9wvkKwbugAI1zk~Z8wiM7o6Z-kP6yhSN5AVxcOrJjJxz-J0T4WHJic~2pOEBnR91GWTFEfi9j9tdNBmGQEdt-3IERiuo2iTNHPZIH7Otp8TppOmj6PKOTM6buaO-7hnIhyKs3ZGeeBHh~TwpahJL4JO9o8jetb9pymWEew9kvV2DWRLuApZHrosaQxJ-de2QxOOTGH1tWxj49CfkxTeWp0dlR182BQP4p3A7M~bgt149xonURy4RwozMfzn-S9zfbeG3t0cBCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Eaton County","date","2025-08-07T21:06:17.033Z","article","Commissioners on the Eaton County Public Safety Committee discussed persistent community concerns about animal control and county facility funding, saying local leaders must continue seeking solutions after a millage failed.

Commissioner Christiansen described ongoing constituent questions about why the county lacks full animal‑control services despite a recent public‑safety millage effort. \"I don't know if they were understanding what public safety was,\" Christiansen said, noting the May ballot measure included road patrol, the sheriff’s jail, prosecutor’s office and animal control. She thanked the county’s remaining animal‑control officer, Christy Grenold, and said the county’s animal‑control building is in \"detrimental\" condition.

Commissioner Logan (addressed in the discussion) said county staff were awaiting the state budget and that there is no secure appropriation yet. Another commissioner said a $2,300,000 appropriation request had been presented at the state level but that funding was not guaranteed and that drain projects were being given first priority in those deliberations.

Christiansen urged municipalities—cities, villages and townships—to partner to protect animals and relieve pressure on county services, noting increased reports of animal abandonment and local rescue efforts. The exchange followed other public comments at the meeting, including a Vermontville village president seeking county cooperation on a school resource‑officer funding arrangement and a resident's complaint about a drain assessment totaling more than $40,000.

No committee action was taken on animal‑control facilities or a capital appropriation during the meeting; commissioners said they will continue pursuing funding and intergovernmental cooperation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8-07-2025 Public Safety Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Christiansen and colleagues raised concerns that animal control staffing and a proposed facility remain underfunded after a millage defeat; a county official said a $2.3 million state appropriation was presented but funding is not secure and drain projects are being prioritized in the state budget deliberations.","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},6495311,"Prosecutor reports rising caseloads and recommended $180,000 STOP grant award",672,1279000,1951000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787&start=1279&end=1951","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787/thumbnail_1279000.jpg","/articles/6495311/Eaton-County/Michigan/Prosecutor-reports-rising-caseloads-and-recommended-180000-STOP-grant-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495311-b1189e2bac1cdf6ba76306079e55644f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004882&Signature=nctRC0a52V08MgS2rvK7f6rTjrZqQjZBFahXDzuv2YohUcwhph-06lWWfYljRlAjstue8lWUMaPetmVc03-Jq8jozxOl5zMfIirDZqeALee~HUSr4Ij6a6iot2KCGyKKasDgAp2T8WD6HCijX8wAYCjkJfTP9NutIZ--4DYIaQu~YWisVOpwb5eO7zhoOZcQILXfNyXzRoQswJImfokK06~Dg4byRLI-AJBAYJla8d7cdDwmbikv6-kO8WoU6WZYeCyCb9VmYneJB8k4BEMIzmtgqYM65czT8mxtCgo8z7bcSHp14iT7ktbEu-D3TYTcVZGIV1at00gLwqe9TMOX9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Anderson, chief assistant prosecutor, told the Public Safety Committee Monday that the county prosecutor’s office is handling a rising caseload and has been recommended for a grant to support prosecution of intimate‑partner violence cases.

Anderson reported 7,577 open cases in July, an increase of about 80–85 cases from June, with 357 new case referrals in July. The office charged 158 new cases and declined or diverted 152. Anderson said the prosecutor’s office handled 684 hearings in July and that the office’s attorneys ran subpoenas, sent discovery, generated writs and maintained victim contacts; he noted the workload continues to climb month to month.

Anderson highlighted a recent conviction in a child‑abuse case that stemmed from an investigation led by the sheriff’s office and his staff: a director of a childcare center in Delta Township was convicted of fourth‑degree child abuse in a June jury trial, and related charges were resolved in a separate plea this week.

The office also received a state recommendation to award a STOP (Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors) grant of just over $180,000, Anderson said. The grant would help fund one assistant prosecutor position and offset clerical costs tied to prosecuting intimate‑partner violence cases. Anderson credited staff and grant coordinators Melissa Ballard and Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Martie for work on the application.

Anderson also thanked summer interns for helping process backlog casework and said the interns’ work reduced the office’s pending caseload pressures.

The committee did not take further action on the prosecutor’s report; Anderson requested the board’s continued support and noted the grant recommendation is subject to final award procedures.","Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Anderson told the committee that open cases rose to 7,577 in July and that his office was recommended for a roughly $180,000 STOP grant to help fund prosecution of intimate‑partner violence cases.",{"_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},6495316,"Eaton County 9‑1‑1 advances mobile terminal replacements, bolsters public education; two telecommunicator hires pending",237,810000,1047000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787&start=810&end=1047","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787/thumbnail_810000.jpg","/articles/6495316/Eaton-County/Michigan/Eaton-County-911-advances-mobile-terminal-replacements-bolsters-public-education-two-telecommunicator-hires-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495316-aee5e4c83ce854f71dc8b9cf46f9ed67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004882&Signature=Tmzcl7VK4IRS7JMiVBynHBsutrsDO45ikLITqhx13uwJf8UHkk3sPohKJnfK51HDWJpvDmvYi~JadIvNALEDyu4XFhPzOQBgGxxFLqPtR~5BQ3IaDnfefPvy0BgntKXLruM259WafdNHAAnM4pRqUtvLY0iJ96EhhLYQrpnfU-wocBRxc6Bg3YGdVThTLWqvW5H7UzTMO4sxQPrZw~McskYUFPb9cC7M4Pu2TO1wtqZBjGSeQgf~9~cZ46FXH2fLbtyK5y-YzbyBj6vMPgFfQ3T2Nyla3mWWcUlN8NZD~XOChopKq73Pzjnn-HQLP07d67nk4rRuu36pNMHF2F06Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Cunningham, director of Eaton County 9‑1‑1, told the Public Safety Committee Monday that the communications division is working to replace law‑enforcement mobile computer terminals (MCTs) and to fill two telecommunicator vacancies.

Cunningham said smaller agencies’ MCTs were updated and work is underway on Delta Township vehicles; the county aims to finish the MCT replacements before the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. She said the project’s final rollouts are pending election results and related scheduling.

On staffing, Cunningham said oral boards have been completed and two conditional offers were extended; both candidates are undergoing background checks. She also reported an on‑site compliance review by the Michigan state 9‑1‑1 office, which included staff interviews, first‑responder discussions and building security assessment; the county has not received the review report yet but described the on‑site component as positive.

Cunningham highlighted Eaton County 9‑1‑1’s public‑education work, noting a standardized K‑12 program and outreach at events including the Eaton County Fair and the Eaton Rapids Fourth of July parade. She credited communications supervisor Libby Holland for presenting 9‑1‑1 public education at the national APCO conference and offered the county’s education materials to school districts.

No committee action was required on the dispatch report; it was provided as an informational briefing.","Kelly Cunningham, Eaton County 9‑1‑1 director, reported progress on law‑enforcement mobile computer terminal (MCT) replacements targeting completion before Oct. 1, two conditional telecommunicator job offers in background processing, and ongoing public‑education outreach.",{"_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},6495320,"Sheriff's office reports arrests, pursuits and child‑abuse investigations in July",569,145000,714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787&start=145&end=714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787/thumbnail_145000.jpg","/articles/6495320/Eaton-County/Michigan/Sheriffs-office-reports-arrests-pursuits-and-childabuse-investigations-in-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495320-b355894222d1f262fb15facfebd6a00c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004882&Signature=Ty~uurFb-zpC~1xPnsUL0E7Y27o0oRw3XIDznvw9wVhbJLW4hRLy4nim4AUJKexmq9UI~v12aWfzf~lZri1FR5AhO5p5dFUE7NlchsG81Hbb4FAV8P3IklcSkrP8MuZGWx5jRQv5WKc0TCNjHq3oLa16qoZSm7qhcSEqRF3sUmynE06wHByn-fNq7Zr4BeDBED97GH0Tamh7iIbsQQb-ZnkRvtZ0KWo8kw8p5rphZVJTvVFd2HqN0O~IhrMbUw3-I-xNvuLlkOO0u1QOPoekgfcnBNFdJHfl2Qj5CQwUvO0VNW3et0w4HWEwOIQHsehnHyC307VB-0-cUBCHj6yRbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eaton County Sheriff’s Office told the Public Safety Committee Monday that deputies responded to a string of incidents in July that resulted in multiple arrests, ongoing investigations and community support during several pursuits.

The office recounted arrests for possession of methamphetamine, OWI with possession of crack cocaine, a loaded firearm recovered under a seat, multiple fleeing‑and‑eluding incidents, retail frauds and resisting arrest. Deputies also investigated two child‑abuse matters: one involving a severely autistic 6‑year‑old with multiple bruises and a separate case in which a 2‑month‑old was brought to Sparrow Hospital with extensive bruising; protective services and detectives were involved in follow‑up.

The sheriff’s presentation detailed a July 13 fleeing‑and‑eluding incident that began with a pursuit by the Grand Ledge Police Department; deputies located and arrested a suspect after a canine track and citizen tipsters reported the suspect’s location. A separate high‑speed pursuit stemming from a Michigan State Police incident reached estimated speeds of 130–140 mph before deputies terminated pursuit.

The office also described an armed robbery and carjacking under investigation in which four to five suspects brandished two firearms and stole a victim’s vehicle; that investigation is ongoing. Several retail‑theft incidents at Walmart resulted in arrests, including one case involving an estimated $800 in attempted stolen merchandise and recovered property from a backup backpack.

A representative of the Sheriff’s Office summarized the month with a tone of frustration about repeat offenders on bond: \"Isn't it amazing that people are out on bond, and they come out and they still commit crimes that just I just don't understand,\" the Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.

Commissioner Christiansen asked about judicial bond decisions after several incidents involved people who had been out on bond. The Sheriff’s Office responded that bond determinations are made by judges.

The sheriff’s report concluded with a comment on jail capacity: the office said the jail has 374 beds and \"a 180 of them\" (phrase in transcript), and that there is room available.

The committee did not take formal action on the sheriff’s report; it was presented for informational purposes.","Eaton County sheriff’s office briefed the Public Safety Committee on a busy July that included multiple arrests for drugs, fleeing and eluding, retail fraud, a child‑abuse investigation(s) involving injuries at Sparrow Hospital, and an ongoing armed‑robbery/carjacking investigation.",{"_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},6495322,"Eaton County committee approves EMPG initial work agreement to secure FY26 federal funds",116,1183000,1299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787&start=1183&end=1299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547814-61ab48f22d064f8188b3e54034c3b787/thumbnail_1183000.jpg","/articles/6495322/Eaton-County/Michigan/Eaton-County-committee-approves-EMPG-initial-work-agreement-to-secure-FY26-federal-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495322-c243ba6f4c4b1e33da4d5b00e4d86f1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004882&Signature=SZhrvXQPIkiIYscJZ0WrygDLn~606h9naEq6YhY0SbnKzARzr3DYgYA6zbRZ~Apcr92gby-IvDR~DKEpwVRXGuM8ffOS8YoiTzGn9WN8bDtVkzeReEibibKOOARwPseDT6T6gizfbw2rwgx1pa6~Rhg06RRg6YXJw0kEP7759q8hN38FRaib9QK2jGyPMurYIB2sPSRNPbDyk-AL1zoVkRX6Js04BShvvk7kFR0nIuqIzEJ5zD5cMXXKrCRXbLTHh6WA6I9bZexfrjBb1oWl~fu2JR5QB4D6h6dY91Cx1DW5kf1IjU5fzT8srnQrcuTWJxJuUmpF7zwnxCxyg~2lvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eaton County’s Public Safety Committee approved an initial work agreement Monday to begin the process of securing Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds for fiscal year 2026.

The vote authorizes county emergency management staff to pursue federal EMPG funds that help support the county emergency manager’s salary and core capabilities across prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. Ella Gardner, emergency management specialist, told commissioners the agreement is the usual annual step to remain eligible for the federal funds and that quarterly reporting requirements to the state will continue.

Gardner said the county’s emergency manager, Ryan Wilkinson, will be the primary grant-supported position and that the initial work agreement allows the county to begin the formal funding process for FY26. \"This is an action item that seeks approval to enter the EMPG initial work agreement with the state of Michigan,\" Gardner said. She described the item as a continuation of an ongoing multi‑year process.

A commissioner moved and the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The motion record in the meeting transcript did not specify the mover or seconder by name; the chair declared the motion carried.

Why it matters: EMPG funds are a common federal support source for local emergency-management staffing and core capabilities. Approval of the initial work agreement preserves Eaton County’s eligibility to receive those federal funds for the coming fiscal year.

The committee’s approval does not itself obligate federal dollars; it begins the county’s state-administered grant process and continues quarterly reporting obligations for grant compliance.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to approve the agenda and minutes from July 10, 2025 — approved by voice vote.
- Motion to enter the FY26 EMPG initial work agreement with the state of Michigan — approved by voice vote. Mover/Second: not specified in record; outcome: approved.
- Motion to adjourn — approved by voice vote.

The committee moved to its next agenda items after the EMPG vote.","The Eaton County Public Safety Committee voted to enter an Emergency Management Performance Grant initial work agreement to begin securing federal funds to support emergency management staffing and core capabilities for fiscal year 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners say animal‑control facility funding uncertain as state budget prioritizes drains

Prosecutor reports rising caseloads and recommended $180,000 STOP grant award

Eaton County 9‑1‑1 advances mobile terminal replacements, bolsters public education; two telecommunicator hires pending

Sheriff's office reports arrests, pursuits and child‑abuse investigations in July

Eaton County committee approves EMPG initial work agreement to secure FY26 federal funds