[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6487695,"mediaKeyId","5559947-a8ad51215d04bb2d0509205b05080955","parentId",5559947,"title","Votes at a glance: Montcalm County Board of Commissioners actions, Aug. 11, 2025","audioSeconds",2223,"startMs",1188000,"endMs",3411000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5559947-a8ad51215d04bb2d0509205b05080955&start=1188&end=3411","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5559947-a8ad51215d04bb2d0509205b05080955/thumbnail_1188000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487695/Montcalm-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Montcalm-County-Board-of-Commissioners-actions-Aug-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487695-649d44796ca677869cbe1ee33aa92027/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168323&Signature=nbW6cDkvOGlbCiYHjRIFoErYjbYlgbNw5-00W3xJWi6py4krfNW9ljSn26I9uRwxp49YUjFKFPBQaaI~O~jJ461SxoI6CThTkONzUrAZOZu1zLGDk7u8okAO83aIsKtUt~VO6fCqD~vk1UBlFsi3ovuDlDyqkNNNR5BniK~HBIYTjNy~BbsOy9ZabTVVgJcs~XVgeAsNa4yjoOSAwHVnXZ2-5jHW54Cw5hSddjUpV5XNl~1crlyekXV2NRpJIMCGFY7rEIB2mJHBiDGWyLeDtmy92Z7J09IdAvbIFQDhqS2pefwm9825KLc0IcWICnUpDywzyM74bXPPtTIi2bodNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montcalm County","date","2025-08-11T18:51:17Z","article","At its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners voted on a series of routine and budget-related items. The board conducted unanimous voice votes on multiple motions; six commissioners were present at roll call (Alexander, Johnston, Peterson, Mahar, Carr and Emery).

Key actions and outcomes

- Older Americans Act contract amendment and HIPAA business agreement: The board authorized signatures on the fiscal-year 2026 Older Americans Act contract amendment, the HIPAA business associate agreement and signature authorization forms for the Commission on Aging. The county's Commission on Aging director, Pam Bock, told the board the agency obtained \"$35,000 and some change\" in additional funding this year. Motion carried on voice vote.

- Resolution exempting county from Public Act 152 (fiscal-year 2026): The board approved Resolution 2025-07 to exempt the county from the state's Public Act 152 hard cap on health-benefit contributions for the 2026 plan year. Controller Brenda advised that next year premiums are expected to exceed the statutory hard cap and that opting out would allow the county to preserve current employee payroll-deduction arrangements. Motion carried on voice vote.

- Audit services contract authorization: Following a request for proposals, the board authorized the county controller to request a formal contract from Gaberidge and Company for auditing services not to exceed $157,260 for fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027. The controller confirmed that figure covers the three-year contract total. Motion carried on voice vote.

- Warrant reports: The board approved three warrant reports totaling $809,954.95 (warrant report 07312025 for $138,689.06; warrant report 08072025 for $111,280.21; and warrant report 08112025 for $559,985.68). Motion carried on voice vote.

- Tax-rate request (Form L-4029) for 2025: The board accepted the county's 2025 tax-rate request (L-4029) and authorized signatures. Commissioners noted minor differences between requested levies and allowable amounts for a few taxing authorities. Motion carried on voice vote.

- Acceptance of Commissioner Painter's resignation and vacancy process: The board accepted Commissioner Painter's resignation effective July 31, 2025, and discussed options to fill the District 4 vacancy. County law staff cited Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 46.412 and 46.413 about the 30-day appointment window and special-election procedures. The board set a process to interview six applicants on Aug. 25, beginning with candidate presentations in the afternoon followed by a board meeting and potential appointment that evening. Motion to accept the resignation carried on voice vote.

- FY2026 budget: The controller presented an updated FY2026 proposed budget with minor adjustments. The board voted to accept the recommended FY2026 budget in principle and set a public hearing and final vote for the Aug. 25 meeting. Motion carried on voice vote.

Other routine actions included placing consent-agenda items 6 through 8 and minutes from two budget work sessions on file. The board also acknowledged correspondence and committee reports.

Record of participation and voting

Roll call at the start of the meeting showed six commissioners present: Alexander, Johnston, Peterson, Mahar, Carr and Emery. Where votes were taken by voice and no individual roll-call vote was recorded, the board proceeded by unanimous voice vote; no dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Items requiring follow-up

- Controller to finalize contract paperwork with Gaberidge and Company if contract terms are acceptable.
- County staff to process signatures on the Commission on Aging OAA contract amendment and HIPAA agreement.
- Controller to post the FY2026 budget and prepare materials for the Aug. 25 public hearing.
- Board to conduct candidate interviews and consider appointment to fill the District 4 vacancy at the Aug. 25 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners approved several routine and budget-related items on Aug. 11, including contract authorizations, a statutory exemption resolution, warrant reports, a tax-rate request and steps to fill a vacant commission seat.","taxTitle","Montcalm County, Michigan","taxId",45831,"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},6487699,"Montcalm County approves larger childcare fund to cover rising placement costs",578,586000,1164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5559947-a8ad51215d04bb2d0509205b05080955&start=586&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5559947-a8ad51215d04bb2d0509205b05080955/thumbnail_586000.jpg","/articles/6487699/Montcalm-County/Michigan/Montcalm-County-approves-larger-childcare-fund-to-cover-rising-placement-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487699-27b586c47bcdfe11d9a60f2fe5593a99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168323&Signature=XSLX3rlc3v3bizKjipGlPvW4INyYm4IjRfNsHOpVXYBXX5EyOaz-AAXsC~XVQzv13dcQdoDZEXoAGYjHabkeQdb9qsNjwIRK~GaTptEj0DxuEsv7luJQnUzF9ZG9q98uM4SxuUVMttfbj8X2w1elwpPaAgKxGGtFqO8kTrsDy7T1xACn2DZmVnNaNpdTjoqG1OnH7Z26FKiRX8TlXeWDNJZ2DMFdS5uHMWXoGXYKt-bJls45XViqCbWiOimbccuu9j4CK~IKuAd4ELhDTJ2Yg4TxP9VfWpJgXUrTSon208gWclw7AgcOD0YAZuCgplGvc211JxhXZLpfDS3J~k-qSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on Monday, Aug. 11, approved a funding request from Addie Conrad, the county's juvenile court administrator, to increase the county's fiscal-year 2026 childcare fund to cover sharply higher placement and related costs.

Conrad told commissioners that placements for neglect, abuse and delinquency have \"just skyrocketed\" and that she was asking for a $95,000 increase specifically for placement-related costs. She said the total childcare fund request is $1,075,388 for FY2026, \"an increase of $186,018 from last year.\" \"It's absolutely needed,\" Conrad said.

Conrad outlined four components of the childcare fund and their reimbursement rates: Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services remain 75% reimbursed by the state; placement costs are 50% reimbursed; the basic grant ($56,250) is 100% reimbursed; and community-based services are included in the request with an increase in wages and other operating costs. She said she moved $70,900 in wages into the childcare fund because those wages are 75% reimbursable, and requested roughly $20,000 for psych evaluations, counseling, drug-testing supplies, tethers, parenting classes, travel, substance-abuse evaluations and offender assessments.

Conrad and commissioners discussed why placement costs rose. Conrad said some post-COVID facility closures and staffing shortages left fewer providers accepting out-of-county youth, and that a change raising the juvenile age to include 17-year-olds has increased the number of higher-risk youth requiring secure placements. She said those factors, plus higher per-diem rates charged by some facilities, have driven the cost increases.

Commissioners also discussed the mechanics of reimbursement and budgeting. The controller noted the June budget packet showed $1,032,007.40 for the childcare fund and that the additional appropriation will likely require a budget adjustment; the panel noted roughly 75% of certain increases should be returned to the county through state reimbursements. Commissioner questions focused on whether current spending exceeded prior allocations; Conrad said she expected to go over on placement costs but had more control over other line items.

Vice Chairman Peterson moved to accept the fiscal year 2026 childcare fund funding request and obtain the appropriate signatures; the motion was supported and carried on an affirmative voice vote.

The board's action directs staff to process the requested funding adjustment and obtain signatures for the required paperwork; Conrad said she would return for any additional budget adjustments if needed.

Montcalm County had six commissioners present at roll call: Alexander, Johnston, Peterson, Mahar, Carr and Emery.","The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 11 approved a requested increase to the county's childcare fund after the juvenile court administrator said placement and wage costs have surged, and most costs are partially reimbursed by the state.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Montcalm County Board of Commissioners actions, Aug. 11, 2025

Montcalm County approves larger childcare fund to cover rising placement costs