[{"_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",6478717,"mediaKeyId","5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72","parentId",5708330,"title","Votes at a glance: Alpena County moves on grants, vehicles, trailers, radios and a Girl Scout project","audioSeconds",612,"startMs",2308000,"endMs",2920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72&start=2308&end=2920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72/thumbnail_2308000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478717/Alpena-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-Alpena-County-moves-on-grants-vehicles-trailers-radios-and-a-Girl-Scout-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478717-f2ace179442ef65b2af36fbb9deb376c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145261&Signature=lM6zMaW-oXaraglMOj0-TFrjqBz3yod-MH57I1t32G-kWp6-4B13SD0yYfhW9G26VEhSvHbYmEtO0XOHbm5qCGOvP6nHXRNaRo87IDUgToRpmA3qgEjAYSoJD6sSyQkiiUZQvE6oT2U9ld~SWKL6cOBBeBUFlhsJVhwT4vXYU1F9xl87yyJ0AiVtdVnrAXRKvOER1hOh64mR7HaI2QPgm7tfGPJPfoSyi~ht1JYktmlEgcYIFT7ct~mSuXnunT7T88-0V54mGiJmHWVvHAPmVNuFn3s7uKJejhIZwk31ruggRiAty4z1FtdQEHy0V5QRhmw0CeYhiZxTIOeahgkEFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alpena County","date","2025-09-02T18:32:05Z","article","Alpena County commissioners approved multiple routine and budgetary actions at Tuesday’s meeting. Key outcomes included grant acceptance, budget transfers, vehicle decisions, authorization to pursue a surplus-equipment trailer purchase, and approval of a Girl Scout community project.

Bills and grants
- The board approved the monthly bills-to-pay motion on a roll-call vote.
- The board accepted a reimbursement grant for victim rights administration (no county match requested) and approved the required motion to accept the award.

Budget and transfers
- The board approved transferring the budgeted energy-conservation bond payment of $46,399 from the general fund to the capital improvement fund and increasing the banking-fee line by $25 to cover the transaction.
- The board approved a recommendation to move a $220,000 radio purchase out of a multi-year earmark and directed staff to prepare funding adjustments for full-board consideration at the end of the month.

Vehicles and equipment
- County pool vehicle: Commissioners approved trying mileage reimbursement instead of replacing the county pool vehicle in 2026; staff estimated a 2026 mileage-reimbursement budget of approximately $3,500–$4,000.
- Emergency management vehicle: Commissioners approved approximately $1,500 in repairs, including air-conditioning and power-steering fixes and an airbag recall repair to keep the vehicle in service.
- Federal surplus equipment trailer: The sheriff’s office reported it had been approved to obtain federal surplus equipment (including large generators) but needed a trailer to retrieve items. The board authorized county staff to work with the sheriff and treasurer to find funds and to allow the finance chair or board chair to sign off so the sheriff can purchase a suitable trailer (quoted at roughly $7,600) if funds are located.

Community projects and consent items
- The board approved a Girl Scout “Rainbow Bridge” project proposed for the Alpena County Fairgrounds and authorized the scouts to use a fairgrounds building for construction and painting as needed.
- The consent calendar, including routine minutes and departmental reports, was approved after minor scrivener corrections were noted.

Votes and procedure
- Most items passed by unanimous roll-call votes. Specific roll-call tallies were recorded for each motion in the meeting minutes.

Why it matters: These actions cover daily county operations — from capital and grant administration to maintaining emergency-response equipment and enabling community volunteer projects — and set short-term budget priorities ahead of the FY26 cycle.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance, Ways & Means Committee Meeting 08.12.25","oneSentenceSummary","Alpena County commissioners approved a package of routine and budget-related measures covering grants, vehicle repairs and replacements, a trailer purchase for surplus equipment, a planned radio purchase and a Girl Scout community project.","taxTitle","Alpena County, Michigan","taxId",71580,"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},6478721,"Alpena County board receives unmodified fiscal 2024 audit; auditors flag internal-control items",753,1016000,1769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72&start=1016&end=1769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72/thumbnail_1016000.jpg","/articles/6478721/Alpena-County/Michigan/Alpena-County-board-receives-unmodified-fiscal-2024-audit-auditors-flag-internal-control-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478721-ea775f2bb0c18f08f500badda4fd4af7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145261&Signature=CKRyqvx93v11dmcGhvnMfEyWRPRSrE0i124P9hrXU5FNlUwcczj1Ex34tzmlWh63Ij8mPPvqnns2DepT6fKzM4~L8FWz-wZwxR~iYP-ub-BvK-9QleE0R87reuKG6ZFuLNDMtVmSDBBG98GaDcYDOTNPWC82eoFUCzr1V8lRHLO17upiRa3ou0m0TEUwXI6TIr2pR5z9AX-R2Xfi9~dZnqGT6pfTb2czamy5E7q22e-s2kRE12TgfrqKYf6seXSVGww3nMYGA8JM1cBGJHwa0cmhg7Tpf0yHi3X-xe056ZG7mMgzWTsC4v8mxjG5rTc-KVkzkDrsVyh~DwBRQxu0Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpena County Board of Commissioners received and filed the county’s fiscal year 2024 audit after an external auditor presented the report at Tuesday’s meeting.

The auditor, identified in the meeting as Chelsea, said the audit included an unmodified opinion — the highest level of assurance auditors can give — meaning the financial statements were presented fairly in all material respects. “I am pleased to say that you were issued an unmodified opinion,” Chelsea told the board.

The auditor summarized key points from the report: assets increased by nearly $21.2 million, driven largely by capital additions tied to the airport runway rehabilitation project; liabilities decreased by about $1.2 million as previously unearned ARPA revenue was spent; and the county’s net position increased by roughly $22.8 million. On the modified-accrual (fund) basis, the general fund ended the year with a fund balance of about $4.3 million and an unassigned balance equating to roughly 108 days of expenditures, comfortably above GFOA guidance.

Auditors identified internal-control matters and required communications. They described concerns about oversight of accounts payable — invoices routed to multiple departments that might not reach the clerk’s office and therefore could affect accruals — and noted material audit adjustments that management accepted. The audit also highlighted common findings such as segregation of duties and financial statement preparation. The county’s pension net liability was reported at about $10.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2024.

The board moved to receive and file the audit; a roll-call vote approved the motion.

Why it matters: An unmodified opinion signals that auditors found the county’s financial statements reliable for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, but the internal-control items and proposed adjustments identify areas for process improvement and oversight. The auditor advised continuing to make actuarially determined pension contributions as recommended by the retirement system fiduciary.","External auditors issued an unmodified opinion on Alpena County's 2024 financial statements and presented required communications about internal-control items, proposed adjustments and pension liabilities; the board voted to receive and file the audit.",{"_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},6478725,"Alpena County commissioners approve resolution opposing privatization of public behavioral health system",833,142000,975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72&start=142&end=975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5708330-39bdd9fa86aa95c11a6ffaf53e540f72/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6478725/Alpena-County/Michigan/Alpena-County-commissioners-approve-resolution-opposing-privatization-of-public-behavioral-health-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478725-21f8a562f43cfc8f61efa0958d177b88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145261&Signature=E5Tbys-EvAbvlLugQ3os00bUKAgaM5fn66kz-f804bmJs8UqCLvaS9jMzIdYoiBz50yhOpoLgNe1~fHJ~G7LtG0hpsqXXKp7s7~-Aw~r1ICUySwSMcb0EzzRS9y4RXrggeXkGMew~hSPndQRiV1dKZndQ4NBLyJP-57n8C3diOZLapGkIN2V1P9jIULb27tD8gmTR7pe3yDjQdVnBgfg2gNjjLYXXlQreKmzKDRzt~Y5O~KuEcsSomDjzj6q0fhxU6KMeXptT3sixf5WPSrBy~JGcSo3ojQ9jqfrfWltUhcN6NRzthIOvaFUHOz7hKRbrnOlASJIT4Ug28-CVVa49A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpena County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to adopt a resolution opposing the privatization of the public behavioral health system and authorized the chair to sign the document.

Nina Sork, executive director of Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health, told commissioners the agency served 2,140 clients in fiscal 2024 and provided 489 crisis services plus 609 psychiatric assessments to people across the region. She described the agency’s work as a safety net for residents with severe persistent mental illness, serious emotional disturbances in children, autism, and intellectual developmental disabilities.

Sork explained why the agency asked the board to act. She said the state has begun bidding out the PIHP (Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan) contracts and excluded regional public entities from the procurement process. “If it privatizes, you lose government immunity,” Sork said, arguing that loss of immunity would make it difficult to recruit and retain clinicians to serve the highest-risk patients. She also cited concerns about higher administrative fees under privatization, reduced transparency, and reduced local control.

Sork told commissioners the agency had recently completed CARF accreditation with no recommendations in 17 clinical programs and described a Narcan distribution partnership with the regional Overdose Prevention Engagement Network. She urged commissioners to pass the resolution to register the county’s opposition and to press legislators and the administration on the issue.

Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to adopt the resolution that had been included in the meeting packet. A roll-call vote was taken; all voting commissioners recorded “yes” and the motion carried.

Why it matters: Sork said the change would shift Medicaid-managed behavioral health dollars into the private sector and cited a difference in allowable administrative fees the agency said could reduce funds available for direct services. She also emphasized potential service gaps in rural areas and the county’s limited ability to rely on institutional beds.

Votes and next steps: The board adopted the resolution and authorized the chair to sign and transmit it. Sork said the agency would continue outreach to legislators and the governor’s office and was seeking exemptions for rural providers.","The Alpena County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution opposing state plans to privatize the public behavioral health managed-care system after a presentation from the executive director of Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Alpena County moves on grants, vehicles, trailers, radios and a Girl Scout project

Alpena County board receives unmodified fiscal 2024 audit; auditors flag internal-control items

Alpena County commissioners approve resolution opposing privatization of public behavioral health system