[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6475714,"mediaKeyId","5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91","parentId",5732131,"title","Votes at a glance: commissioners approve multiple routine renewals and appointments","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4245000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91&start=4245&end=4245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91/thumbnail_4245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475714/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-commissioners-approve-multiple-routine-renewals-and-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475714-fa314eb852a6e3ddbd811a15200e11a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775536940&Signature=Q6h0DGrOW79KNXHfiRZGwj7VL2QkXNTcMd9OItyAHuVsYa9HhqJhAZkrfN8D-LgtTZqQ6IBwtirph59VEEw9ENfCNFr8d36gvQwuah49DEgUcPB0Ivhu0Dv-XGlQxbs2Rs7kBSREOgmfUTsa0xPtwM3~Zcc7bJqVZfS8CWvIIzobo0g3usSli1ZJGDyhfIWJKQU3cyZUvhrrUILjSB1eJEzQN9cbM7Kt2Ht93NQigEl4HEWWJtwbE-hbzFmYMcUCJu-W19peWTiofXDgSVjy3Zrp4gSWkim3SENJYrd-2HFpc5bq9u0Ob6MkiIUduxbWxU5ICCCXC96cIfZU0GdKPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Van Buren County, MI","date","2025-09-08T16:36:27Z","article","At its Sept. 8 meeting the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners approved a series of consent and action items with little debate.

- MSU Extension memorandum-of-agreement renewal: The board approved a one-year MOA renewal for services that fund 1.0 FTE 4‑H program coordination and 0.85 FTE agriculture/agribusiness staff, with a requested county contribution of $212,800 (a 3% increase). The extension office said Dr. Leslie Judd will join October 6 as a new consumer horticulturist.

- Board of Canvassers appointments: The board appointed Judy Janssen (Republican) and Michael Seymour (Democrat) to two-year canvasser terms, following party submissions; the appointment was made by ballot as required by election law and approved in the meeting.

- Van Buren Conservation District Resource Recovery Services agreement renewal: The board approved renewal of the county’s resource-recovery services agreement; changes include modifying electronics collection to include at least two rotating drop-off opportunities and continued year-round tire drop-off at transfer stations.

- NSU/MSU extension / other renewals: The board approved additional routine renewals presented at the meeting (MOAs and service agreements), including renewal of the victim-services agreement and routine out-of-state travel requests submitted for the prosecutor’s office.

- Financial items: Commissioners approved claims for August totaling $5,645,635.26 and approved budget adjustments intended to align revenue and expenses across funds for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Most of the items were approved by motion and voice vote; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript for these consent items.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09/08/2025 Board Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners approved several contract renewals, appointments and routine financial items, including MSU Extension MOA, board-of-canvassers appointments, the resource-recovery agreement and budget/claims approvals.","taxTitle","Van Buren County, Michigan","taxId",52299,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6475718,"Local victim-services provider warns of funding cuts, staff losses; board approves renewal",330,4487000,4817000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91&start=4487&end=4817","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91/thumbnail_4487000.jpg","/articles/6475718/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Local-victim-services-provider-warns-of-funding-cuts-staff-losses-board-approves-renewal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475718-af259f1a4e1a58e3e5fe90cc7816ad4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775536940&Signature=OSNS002XaGtuHF1qj-rY4oMg95p4JGYZsi2IGYB6896JmfAqAjEX562hDSUdzzpBZT81V2THiW0GfmZPlMh1vebezdxLalDrfxxtHg5ZJ7M2I8goXrE3xvgXk0XIEf0SdLaJ8bhi9tK6IfVgne83noh2dLbRXZVvmj5UDLdxiRNL2prR1AcNf9TwcwwwnHwz0QrzLPGCPS-VdDOdHZUQOSp10rufcjfd~RgMTW~58Vlytp13yooa8TgUzJxUA3R3ctv0WzCSu2ehJDKQ4jWN9rtrGZxTIeJPEwxspo5QxqaOb0NFjhzlif04QC10B6XjFX6h~q1K0kqua6D9K5EGeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A director for Van Buren County victim services told the board the program faces multiple funding headwinds and that staff reductions are already occurring. The presenter said the Safe Families Michigan grant that funded a teen program was discontinued (ending a staff position Sept. 30), the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is projected to be cut 15–30% and may be exhausted by fiscal 2027, and the United Way recently cut $10,000 from the program.

The presenter said the state has not signed contracts for multiple grants as early as in prior years and that the state had previously provided one-time supplemental funding to fill gaps; a larger state supplemental ask for domestic-violence services is under negotiation at the state level. Locally, the agency has been relying on private fundraising to cover shortfalls.

Despite the financial uncertainty, the presenter said the agency provided services to 336 new clients this past year (1,264 total contacts), including 22 clients aged 65 or older and 13 clients under 18. The agency distributed security devices, deadbolts, toiletries, clothing “go-bags,” and gave 24 gift cards for fuel or groceries. The director said staff provide personal-protection-order assistance and reported that Judge DuPont provided a figure of 242 personal protection orders processed so far this year.

Commissioners and audience members asked about partnerships with local law enforcement and hospital sexual-assault services; the presenter said outreach to police departments across the county is active and that hospital-based sexual-assault services are coordinated with Bronson Health. The director said volunteer recruitment continues; five new volunteers were trained.

A motion to approve the agreement renewal for the victim-services program was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and passage but does not include a roll-call tally.

","Van Buren County’s victim-services program reported recent grant losses and possible deeper VOCA cuts that will shrink staff and threaten services; commissioners voted to renew the county contract supporting local victim services.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6475722,"Commission backs resolution urging state funding for My Choice Waiver program",711,2984000,3695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91&start=2984&end=3695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91/thumbnail_2984000.jpg","/articles/6475722/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/Commission-backs-resolution-urging-state-funding-for-My-Choice-Waiver-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475722-d9fe13c63265e26c4641bc579e12c49b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775536940&Signature=KlKBkeQlnAq~BgIakZ1HCz3-KnZ9V0RJZEls-Zme4yWicty5SlP8sBLFbo86nEfrphnSn9O~~knBUzyM6ntsY2DS2w1XWIQ1n-zxWMr4g~ULMWFlGuMW2ghyR-EBfhhyoTze5qZGT1OHcr1E-VSN6FZQ1BBorgM~vaBoo3kli0lsqi-Gj9pKI1RHOheap5JuXnZmyk~8sLAGfnMgsTsODBOJXdTmSId2Imu0z0jiViYl0AgM4tZTiXoBkWsL-dBPjkZ997YNoCSSGZEe7IUaQ7ZqlQ9xfgJk5-tO~Cj5Hq1BJiQbzdLVM4q-odLMeDf~dOtI82SqN9IbaXw4GiHaXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christine Landingham, representing the Area Agency on Aging, asked the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners to endorse a resolution supporting the My Choice Waiver program, which pays for home- and community-based services that allow eligible adults to remain at home instead of entering institutional long-term care.

Landingham said the waiver serves people 18 and older and helps them remain in their homes and communities. She told commissioners the program is less expensive than nursing-home care and that, in fiscal 2024, “over 800 individuals in the Tri-County area were able to live at home successfully through the My Choice Waiver program,” a figure she linked to substantial state and federal savings.

Landingham warned commissioners that the program’s financial sustainability is at risk because state reimbursement rates have not kept pace with inflation and higher labor costs, including recent minimum-wage increases and earned-sick-time costs. She said the state’s actuarial firm, Milliman, estimated increased costs related to wage changes and other factors and that the state had not fully funded those increases. Landingham said the consequence could be reduced slot availability, inadequate rates for providers (many of them small businesses) and erosion of the vendor network that delivers home-based care.

Commissioners asked whether the program is separately budgeted; Landingham said the waiver is budgeted as a distinct program but warned that Michigan allocates “slots” in ways that can limit access even when individuals meet clinical eligibility. She urged support while state budget decisions are under consideration.

A commissioner moved to approve the resolution; the motion received support and carried by voice vote. Individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

","The board approved a resolution supporting continued and adequate state funding for Michigan’s My Choice Waiver program after a presentation on risks to the program and its cost-saving potential for state and federal Medicaid spending.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6475727,"County consultant reports facility scans complete; assessment flags ADA, lighting and courthouse needs",890,1548000,2438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91&start=1548&end=2438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5732131-ccad3e6d6c49a41751bf361224094a91/thumbnail_1548000.jpg","/articles/6475727/Van-Buren-County/Michigan/County-consultant-reports-facility-scans-complete-assessment-flags-ADA-lighting-and-courthouse-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475727-8116385e82d84ee57575c63be1b6b976/orig.mp4?Expires=1775536940&Signature=ZghFbTY2pe1YKwcFJd90697BqTfDFHzz8BVQemCiKR2aVoPui23gTVnZOcKmVD5EPfvBh5yhSqL09kVUwJVVHpcswkzgrZdh9LVg4xFonsgUBk0KUKn9mtrnwHgI95GsMAxFJMqZ3Ohi8zEPlSGrVFGr5jXj-rjIsbOuZZhSt5HqXnrrajeF2Hxiyyz~aH8n2xYEuBh6I6ylLyi7Tt8NJYSMEsmnhFDI819x--tguC0XDSeRPLBX9atEAy6TowF4QSlt0Jdhjkxkswb9Yd7A2Q8OZjGZYSq1T1rpcjArR0mHnHYesDLm7PPyCekOgGDXfiMH8N5BUKbrPPHsAmhszw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ryan Archer, senior design architect and planner with Tower Pinkster, updated the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners on a facilities master plan process begun several months ago, saying the consultant team has completed scanning of the county’s building portfolio (excluding detailed jail cell scans) and has produced draft assessments and initial planning deliverables.

Archer told the board the consultant team has finished PDF and CAD file preparation and site plans based on county GIS data and is moving from assessment into cost estimating and conceptual planning. “We’ve gone through and scanned every building but the jail,” Archer said, and the team now intends to attach conceptual budget numbers to recommended scopes so the county can prioritize projects.

The assessment organizes findings by site and rates building components as good, fair, poor or replace. Archer said common countywide themes include accessibility upgrades, LED lighting retrofits, and electrical-service opportunities, while the courthouse’s age makes it a distinct case requiring its own analysis. He said the firm will produce a planning workshop for commissioners and staff to test conceptual diagrams and prioritization.

Community Services Director Lisa Hanson introduced Archer and said Tower Pinkster held user-group meetings with most county departments to capture needs and “guide rails” for planning. Archer said the planning work will consider zoning constraints on building height (typically limited to about 2½–3 stories with a hard 45-foot limit in village zoning) and will identify rough floor-to-floor dimensions to inform feasibility and costs.

Commissioners and members of the public asked whether courthouse annexes or outlying facilities such as South Haven court and animal control were included; Archer said courts and related sites are being considered “as part of the overall portfolio,” and specific decisions—such as relocating or rebuilding a court or animal control facility—would be evaluated in the planning and prioritization phase. Archer said the team plans a small-group planning workshop before a larger administrative-group meeting in November that could include elected officials and community partners.

Archer said the deliverables will include a facility assessment, planning diagrams and two conceptual budgets (one tied to assessment-level repairs and one tied to larger planning options). He described “recommendation” tabs that pair technical findings with professional next-step guidance and said items labeled “replace” are those the team considers immediate priorities while “poor” items are recommended for attention within a 3–5 year horizon.

Commissioners requested follow-up on South Haven court scans and further detail about whether animal-control needs would be cataloged; Archer said staff will follow up to confirm inclusion and to surface user concerns in the planning workshop. Hanson said the county will be provided the CAD and PDF files and that Tower Pinkster will return a final report after budgeting and the planning workshop.

The presentation concluded with commissioners inviting a workshop and asking the consultant to circulate dates and an initial guest list. No formal action or vote on capital funding was taken at the meeting.

","A consultant team told the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners that building scans are finished (except jail cells), a facility assessment and conceptual budgeting are underway and next steps include a planning workshop and prioritization of projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: commissioners approve multiple routine renewals and appointments

Local victim-services provider warns of funding cuts, staff losses; board approves renewal

Commission backs resolution urging state funding for My Choice Waiver program

County consultant reports facility scans complete; assessment flags ADA, lighting and courthouse needs