Bay County commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a range of consent and regular agenda items, including financial reports, personnel actions, a Tefra hearing resolution related to a tax‑exempt bond, parks code revisions, and a lease and related Triumph Gulf Coast grant for a port‑using manufacturer.

Key results approved by the board (motions and roll calls in meeting order):

- Consent agenda (items 1–11): Commissioners acknowledged Clerk of Courts reports, adopted FY‑25 fee and fine schedule amendments related to utilities, approved FY‑25 and FY‑26 budget amendments, authorized sale of a 75‑acre surplus property on Highway 2297 for $225,000, approved community board appointments for Mexico Beach, and awarded several professional services contracts (civil and utility engineering), among other routine items. The consent agenda passed by roll call.

- Tefra hearing / tax‑exempt bond for Ascension Health Alliance: Staff conducted the required public hearing under IRS Section 147(f) for a proposed issuance of tax‑exempt bonds by the Indiana Finance Authority for the benefit of Ascension affiliates, to support the Bay County project (acquisition, construction and equipping of a local facility) and other out‑of‑state projects. No public comment was offered at the hearing; the board adopted the resolution authorizing the county's participation in the required Tefra process.

- Parks and Recreation code revision (Chapter 18): The board approved changes that formally authorize the board, by resolution, to adopt rules for specific parks and to allow alcohol as part of an approved special‑event permit subject to insurance and permit conditions.

- Promotion in Public Works / Utilities: The board approved staff's recommendation to promote Mike Allen from interim to permanent utility services director following the retirement of the prior director; commissioners praised his experience and voted to confirm the appointment.

- Lease and Triumph Gulf Coast grant for Global Impact Products LLC: The board approved a lease for a portion of county property (the former factory site) and a related Triumph Gulf Coast grant agreement. Under the lease, Global Impact Products will pay a $2,000,000 upfront lease fee and carry out capital investment at the Bay County site; the company expects to create jobs and expand port activity. Staff said the company expects to hire about 150 workers and invest roughly $14.5 million in capital improvements.

Other votes on regular agenda items included approval of tourist‑development fund reimbursements for public safety costs tied to increased tourism and multiple contract awards for engineering services. The board recorded roll‑call approvals for the listed items and adjourned after public comment and commissioner remarks.

What to watch next: The county will execute the lease and Triumph grant agreements and begin related property improvements and port coordination; staff will proceed with personnel onboarding for the utility director role and with required reporting for the Ascension bond process.