Finance committee approves March budget report, ratifies $3.55 million in checks and OKs Padnos e‑scrap agreement

The Newaygo County Finance Committee on April 16 approved multiple routine and fiscal items, including ratification of the February check register totaling $3,554,520.13, approval of a semi‑monthly disbursement of $572,145.82 and an agreement with Padnos for the 2025 electronic scrap collection event.

The committee voted to approve the county’s March budget report with budget amendments and transfers as presented, and to authorize the Board of Public Works chair to sign the Padnos agreement. Motions were made, seconded and carried by voice vote on all items.

Why it matters: those approvals clear payments and bookkeeping items and authorize a vendor for a county recycling event. The budget report vote also included discussion about large intra‑fund transfers tied to marina receipts and accounting adjustments that committee members described as moving the same dollar amount multiple times to show the correct fund totals.

Most consequential vote: committee members ratified the February check register, which totaled $3,554,520.13 and included payroll and vendor payments. Committee members discussed the size of the register during the meeting; one member summarized the amount as “a lot of money,” and another confirmed they had reviewed the figures and raised routine questions with County Administrator Wren.

Other details: Commissioner Calk moved to approve the semi‑monthly detailed analysis for April 16, 2025, citing the disbursement total of $572,145.82. Administrator Wren and other members noted related budget adjustments tied to marina revenue that caused a $4,515,004.18 adjustment on the March report; speakers described that adjustment as the result of a $1,500,000 transfer that posted multiple times, leaving a much smaller net difference.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda: Motion by Commissioner Trapp; second by Commissioner Malama; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Approve minutes (04/02/2025 regular finance committee meeting): Motion by Commissioner Cook; second by Commissioner Mikey; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Semi‑monthly detailed analysis (04/16/2025) — $572,145.82: Motion by Commissioner Calk; second by Commissioner Trapp; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Ratify February 2025 monthly check register — $3,554,520.13: Motion by Commissioner Melamed; second by Commissioner Trapp; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Approve Newaygo County budget report for March 2025 with budget amendments and transfers as presented: Motion by Commissioner Mikey; second by Commissioner Culp; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Approve electronic scrap collection event agreement with Padnos for the 2025 recycling event and authorize Board of Public Works chair to sign: Motion by Commissioner Trapp; second by Commissioner Mikey; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Discussion and context

Committee members asked questions and noted routine review procedures; one member said they had sent Administrator Wren questions and that “everything looks in order.” Members and staff described how certain marina receipts required intra‑fund transfers that produced large adjustment lines on the budget report; staff characterized this as money posted multiple times for accounting purposes and not multiple distinct revenues. No member requested taking any item out for separate vote, and no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the committee minutes; all motions were carried by voice vote.

What’s next

The committee’s approvals clear the listed payments and authorize the county to proceed with the Padnos recycling event contract. Administrator Wren moved on to provide departmental updates after the votes.