Votes at a glance: Muskegon County Ways and Means Committee approves series of finance, staffing and redevelopment items

The Muskegon County Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 11 approved a set of finance, staffing and property actions, including authorization to borrow against delinquent property taxes, approvals of payments and contracts, and a commercial rehabilitation district for a Muskegon property. All motions listed below passed at the meeting unless otherwise noted.

Why it matters: The items move forward routine county financial operations, staffing arrangements and a tax incentive for private redevelopment that county staff said is intended to encourage adaptive reuse of a long-vacant property.

Key votes and actions

- Purchase of merged generic service credit for deputy county treasurer Daniel Hansen: The committee authorized Hansen to purchase two years of merged generic service credit at a cost of $58,439, consistent with the county policy that requires the employee to pay 100% of the actuarial cost and to be within 60 days of retirement. The motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner Paige. Human Resources Director Kristen Wade explained the eligibility rules and that the employee is retiring in March.

- Good Temps (staffing) contract extension: The committee authorized a one-year contract extension with Good Temps (listed in the packet as Good Times Inc. Staffing Services) to provide temporary staffing from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Kristen Wade said there are currently 13 employees placed countywide through the vendor; they are temporary employees and may apply for posted county positions. The motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner Ligon.

- Commercial Rehabilitation District for 181 Meridian Drive, Muskegon: The committee approved creating a commercial rehabilitation district for 181 Meridian Drive and waived the county’s right to reject the district. County administration described the property as the former Continental Motors site, vacant since at least 1993, and said the incentives (ten-year tax credits) are intended to encourage adaptive reuse and increase housing supply. Staff said the county will collect $105 per year from the site during the ten-year period and expects property tax revenue to increase substantially afterward; no developer or project details were specified in the motion discussion. The motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner Hayes Camp.

- Accounts payable and P-card/EFT payments: The committee approved payment of accounts payable totaling $35,171,713.99 covering Dec. 14, 2024, through Jan. 17, 2025, and P-card and EFT payments covering Dec. 1–31, 2024. The motion was moved by Commissioner Paige and supported by Commissioner Cyr.

- Authorization to borrow against anticipated 2024 delinquent real property taxes: The committee adopted a resolution allowing the Muskegon County treasurer to borrow up to $10,000,000 against anticipated 2024 delinquent real property taxes to make local units whole during the settlement process. County cash manager Stacy Starr described the annual process: the county fronts funds to local units and repays the borrowing from subsequent delinquent tax collections, typically over about 18 months. The motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner Paige.

- Administrative fee and delinquent tax timing: The committee approved an administrative fee of 4% for the period March 1 to April 30 for 2024 delinquent taxes in the first year of delinquency, in accordance with sections 211.59 and 211.51 of the General Property Tax Act. Starr said the extension gives additional time for taxpayers and that uncollected interest will revert to the taxpayer if unpaid by the April 30 date. The motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner Hayes Camp.

- Cash manager position and deputy treasurer succession: The committee added one additional cash manager position (wage grade 26) effective Feb. 24, 2025, and eliminated the current cash manager position effective upon the incumbent’s move to the deputy county treasurer role; the budget will be adjusted accordingly. Stacy Starr, who said she will move into the deputy treasurer role when the incumbent retires, said the overlap is requested to provide training during the busiest time of year.

- Remonumentation and remonumentation maintenance services: The committee authorized staff to solicit bids for remonumentation and remonumentation maintenance services for up to three years. Public Works Director Wade VandenBosch said the county previously received a state grant (around $55,000) with no local match and typically awards contracts to multiple local survey firms; the plan is to issue a one-year contract with options to extend for two additional years to match grant and procurement requirements.

- Public works coordinator position change: The committee approved adding an additional public works coordinator (wage rate 11) and eliminating the current public works coordinator position effective upon the incumbent’s retirement; the motion was moved by Chair Nash and supported by Commissioner McTween.

Other routine business: The committee approved the meeting agenda and minutes, and received a December budget comparison report from Finance Director Angela Kashevsky, who said revenues are "coming in at about 9%" and expenses are "slightly under at 21%."

Quotes from staff and officials

"The $10,000,000 is what we use to make all of the local units whole," said Stacy Starr, describing the county’s annual borrowing for delinquent-tax settlement.

"They could apply to postings, but they're completely temporary positions right now," said Kristen Wade, human resources director, describing staff placed through the temporary staffing vendor.

"This is adaptive reuse, reusing what's existing," said Matt (administration), describing the intent behind the commercial rehabilitation district for the Continental Motors site.

Meeting outcome and next steps: All listed motions carried at the Feb. 11 Ways and Means Committee meeting. Several approvals require administrative follow-up, such as executing the contract extension, processing payroll and budget adjustments, soliciting bids, and finalizing the treasurer’s borrowing arrangements.