Muskegon County Public Works Board elects officers, approves school easement and authorizes quotes for natural‑gas generator at Resource Recovery Center

The Muskegon County Public Works Board on an administrative meeting elected its chair, vice chair and secretary, approved a water‑main easement with Orchard Beach Public Schools, extended a service agreement for the Resource Recovery Center and authorized staff to solicit procurement‑level quotes to purchase and install a natural‑gas generator and automatic transfer switch at the county Resource Recovery Center.

The board unanimously elected Commissioner Page as chair, Commissioner Herman as vice chair and appointed Stephanie Barrett as secretary. The board approved its meeting agenda and approved minutes from Dec. 5, 2024.

The board approved a water main easement agreement granted by Orchard Beach Public Schools for parcel number 61‑10‑015400‑001‑00 along Portline Road and authorized revisions to the signature block so the county administrator (rather than the board chair as written in the draft) will sign the county's copy going forward. Wade Van Bunt, Public Works director, told the board that the easement “is set up for administrator Eisengbach to sign moving forward, we're gonna fix that, but it's already been signed by the schools and it might be hard to get them to sign it again.” The motion approving the easement was moved by Commissioner Nash and carried.

The board approved an annual extension with the county's technology services vendor to provide calibration services to the Resource Recovery Center at $38,336.00 per year and meter repair at a time‑and‑materials rate of $150.00 per hour. Doug Noyes, from the Resource Recovery Center, told commissioners that the accounting department requires an annual amendment and the board's signature each year: “the accounting department ... requires that we amend that contract every year and get your signature on it every year for that contract.” The motion to extend the agreement passed after a roll call in which commissioners present voted in favor.

On a separate item, the board authorized the Resource Recovery Center to use its reserve funds to obtain procurement‑level quotes for the purchase and installation of a natural‑gas generator and automatic transfer switch, and to amend the FY24–FY25 budget accordingly if and when a final purchase is recommended. Board discussion clarified that the current vote authorized only solicitation of quotes and not a final purchase. Van Bunt and RRC staff said they would return to the board with quotes and a purchase recommendation. As Van Bunt explained the need: the farm building lost power during a June windstorm, which interrupted fuel access to pumps, and the generator is intended to prevent similar operational interruptions.

Board members questioned whether a PTO‑driven unit that uses existing tractors had been considered and whether staff had a firm price estimate. Staff responded that the $2.5 million figure mentioned in discussion was not a confirmed estimate; instead, the board was authorizing the procurement step so staff could vet options and return with a recommended scope and cost. One commissioner said it was unnecessary to authorize the use of reserve funds just to solicit quotes; staff said no funds would be spent to obtain quotes and any purchase would return to the board for approval.

The board also approved a prior service agreement for Devilstone Township effective Jan. 1, 2024, and approved a resolution updating authorized signatories on the county's ADM account to reflect personnel changes. The board received monthly reports from the Resource Recovery Center and the Municipal Water Management Committee; a commissioner asked staff to follow up on a significant year‑to‑date increase in solid‑waste tonnage and related income, and staff said they would investigate and report back.

Next steps: staff will revise the easement signature block as noted, solicit procurement‑level quotes for the generator and transfer switch, and return to the board with pricing and a purchase recommendation. The RRC and accounting staff will continue the annual contract amendment process for calibration services.