Board approves array of county motions: camera purchases, K-9 funding, sick-time policy amended to 90 days and other items

The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners approved a package of motions covering committee recommendations, property permits, equipment purchases and personnel actions at its meeting.

The board moved many items by committee and voice vote. Commissioners said this was the second review of several committee motions prior to final action.

Votes at a glance:

• Committee of the whole: Motions 1–6 on page 1 were approved; motions 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 on page 2 were approved with motion 9 pulled for separate consideration; motions 14–16 on page 3 were approved. Motion 9 (sheriff-related quote) was pulled for clarification and later approved as a separate item (see below).

• Properties committee - Authorized the Chamber of Commerce to use the county parking lot for Lapeer Days car show; county buildings and grounds to move county vehicles to back lot; Chamber responsible for signage and securing the lot (approved). - Authorized Community Mental Health to purchase a Sony NX camcorder for Harmony Hall for $2,798 from CMH funds (approved). - Authorized the sheriff’s office to purchase a new K-9 and training not to exceed $20,000 to be paid from line item 207-33-977.000; the board noted a $20,000 donation tied to the purchase (approved). - Authorized Veteran Services to purchase a 02/2025 Chrysler Pacifica at a cost of $49,564 to be paid from line item 293-682-9980.000 (approved). - Approved the parks emergency action plan effective immediately and to be reviewed annually (approved).

• Personnel committee - Approved promotion and reclassification in the county clerk’s office (internal candidate to county clerk 2, pay grade 15, step 4) to be paid from the county clerk’s budget (approved). - Authorized the sheriff’s department to hire and fill the corrections officer position number 138 as an external lateral transfer at step 3 pursuant to union letter of understanding (approved). - Adopted the notification of use of sick time/call-in policy as attached, in compliance with Michigan House Bill 4002, but amended the policy so new hires begin using paid sick time after 90 days (amendment carried; base policy approved as amended).

• Finance and administration - A request to pay an IRS late payroll tax penalty of $6,172.20 was on the agenda; commissioners voted to table the payment and refer the matter to committee of the treasurer with authority to act and to request the treasurer seek reduction or abatement from the Department of Treasury/IRS (motion to table approved). - Approved county audit motions and road commission audit motions (approved).

• Community Mental Health - Authorized a technical amendment to a previously approved motion to reclassify registered behavioral technicians (RBTs) to applied behavioral analysis (ABA) positions as positions vacate due to attrition; item to be paid from CMH budget and to result in a cost reduction (approved).

• Sheriff’s department - After discussion and a question from commissioners, the sheriff’s quote that had been pulled (professional services/training and hosting) was clarified by Lieutenant Steve as covering training and implementation. The board subsequently approved the $13,850.96 quote for the sheriff’s department (approved).

• DNR-funded trail project - Authorized continuation of the DNR-funded Ballian Trail project; county staff said the DNR retains state-land oversight and the DNR-selected vendor is LJ Construction (approved).

• Appointments - Reappointed members and made new appointments to the Senior Programs Advisory Board, the jury board, the Land Bank Authority and other regional committees; appointed Brad Hagedorn as alternate to the materials management planning committee (approved). - A requested removal from the Region 5 planning commission was deferred pending additional background from the requester (tabled).

Board members discussed several items during the meeting, including concerns about seasonal employee impacts from the sick-time policy change and the need for the treasurer’s office to explain an IRS payment lapse that produced penalties. Commissioner discussion prompted an amendment to move the sick-time eligibility from 60 to 90 days to align with common probationary periods; the amendment passed unanimously and the policy was approved as amended.

The motion to table the IRS penalty payment directs the treasurer to engage with the Department of Treasury/IRS to seek reduction or abatement and to report back at the next meeting.

The meeting included questions from the public on several topics, including the health department contract and local solar and wind projects; those public comments were recorded during the two public-comment periods.