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Administrator reports possible $180,000 juvenile-placement cost; animal-control staffing, airport grant updates
Summary
The county administrator told the board the county may face up to $180,000 in juvenile-placement costs for two juveniles, announced a new animal control officer and corrected a fundraiser flyer that wrongly suggested an animal-control expansion; staff also said airport grant awards and a revised ambulance agreement are expected soon.
During the administrator’s report, the Gratiot County Administrator alerted the board to several operational and budget items, including a potential expense of roughly $180,000 for two juvenile placements and updates on animal control staffing and local partnerships.
The administrator said the county expects two juvenile placements in coming weeks and that daily costs for juvenile placements can range from $400 to $1,000 per day; the placements could last roughly four to eight months. “We’re looking potentially at an expense of upwards of a hundred and $80,000 for these 2 placements,” the administrator said, adding the judge determines placement locations and that the county had budgeted for such contingencies but might need to draw on funds.
On animal control, the board heard that the county onboarded a new animal control officer, Nathan Lien (spelled L-I-E-N in meeting remarks), and promoted Jamie Haas from ACO to animal control director. The administrator said a local newspaper had run a flyer about an animal-control fundraiser that incorrectly stated there was a planned expansion; staff corrected the flyer and advertising and clarified the fundraiser proceeds will support animal-control operations such as spay/neuter services, vaccinations and pet food. A flyer for a fundraising event by “Gratiot County Junk Removal” was announced for Feb. 8 from 3–7 p.m. at the Ashley Community Center.
The administrator also said the county submitted four airport grant applications to the Michigan Department of Aeronautics and expects award notifications by the end of the month. Separately, staff said final touches on an ambulance agreement with MMR were nearing completion and that the agreement would be brought back to the board at the next meeting.
Ending: The board received the updates and the administrator said staff would return with contract details for the ambulance agreement and updates on juvenile-placement costs as they develop.
