Barry County commissioners approve jail study, COA preliminary budget and a package of service agreements

Barry County commissioners at their Feb. 4 Committee of the Whole meeting approved a series of agenda items including a jail feasibility study contract of up to $42,000, adoption of a preliminary budget for a new Commission on Aging facility and a one‑year agreement allowing county residents to use the Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center at county expense up to $5,000 for calendar year 2025.

The actions, taken by unanimous voice votes unless otherwise noted, also included dissolving the Barry County Community Corrections Advisory Board, approving bylaws and a work program for the county Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC), authorizing a Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant submission for ballot and media bags, agreeing to advertise the sale of the county's former garage at 109 Walnut Street and approving a three‑year county administrator contract that runs Feb. 11, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2028.

Why it matters: the approvals set in motion planning and spending decisions that affect county infrastructure, elections security, solid‑waste services and corrections policy. The jail study will produce concept designs and cost estimates that commissioners said they will use in future community outreach and budgeting decisions.

Jail feasibility study A professional services proposal from Abermarch Bice to complete a jail master plan was approved to produce options, concept designs and cost estimates for replacing the Barry County jail. The contract was authorized at a cost of up to $42,000 with funds to come from the Building Rehabilitation Fund. Motion: Hatfield; support: Getty. Outcome: Approved.

Commissioners and staff said the study will include site evaluation, interviews with jail staff and other stakeholders and a review of operational needs. County staff said the consultant estimated a four‑ to six‑month study window but that timing could shorten depending on how quickly local information is gathered.

Commission on Aging facility preliminary budget The board approved a preliminary budget and direction that will allow Frederick Construction (the county's construction manager) to execute subcontract agreements and secure materials while permitting and final details are completed. The Commission on Aging (COA) team told commissioners the post‑bid process reduced the construction estimate by about $800,000 from earlier conceptual numbers; the construction line on the COA portion of the preliminary budget shown to commissioners was approximately $5.3 million. Motion: Hatfield; support: Toonison. Outcome: Approved.

Courtney Zinni, executive director of the Commission on Aging, and COA board members described the procurement and post‑bid review that yielded the lower cost and said furnishings, equipment and moving expenses remain to be finalized. Commissioners and COA representatives discussed equipment reuse, kitchen and Meals on Wheels operations and the project's planned 12‑month construction schedule if permits and contracts proceed on the proposed timetable.

Household hazardous waste agreement The board authorized a one‑year agreement with the Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center to permit Barry County residents to use that center with county payment for services up to $5,000 in calendar year 2025. County staff said Kalamazoo County checks municipal residency (for example by ID or license) and that the county will be billed only for actual resident use. Motion: Tunis; support: Hatfield. Outcome: Approved.

MMPC bylaws and work program Commissioners adopted bylaws for the new Materials Management Planning Committee (MMPC), based on templates from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and approved a one‑year MMPC work program and grant budget to draft a new county materials management plan. Staff said the program will include data collection, consultant work and a public participation element; the packet showed a consultant request of $90,000 under EGLE templates. Motion to adopt bylaws: Getty; support: Hatfield. Motion to approve work program and grant budget: Hatfield; support: Getty. Outcomes: Approved.

Dissolution of the Community Corrections Advisory Board Tammy Price (staff member) told commissioners the Barry County Community Corrections Advisory Board voted the prior week to dissolve, saying the Michigan Office of Community Corrections's changing rules made it difficult for small rural counties to meet funding criteria. "The CCAB voted last week to dissolve. It doesn't seem that we can meet the criteria that OCC has in order to receive funding," Price said during the meeting. The board recommended dissolving the advisory board; commissioners approved the recommendation. Motion: Bassett; support: Smelker. Outcome: Approved.

HAVA election security grant submission County Clerk Sarah Vandenberg asked the board to approve a HAVA (Help America Vote Act) grant submission to buy tabulator storage cases, ballot/media transfer bags and other election security items. She said the county could request up to $2,400 under the program and that precincts are eligible for stipulated amounts per precinct. Motion: Toonison; support: Campbelt. Outcome: Approved.

Property sale and other administrative items The board authorized staff to advertise the former county garage at 109 Walnut Street in Hastings for sale, directed staff to obtain an appraisal and proceed with the sale process, and approved a three‑year employment contract for County Administrator Eric F. Zuska effective Feb. 11, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2028. Motion to advertise 109 Walnut Street: Toonison; support: Smelker. Motion to approve administrator contract: Hatfield; support: Campbell. Outcomes: Approved.

Public comment and next steps Public commenters suggested examining the option of renting jail space elsewhere as an interim or alternative approach and urged durable decisions for the COA project (for example, investment in a long‑lasting roof). Commissioners said they intend to form an advisory group of stakeholders for the jail study and to use the Abermarch Bice report as the basis for community engagement and any future ballot or funding discussions.

Votes at a glance - Resolution authorizing 2024 Homeland Security Grant intergovernmental funding agreement with Saint Joseph County (resolution 2025‑06): Motion by Tunis; support by Smelker. Outcome: Approved. (Funds flow through St. Joseph County as fiduciary.) - Approve dissolution of Barry County Community Corrections Advisory Board: Motion by Bassett; support by Smelker. Outcome: Approved. - Adopt Material Management Planning Committee bylaws (MMPC): Motion by Getty; support by Hatfield. Outcome: Approved. - Authorize one‑year contract with Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center (up to $5,000 for 2025): Motion by Tunis; support by Hatfield. Outcome: Approved. - Approve MMPC work program and grant budget (year 1): Motion by Hatfield; support by Getty. Outcome: Approved. (Packet shows $90,000 requested for consultant work under EGLE templates.) - Approve HAVA grant submission for election security supplies: Motion by Toonison; support by Campbelt. Outcome: Approved. (Maximum county request noted at $2,400.) - Approve preliminary COA facility budget (COA portion; construction ~ $5.3M shown): Motion by Hatfield; support by Toonison. Outcome: Approved. - Approve proposal with Abermarch Bice to complete jail master plan (up to $42,000, Building Rehabilitation Fund): Motion by Hatfield; support by Getty. Outcome: Approved. - Authorize advertising county property at 109 Walnut Street for sale (order appraisal and marketing): Motion by Toonison; support by Smelker. Outcome: Approved. - Approve deployment contract for Barry County Administrator Eric F. Zuska, effective 02/11/2025–01/31/2028: Motion by Hatfield; support by Campbell. Outcome: Approved.

The board signaled it will use the jail feasibility study to shape community engagement and any future funding proposals. Commissioners requested that the consultant and staff include judges, probation, sheriff's office personnel and other stakeholders in the study process before formal public outreach.

(Reporting note: Motions and supporter names are captured from the meeting record. Tally counts were taken by voice vote and recorded as "the motion carries" in the transcript.)