Gratiot County commissioners keep current leadership, adopt policies and make committee appointments

The Gratiot County Board of Commissioners at its organizational meeting elected its leadership, adopted updated policies and procedures and confirmed a series of committee appointments and routine schedules.

The board elected Jan Bunting as chair and conducted separate votes to fill the vice chair and finance chair roles. Commissioners discussed whether to change chair terms from the two-year cycle set in statute to annual elections; county counsel cited MCL 46.3(4) and commissioners decided not to adopt an annual-election resolution at this meeting, leaving the current two-year cycle in place for now. The board then voted to adopt the county’s revised rules of organization and associated policies and procedures as presented.

Why it matters: the organizational votes determine who runs meetings, the timeline for future leadership elections and the set of standing appointments that represent the county on outside boards and commissions. Commissioners noted that the change in state law allowing four-year commissioner terms has prompted reconsideration of how the board staggers internal roles.

In other business tied to board organization, commissioners approved the meeting schedule for the year, the county holiday schedule (and a separate holiday list for the sheriff’s department), and accepted the routine consent calendar and agenda. The board appointed Emily Rayburn to represent the county on the ACAP board (formerly referred to during discussion as ACAP delegates), and reappointed two delegates for ACAP; the board also confirmed various committee assignments contained in the rules appendix.

Administrators reported that the county audit had begun and auditors were two days into fieldwork. County staff said better pre-audit preparation this year had shortened audit time; staff estimated, during discussion, that a fully prepared audit could be completed more quickly than in prior years, though no formal timeline was adopted.

Votes at a glance - Election of Jan Bunting as chair: adopted (roll-call details not specified in transcript). - Adoption of Gratiot County rules of organization, policies and procedures (revised): adopted (motion and second recorded). - Decision on term length for chair: board discussed MCL 46.3(4) and opted not to adopt an annual-election resolution at this meeting; current two-year cycle remains (no resolution adopted to change to one-year terms). - Approval of meeting schedule for the year: adopted. - Approval of county holiday schedule and sheriff’s department holiday list: both adopted. - Approval of consent calendar and agenda: adopted. - Appointment of Emily Rayburn to ACAP/Mid-Michigan board vacancy: approved. - Reappointment/confirmation of ACAP delegates (named delegates to remain): approved. - Motion to enter closed session for unit negotiations: approved. (Where the transcript did not provide a clear mover/second or full roll-call tally for a particular motion, that detail is marked as not specified.)

What to watch next: the board noted it may revisit a resolution to change internal election timing (annual vs. two-year chair terms) in a future meeting if members prefer an alternate schedule. The appointed delegates and appointee will represent the county on their respective external boards per the board’s confirmations.

Ending: Routine administrative reports and committee assignments rounded out the meeting; the board then recessed to an airport authority meeting before returning to complete the agenda and move into a closed session on labor negotiations.