St. Clair County commissioners approve September disbursements, grants and contracts; adopt landfill fee schedule starting Jan. 1, 2026

The St. Clair County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16, 2025 approved multiple budget and contract items, including county disbursements, grant agreements, service contracts and a schedule of landfill fees designed to bring landfill revenues closer to costs. Commissioners also approved several appointments and reappointments.

The board first approved the September 2025 county disbursements in the amount of $45,243,208.87 by roll call. Commissioners then adopted a series of resolutions, grant agreements and contracts that were moved and supported during the meeting; most passed by voice vote or roll call as recorded in the session.

Landfill rate increase and debate

The most contested item was a proposed landfill-rate adjustment designed to reduce a multi‑million‑dollar operating deficit in the landfill fund. County staff and commissioners described a combination of factors—loss of Canadian volume, a 27% drop in household volume this year, increased operating costs and higher internal contract costs after a bid process—that created a structural shortfall. Administrator Carrie Hepting said the county “is going to have to address it in some fashion” because the deficit is unlikely to be a one‑year anomaly.

Hepting reported the landfill’s volume drop and said the proposed fee schedule would raise approximately $2,100,000, which county staff said would bring the fund near break‑even compared with a projected deficit “between 2 and a half and 3,000,000.” She told the board the peer-review consultant’s kickoff meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday and that the consultant’s report will take about four to five months to complete.

Commissioner discussion focused on timing: several commissioners argued that implementing a January 1 effective date would give municipalities and townships time to incorporate the change into their budgets and special assessments; others asked to wait until the peer-review is done. A motion to table the rate change for 30 days failed for lack of support. The board then amended the main motion to set an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026, and passed the fee schedule by roll call: Beaton (yes), Trello (no), Zeller (yes), Rushing (yes), VandenBosch (yes), Angie (no), Samasco (yes) (5 yes, 2 no). The agenda item was explicitly tied to municipal budget timing and to the county general‑fund planning; staff warned that rejecting the increase would require continuing a general‑fund appropriation to the landfill.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded and approved at the meeting)

- Approve September 2025 county disbursements: $45,243,208.87 — Approved (roll call: all commissioners recorded as yes). - Adopt Resolution 25‑25 apportioning taxes for 2025 — Approved (voice vote). - Approve FY2026 residential substance-abuse treatment grant agreement: $249,912 — Approved (roll call: recorded yes votes). - Approve library network interlibrary delivery contract: $67,104 (10/1/2025–9/30/2026) — Approved (roll call). - Renew MOA with MSU Extension FY2026: $106,884 — Approved (roll call). - Reappoint Byron Hazely to Department of Human Services board, term to 10/31/2028 — Approved (voice). - Approve Michigan Public Safety Communications system member agreement (2025) — Approved (voice). - Adopt capital improvement fund authorization for 72nd District Court (Resolution 25‑26) — Approved (voice). - Approve Child Care Fund budget FY25–26: $7,993,336.98 — Approved (roll call). - Approve contract with Peterson Research Consultants for juvenile court: $21,500 — Approved (roll call). - Approve purchase of RFID scanners and equipment from BizStream Inc.: $20,169 — Approved (roll call). - Approve amendment to FY25 Marine Safety Program grant agreement: $97,050 (federal) — Approved (roll call). - Approve agreement with Danny's Transport for landfill materials, not to exceed $52,880 (12/1/2025–11/30/2026) — Approved (roll call). - Appoint Paul Zeller to Materials Management Planning Committee (term to 12/31/2029) — Approved (unanimous voice). - Reappoint John Steffey to Brownfields Redevelopment Authority Board (term to 10/31/2028) — Approved (voice). - Approve contract with Asphalt Trucks Inc. for landfill materials, not to exceed $359,250 (12/1/2025–11/30/2026) — Approved (roll call). - Approve agreement with MTM Inc. for landfill materials, not to exceed $110,000 (12/1/2025–11/30/2026) — Approved (roll call). - Approve agreement with SA Torello for landfill materials, not to exceed $177,400 (12/1/2025–11/30/2026) — Approved (roll call; Commissioner Trello abstained from vote on this item). - Adopt landfill rate adjustment as presented with effective date Jan. 1, 2026 — Approved (roll-call: 5 yes, 2 no). - Approve contract with Feedler Technologies for vital-records software: $120,000 (5‑year term plus hosting) — Approved (roll call). - Appoint Fred Fuller (Democrat) and Paul Kitzman (Republican) to Board of Canvassers — Approved (majority vote). - Approve addendum B to Cutting Edge Lawn & Snow contract (extend winter season 2025–26) — Approved (voice). - Adopt Resolution 25‑24 imposing the 2025 December property tax levy — Approved (voice). - Approve assessing services agreement with Port Huron Township: $644,267 (11/1/2025–4/30/2030) — Approved (roll call). - Approve 2023 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant award: $220,000 (8/29/25–8/31/27) — Approved (roll call). - Add one full-time Appraiser 3 position to equalization staff contingent on Port Huron agreement — Approved (voice). - Table appointment of Temple Township landfill impact-fee trust fund board member for 30 days and seek public applications — Motion to table approved.

How the board voted on selected roll-call items is recorded in the transcript and reflected above where roll calls were held. Several routine items were approved together on the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.

Why it matters: County staff said the landfill fund has incurred a structural deficit from lost volume and higher operating costs; commissioners said an immediate rate change would reduce the need for ongoing general‑fund appropriations and allow municipalities time to plan. The board paired near‑term action (rate schedule with Jan. 1 effective date) with a pending peer review by a consultant expected to report in four to five months.

Ending: Commissioners moved multiple budget, contract and appointment items forward at the Oct. 16 meeting. The landfill fee change passed with a Jan. 1, 2026 effective date; staff and commissioners said they will revisit rates after the consultant’s report if needed.