Gratiot County commissioners approve tax‑rate changes, MSU Extension agreement, treasurer pay adjustment and opioid‑settlement participation

The Gratiot County Board of Commissioners took several formal actions during the meeting, approving a tax‑rate request form with proposed millage reductions, authorizing a standard annual agreement with MSU Extension, approving a retroactive wage adjustment for the chief deputy treasurer and entering a multi‑party opioid‑settlement participation agreement.

Votes at a glance

1) L‑4029 tax‑rate request (2025) - Motion: "I so move that we approve the L 4029 as presented with the reductions to the 2 senior alleged by 0.1, the AG econ by 0.05." (motion maker identified in the record) - Mover / Second: motion moved by Commissioner Schoppesy; seconded by Commissioner Gay. - Outcome: Approved by roll call. - Vote tally recorded in the meeting: yes 4, no 0, absent 1 (Commissioner Owens absent for roll calls earlier in the meeting). The roll call in the record showed Commissioners Bailey, Gay, Sapsi and Bunty voting yes.

2) MSU Extension annual agreement - Motion: Approve the standard annual agreement for MSU Extension as presented. - Mover / Second: Commissioner Bailey moved; Commissioner Gay seconded. - Outcome: Approved by voice vote. - Notes: Administration said the budgeted amount in the draft is slightly higher than the agreement because the county provides building/rent support in the budget numbers.

3) Chief deputy treasurer wage adjustment and retroactive pay - Motion: Adopt the previous wage for the newly appointed chief deputy treasurer and authorize retroactive pay effective March 1, 2025. - Mover / Second: Motion by Commissioner Schoppesy; second by Commissioner Gay. - Outcome: Approved by voice vote. - Notes: County staff explained state law requires the chief deputy's salary be set at the position's established level (not reduced when a midterm appointment occurs); the motion authorized retroactive pay to the date noted in the record.

4) Resolution authorizing participation in national and state opioid settlements (Resolution 25‑339) - Motion: Adopt resolution 25‑339 to enter the participation agreement and partial settlement allocations as presented. - Mover / Second: Motion by Commissioner Schoppesy; second by Commissioner Bailey. - Outcome: Approved by roll call (unanimous of commissioners present). - Vote tally recorded in meeting: roll call affirmative votes recorded (commissioners present voted yes; one commissioner was absent earlier in the meeting).

Other procedural votes - The board approved routine agenda items and the consent calendar earlier in the meeting by voice vote.

What the votes mean: The L‑4029 approval submits the county’s tax rate form with a small reduction to two voted millages (administration noted the millages will still fund their core programs and retain fund balances). The MSU Extension agreement affirms the county’s contract with Michigan State University Extension for the next year. The retroactive pay motion brings the chief deputy treasurer’s pay to the previously established level and authorizes back pay to March 1, 2025. The opioid resolution commits the county to a participation and allocation framework so the county can receive a share of settlement proceeds when they are distributed.

Provenance and record: Each action and the motions, seconding and votes are recorded in the meeting minutes and the transcript sections cited below. Where a roll call was taken the transcript records commissioners saying "yes"; where voice votes occurred the record shows the chair calling for "aye" and the motion passing.

No additional county appropriations were approved for the transmission‑project presentation earlier in the meeting; that item was informational.