Montcalm County commissioners repeal junk-and-rubbish ordinance, confirm Brownfield appointments and award jail dishwasher contract

Montcalm County commissioners on July 28 voted to repeal the county’s junk-and-rubbish ordinance, approved staggered appointments to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, authorized a $9,900 increase to the current-year Community Corrections grant budget and awarded a contract not to exceed $23,082 to replace the jail dishwasher.

The board’s action to repeal the existing junk-and-rubbish ordinance followed a recommendation from the county prosecutor that the old ordinance be repealed to make way for a new version. The repeal passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioner Carr voting no and all other voting commissioners in favor.

The board also approved appointments to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority intended to correct irregular term expirations and stagger seats going forward. The appointments name Tom Budge, Doug Hinken and Mark Christiansen with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2026; Nate Alexander, George Bozanich and Mark Borden with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2027; and Darren Dowd, Lonnie Smith and Mike Falcon with terms to expire Dec. 31, 2028. During the discussion a commissioner said the staggered terms fix a prior situation where many terms expired simultaneously, which did not match the authority’s bylaws.

On budget matters the board approved a staff request to increase the current-year Community Corrections grant budget by $9,900. The meeting packet listed a new total for that budget; the packet language read "105,954" followed by the word "thousand," which is inconsistent with the line-item increase presented. The packet and the staff presentation were cited at the meeting; staff said the document required the chairman’s signature to finalize the change.

The board approved three warrant reports and authorized signatures for payment. The agenda listed these warrant reports as: 07/17/2025 for $223,115.38; 07/24/2025 for $405,614.05; and 07/28/2025 for $3,966,013.73, and then listed a "grand total" of $1,024,743.16. The amounts as read into the record are internally inconsistent (the three listed amounts do not sum to the stated grand total); commissioners approved the warrants as presented.

In procurement, the board accepted the low qualified bid from Douglas Equipment to supply and install a replacement dishwasher for the county jail, authorizing the contract at an amount not to exceed $23,082. Doug, the county’s maintenance grounds director, told the board that parts for the existing unit were "getting few and far between" and that the unit had "outlived its usefulness," and that Douglas Equipment was recommended because it would use local contractors for installation and follow-up service. Commissioner Johnson moved the dishwasher award; the motion was supported and carried.

The board placed consent-agenda items 7 through 16 on file and approved the meeting agenda and minutes from the July 14 meeting. Board correspondence included scheduling for collective bargaining sessions and a note thanking Commissioner Painter for his service and upcoming move out of the county. The board adjourned after the routine business.

The meeting record shows multiple brief votes with limited debate; items that will require additional action or publication include the ordinance repeal (the board and staff indicated the repeal must be published) and the grant budget change, which required the chairman’s signature to be finalized.