Finance committee schedules public hearings on two housing resolutions; flags audit and drain concerns

The Berrien County finance committee reported that two resolutions concerning housing — one from community development and one from the Land Bank — will be the subject of public hearings on Aug. 28 during the committee‑of‑the‑whole meeting. The committee said the hearings will allow commissioners to ask questions and receive public input on both proposals.

Committee members also discussed matters related to the county audit. The committee said it is working on action plans to produce a cleaner, smoother audit in the future and identified areas of continuing concern, including issues tied to the drain department and matters described as Act 51 concerns. Committee members said those topics will fall under the responsibilities of the incoming financial services director, whose search is underway and for whom candidates have been identified.

The committee also reported that some bids came back higher than budgeted for certain projects; departments were asked to provide memos explaining the circumstances when a single bid or an over‑budget response occurred. One waiver to the bid process, for a communications cable between the courthouse and jail, was signed and forwarded for execution; the committee said a memo would accompany that file.

Ending: Committee members emphasized follow‑up work for finance staff and the incoming financial services director to address audit items and to prepare for the public hearings on the housing resolutions.