Bay County commissioners approve multiple agreements, fee changes and appointments

The Bay County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 15 approved a series of resolutions, appointments and agreements affecting county operations, public safety dispatching, long-term facility fees and labor contracts.

The board voted to adopt multiple data-sharing agreements for the Community Information Exchange (CIE) that county officials said will let social-service agencies make and track referrals for residents’ housing, transportation and other needs. Commissioners also approved a Civic Arena fee schedule change for the 2025–26 hockey season, an intergovernmental agreement to share 911 and records systems with Sanilac County, and contracts and personnel actions including ratified collective bargaining agreements for correction sergeants and an added bargaining-unit ratification listed as an add-on.

Pamela Schumacher was appointed as Bay County’s representative to the Mid-State Health Network Substance Use Disorder Oversight Policy Board for a three-year term beginning Sept. 1, 2025 and ending Aug. 31, 2028. After her appointment, Pamela Schumacher said she looked forward to serving the region and noted her current board service with the Bay-Arenac Mental Health Authority.

Commissioners discussed the CIE as a county- and city-funded referral tool that county staff said will let agencies like the Department on Aging, the health department and others share client needs and avoid repetitive referrals. The board also approved a State-required continuing-education vendor for county employees who hold certified nursing assistant licenses and related staff, citing budgetary constraints and vendor costs.

Other approvals included: a medical education agreement with McLaren Bay Region, a resolution to host and charge for Civic Arena usage aligned to comparable rates in neighboring communities, creation of a full-time soil erosion technician position moved between departments, receipt of county-executive reports for July 2025, and the receipt of a commercial-rehabilitation tax-exemption application for property commonly known as Bay Valley in Frankenlust Township. Most motions were adopted with an affirmative voice vote recorded as “Aye;” the transcript shows no recorded opposing votes.

During the meeting the board also entered two closed sessions. The board first convened in closed session to discuss settlement negotiations in a workers’ compensation claim referenced as Kowalski v. Bay County; a motion recorded after that closed session authorized settlement “as recommended by council during this session.” The board later entered closed session under Michigan law to receive a written legal opinion from outside counsel regarding Monitor Township and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the transcript records the board convening with outside counsel and staff present and then returning to open session.

Why it matters: the CIE agreements affect how human-service agencies coordinate care and referrals across Bay County; the Civic Arena fee change affects youth and adult sports groups that rely on prime ice time; and the labor agreements and personnel actions affect county staffing and labor costs. The closed-session settlement will have legal and financial implications, though specific settlement terms were not disclosed in open session.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Resolution 2025-151 — Data-sharing agreement for Community Information Exchange, Department on Aging: approved (motion moved and supported; adopted by voice vote). - Resolution 2025-152 — Activated Insights agreement 2025, Department on Aging (continuing-education/vendor agreement): approved. - Resolution 2025-153 — Public safety intergovernmental agreement with Sanilac County for 911 and records/CAD hosting: approved; Sanilac County will pay $20,000 per year for server use, per the Health/911 presentation. - Resolution 2025-154 — Medical education program agreement with McLaren Bay Region, Health Department: approved. - Resolution 2025-155 — Data-sharing agreement for Community Information Exchange, Health Department: approved. - Resolution 2025-156 — Civic Arena fee schedule changes 2025–2026, Recreation and Facilities: approved; staff said Bay County’s prime-ice rate will align with Midland and Saginaw and that fees are set on a Sept.1–Aug.31 season basis. - Resolution 2025-157 — Ratified collective bargaining agreements 2025, PL POLC correction sergeants: approved. - Resolution 2025-158 — Full-time soil erosion technician (personnel/Environmental Affairs and Community Development): approved; position moved between departments as described by staff. - Resolution 2025-159 — Reports of the County Executive, July 2025: received. - Resolution 2025-160 — Add-on: B Camps ratified collective bargaining agreement 2025: approved. - Appointment — Pamela Schumacher to the Mid-State Health Network SUD Oversight Policy Board (term 09/01/2025–08/31/2028): approved. Pamela Schumacher said she looks forward to serving the region and referenced her service on the Bay-Arenac Mental Health Authority. - Closed session actions — The board approved a settlement motion related to the Kowalski v. Bay County workers’ compensation matter following closed-session discussion; the board also met in closed session to receive a written legal opinion regarding Monitor Township and the EPA.

What the record does not show: open-session minutes and motions record that votes were taken by voice (“Aye; Opposed none”) or by roll call for closed sessions; the transcript does not include complete numerical tallies or settlement amounts in open session. The board did not disclose settlement terms on the record.