Van Buren County conservation district seeks extra funding to leverage state grants as materials-management rules approach

Van Buren County — The Van Buren County Conservation District asked the county Board of Commissioners on Aug. 12 for a larger annual allocation to sustain and expand recycling and materials-management work and to match incoming state infrastructure grants.

At the meeting, Emily (Conservation District representative) said the district has “brought in over $800,000 in grant money throughout these last 3 years” and urged the board to increase county support to help leverage another large infrastructure grant expected in the coming months. "We are asking you to be a small piece in the full picture. We're gonna bring in over $600,000 in grants for recycling in this county this year," Emily said.

The request followed an earlier submission in May, Emily said, when the conservation district asked county administration for an increase to $125,000 in annual county support. County staff and several commissioners discussed the request during the administrative portion of the meeting as part of the broader FY26 budget conversation.

County Administrator John (County Administrator) told commissioners he respects the district's work but recommended the proposed county budget keep the conservation district allocation at…