Kent County commissioners adopt utility easement, two grants and a community corrections plan; vote to enter closed session

The Kent County Board of Commissioners on June 26 adopted four formal items including a utility easement and two grant-related resolutions and voted to go into closed session to consult with the county attorney on pending litigation.

The board approved Resolution 44, titled “Consumers Energy Utility Easement for North Kent transfer station,” following presentation from the Department of Public Works. Commissioner Pacwa praised the project’s potential to expand recycling operations, saying, “Increasing electrical service for the great expansion of recycling services that we have up there, installing the foam densifier and some bailing equipment so that we can really make that site up there really heavily used, I think is just a fantastic presentation of what we are as a county. So thank you.” The clerk recorded the vote as 17 ayes, 0 nays; the resolution passed.

The board also approved Resolution 45, described on the agenda as an “Eagle MMPC grant approval.” Commissioners offered little discussion before a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays and the motion passed.

Commissioner LeGrand moved Resolution 46, the community corrections comprehensive plan and grant application, and Commissioner Womack supported the motion. The board adopted the resolution by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript. The resolution authorizes submittal of the plan and associated grant application; the transcript did not specify the grant amount or funding sources.

Earlier the board adopted the consent agenda on a roll-call vote. The clerk reported 17 yeas and 0 nays; the consent agenda was adopted.

Near the end of the public meeting Vice Chair Burrell moved that the board enter a closed session “in accordance with the Open Meetings Act to consult with the county’s attorney regarding [bribery]/settlement strategy concerning pending litigation,” saying the county attorney had advised that an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the county’s litigation and settlement position. Commissioner Teal supported the motion. The clerk called the roll and recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays; the motion to go into closed session passed.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: adopted (moved by Commissioner Teal; supported by Commissioner Hildebrand). Clerk recorded 17 yeas, 0 nays. - Resolution 44 — Consumers Energy Utility Easement for North Kent transfer station: adopted. Clerk recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays. - Resolution 45 — Eagle MMPC grant approval: adopted. Clerk recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays. - Resolution 46 — Community corrections comprehensive plan and grant application: adopted by voice vote (mover: Commissioner LeGrand; support: Commissioner Womack). Vote tally not recorded on the transcript. - Motion to enter closed session under the Open Meetings Act to consult with the county attorney on pending litigation: adopted. Clerk recorded 17 ayes, 0 nays.

The meeting record does not specify dollar amounts, contract numbers, or precise grant terms for the two grant-related items or the community corrections grant application. The Department of Public Works presented Resolution 44; no additional departmental presenters or outside parties were named for Resolutions 45 or 46 in the transcript.

The board recessed into closed session after the vote; no substantive outcomes from the closed session were announced in the public portion of the meeting.