Votes at a glance: Alpena County Board actions on grants, tax rates, cards and budget adjustments

At its May 13, 2025 meeting the Alpena County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal actions on grants, fiscal housekeeping, and policy changes. Below are the motions the board approved, with key details and outcomes.

Veterans service grant application — approved The county’s veterans office requested approval to submit the FY 2026 County Veteran Service Fund grant application; the board approved submission. The grant requires no local match, and the county intends to use award dollars for outreach and marketing (radio, newspaper advertisements and promotional items).

2025 tax rate resolution — adopted The board adopted the county tax rate request for 2025, imposed as summer and winter levies pursuant to the General Property Tax Act and Public Act 357 of 2004. The adopted county operating rate is 4.7599 mills and the extra voted rate is 4.7339 mills. Specific voted levies listed in the resolution include library, ambulance services, county jail, older persons and veteran services; the resolution directs the county clerk to deliver the form L‑4025 tax rate request to local treasurers.

Treasurer’s report — received The board received and filed the treasurer’s balance sheet for the general fund, including an ending fund balance and available unreserved fund balance as presented by staff.

NEEMA joint USDA grant application — approved (See separate article.) The board authorized a joint application to add NEEMA as a co‑applicant on a $2.7 million USDA recycling grant and to set up a joint account for project funds.

Credit cards: receipts policy and card assignments — approved The board approved new language requiring receipts to be submitted for county credit‑card charges and made cardholders financially responsible if receipts are not provided. The board also approved issuing three replacement credit cards under the recommended names: John Kozlowski, Edward Mick Higgins and Nick Akins (to replace prior cardholders who left county employment).

Budget process timeline — approved The board adopted the FY 2026 budget process timeline, which begins July 8 with subcommittee assignments and schedules department and elected‑official presentations through October and the budget presentation and readings in October–December 2025.

Budget adjustments and payments — approved - Home improvement (HOPG/HPG) grant: commissioners approved an increase in revenue and expenditures of $14,500 to finish an ongoing HPG grant workload, with staff noting the housing fund will remain net positive. - Public conservator reimbursements: the board approved two emergency client‑related reimbursements. One expense was documented at $1,504.38 for hotel placement following an ice storm; the second emergency hotel payment was approved as documented in the packet (amount not specified in discussion). The county will be reimbursed by client funds thereafter, per the public conservator process. - Emergency Management and Plus Pool adjustments: minor budget corrections — including correcting line items for grant payments and the plus pool — were approved so previously received funds can be spent as intended.

Consent calendar — approved (one item pulled) The board approved the consent calendar after pulling one personnel item for separate discussion. Minutes corrections were directed for the facilities and personnel committee minutes as noted.

Emergency manager hiring — paused (see separate article) A separate motion to pause the county’s plan to hire a full‑time combined emergency management/9‑1‑1 position was approved; commissioners asked for additional research on funding options because Montmorency County declined to partner.

Adjournment The board adjourned the meeting after public comment.

Ending Most items were routine fiscal and administrative actions; the NEEMA grant application and the pause on emergency manager hiring were the most consequential items for the county’s capital planning and public‑safety staffing.