Macomb County committees forward dozen budget amendments, contracts and grants to full board

At a joint meeting of the Macomb County Internal Services and Health & Human Services committees, commissioners voted unanimously to forward a slate of budget amendments, maintenance agreements, equipment purchases and grant subawards to the full board for final approval. Each item was moved to the full Board of Commissioners and approved by the committees by voice vote, 12–0.

The measures advanced at the meeting covered county information-technology upgrades and maintenance, facilities replacement work at the Talmer (Telmar) Building, marketing for veterans services, senior-meal rate support, a long‑term services referral agreement, a prenatal safe-sleep subaward and additional housing navigation funds for community providers.

County IT and equipment: The committees voted to recommend several information-technology capital requests and maintenance agreements for the full board. The items included a $352,777 capital purchase for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for the county data center at Comtech; a $126,795 network video recorder (NVR) upgrade to maintain 30‑day video retention as the county adds cameras; and a $293,780 capital request to replace approximately 400 laptops under the county’s five‑year rotation. Sandy Bolson, a county staff member speaking for IT, explained the UPS purchase and said industry battery life is typically five years, though the county has achieved longer service from previous units. The NVR upgrade was described as needed because existing recorders are at capacity; county retention is 30 days (the sheriff’s office keeps 90 days).

Also on IT, the committees moved a $69,753.42 package of recurring maintenance agreements for the quarter to the full board.

Facilities contract: Commissioners advanced a $605,000 contract award for the Talmer building rooftop HVAC units and boiler replacement to Burnco, which county staff said was the low bidder. Dominican Guarnino, filling in for Facilities staff, told commissioners the work is funded through the 2025 capital improvement plan, that the boilers and rooftop units have reached the end of their life cycles, and that the low bid came in $95,000 under budget. Guarnino said some door removal and corridor repairs will be required to extract and replace the boilers.

Veterans outreach advertising: The Health & Human Services committee recommended using $133,500 from fund balance to expand advertising for Macomb County Veterans Services, including digital/streaming inventory tied to Detroit Lions programming. A county staff presenter, identified as Laura, said streaming spots are far less expensive than live-game TV inventory and that the goal is to drive veterans to county services. Commissioner Howard asked that sponsorship language read “Macomb County Veterans Services” rather than implying individual veterans were sponsoring the ads.

Senior services and long‑term‑services supports: The committees moved a $63,141 budget amendment to support a rate increase for congregate senior meals using AgeWays funding, and a $62,500 fee‑for‑service agreement tied to AgeWays’ “No Wrong Door” long‑term‑services referral program. Sheila, who presented the senior-services items, said the county will start with one trained advocate for the No Wrong Door service and expand training if referrals increase.

Maternal health and housing: The Health Department requested a $25,000 increase in a MDHHS subaward to support the Regional Prenatal Quality Collaboration (RPQC), supplying sleep sacks and safe-sleep education through maternal-child health field nursing. Andrew, the health department presenter, said the funds will be used to expand safe‑sleep outreach and supplies for families and that hospitals and the county’s Baby Resource Network participate in related outreach. Commissioners also advanced a $35,000 increase in Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) funding for Macomb Community Action’s Housing Navigation Program to assist residents in housing crisis; staff said the allocation will be distributed to three local providers for case management.

Votes at a glance: All committee motions below were approved by committee voice vote and recorded as passing 12–0. - 6A: IT Capital — UPS for Comtech (JEM Computer Design / vendor): $352,777; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Hall; committee vote 12–0. - 6B: (moved with 6A) (agenda grouping) — details as above; committee vote 12–0. - 6C: IT Capital — NVR upgrade for camera retention (Motor City Electric Technologies / NRV): $126,795; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Lucido; committee vote 12–0. - 6D: (moved with 6C) (agenda grouping) — details as above; committee vote 12–0. - 6E: IT capital outlay — laptop replacements (about 400 units): $293,780; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Lucido; committee vote 12–0. - 6F: (moved with 6E) — part of capital outlay package; committee vote 12–0. - 6G: IT maintenance agreements — quarterly maintenance package: $69,753.42; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Grama, supported by Commissioner Howard; committee vote 12–0. - 6H/6I: Facilities — Talmer building rooftop unit and boiler replacement contract (Burnco): $605,000; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Howard; committee vote 12–0. Staff said the bid was $95,000 under budget and that some door removal and corridor work will be required. - HHSA a: Veterans Services media advertising (Detroit Lions/streaming package): $133,500 from fund balance; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Howard, supported by Commissioner Romano; committee vote 12–0. - HHSA b: Senior Services — congregate meals AgeWays unit-rate increase: $63,141; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Howard; committee vote 12–0. - HHSA c/d: Senior Services — AgeWays No Wrong Door program fee-for-service: $62,500; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Van Sickle, support noted; committee vote 12–0. - HHSA e: Health grants fund — MDHHS RPQC subaward (safe-sleep outreach): $25,000; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Howard, supported by Commissioner Grott; committee vote 12–0. - HHSA f: Macomb Community Action — MSHDA Housing Navigation Program increase: $35,000; moved to full board; motion by Commissioner Wallace, supported by Commissioner Howard; committee vote 12–0.

What commissioners asked and staff clarified: Commissioners asked about battery life for UPS units (staff said industry standard is five years, county has had eight in some cases), video retention (county standard 30 days; sheriff 90 days), disposal of retired laptops (county uses a vendor to destroy hard drives and dispose of equipment), and whether the Talmer boilers were original to the building (staff said they may predate county ownership). For veterans advertising, Howard asked that sponsorship language make clear the advertiser is Macomb County Veterans Services. On the No Wrong Door program, staff said the county will start with one trained advocate and expand if referrals increase.

Next steps: Committee recommendations will be considered by the full Macomb County Board of Commissioners at its next meeting. The committee record shows all motions were forwarded to the full board with unanimous committee approval (12–0).