Chippewa County board approves personnel pay changes, contracts, purchases and grant participation; opioid steering committee application released

The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners on March 23 approved a series of personnel changes, contracts and purchases and authorized release of an application and request for proposals tied to the county's opioid settlement.

The board voted to change pay grades in the prosecutor's office and related positions to make local salaries more competitive, approved a county purchase of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for central dispatch, authorized several requests for proposals (RFPs) for IT and electrical work, and approved participation in a rural jails mental-health grant. The board also authorized release of an application to form a steering committee to oversee opioid-settlement funds and opened a funding RFP process.

Why it matters: the pay-grade adjustments and contracting decisions affect county operations, staffing capacity in public-safety offices and near-term spending. The opioid-settlement actions begin a process that will allocate settlement dollars for local programs; forming a steering committee is intended to ensure community input and timely review of proposal submissions.

Pay and personnel: The board approved grade and salary adjustments in the prosecutor's office and related county legal positions to aid recruitment and retention after members said open positions have been difficult to fill. The board approved an amendment on the floor to include the magistrate position in the grade adjustments. Commissioners described attorney recruitment as a continuing challenge for public defenders and prosecutors.

Sick-leave policy: The board approved changes tied to the county's implementation of the Earned Sick Time Act for nonunion employees, increasing nonunion sick-time accrual to 72 hours and maintaining a 168-hour carryover cap; the board noted collective-bargaining agreements will remain governed by their existing contract language until renegotiated.

Contracts, purchases and bids: The board approved several administrative contracts and procurement actions including: - Authorizing a purchase of a UPS from Insight Public Sector for central dispatch at $44,882.74. The board also approved reissuing an RFP for the central-dispatch electricity upgrade tied to that project after the first solicitation produced no bids. - Approving an amendment to the agreement between NorthCare Network and the Chippewa County Public Defender to allow a $1,000 or 5% deviation (excluding wages and benefits). - Authorizing the release of RFPs for new desktop computers, a virtual machine server, video-conferencing hardware and other IT equipment. - Approving a $11,000 budget amendment from Fund 232 and purchases for the sheriff's office (two cameras, a laptop, a Knox box, an800 MHz radio and 12 chargers). - Approving the county's continued retainer with Abilitia at a monthly rate (noted in the meeting packet as $6.90 per month under a 24‑month agreement), a 2% increase from the previous term. - Hiring Ayers Associates to inspect the Caribou Lake level-control structure at a price not to exceed $2,530. - Authorizing UP Engineers and Architects to provide design, bidding and contract administration for air conditioning installation in both courthouse courtrooms for $3,900. - Approving Maximus Consulting Services to provide the county cost allocation plan for fiscal years 2024–2026 at $5,000 per year.

Grants and programs: The board authorized the sheriff's office to participate in the Rural Jails Mental Health Partnership Initiative grant; the grant requires no local match and is intended to support inmate mental-health care and medication. The board also approved release of an application to form a steering committee to oversee opioid settlement funds and authorized a related request for funding proposals due May 5 so the committee can review applications.

Finance: The board recommended approval of county claims and payroll for February, which the meeting summary listed as general claims $518,801.38; other fund claims $896,558.70; payroll $625,973.14; health department claims $175,230.01; health payroll $140,126.48; and a combined total of $2,000,356.71.

Public comment and community matters: Two members of the public spoke during the meeting. Ms. Miller, a resident, called for a ferry schedule that "provides for essential transportation," saying a summer schedule that ends early leaves residents "home by 7 p.m." and urged the county to pursue a resolution. Veil Evo of Sioux Township asked the board to consider adopting a resolution recognizing Police Week in Michigan (May 11–17) "to honor all of the law enforcement people in the county." Administrator Kelly Church said a sample resolution could be customized for Chippewa County and placed on the county Facebook page during Police Week.

Board context and next steps: Commissioners discussed ongoing staffing challenges in legal offices, the practical limits of county authority on some projects and the need for timely coordination with state and federal partners on infrastructure funding. The board directed staff to proceed with advertised openings where vacancies occurred, to move forward with the RFP releases and to convene the steering-committee process on the opioid settlement according to the schedule approved at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: The meeting used voice votes for the motions below; where the meeting transcript recorded movers and supporters those names are listed. - Approve regular meeting minutes (Feb. 13, 2025): motion carried. - Accept Chippewa County EDC board member resignation and advertise vacancy (mover: not specified in packet; motion carried). - Approve prosecutor's office pay-grade changes and add magistrate to adjustments (moved by Commissioner Shackleton; supported by Commissioner Nepper; motion carried). - Approve amendment to NorthCare Network agreement for Public Defender allowing $1,000 or 5% deviation (moved by Commissioner Lawrence; supported by Commissioner Trainor; motion carried). - Approve central dispatch UPS purchase from Insight Public Sector — $44,882.74 (moved by Commissioner Trainor; supported by Commissioner Nepper; motion carried). - Authorize second release of RFP for central-dispatch electrical upgrade (moved by Commissioner Lawrence; supported as recorded; motion carried). - Approve Abilitia retainer renewal (24 months, automatic renewal clause; monthly rate noted in packet) (moved by Commissioner Trainor; supported by Commissioner Lorenz; motion carried). - Authorize release of RFPs for 23 desktop computers, server, conferencing hardware and related IT equipment (moved by Commissioner Nepper; forwarded by Commissioner Lawrence; motion carried). - Approve sheriff's equipment purchases and an $11,000 budget amendment from Fund 232 (moved by Commissioner Trainor; supported by Commissioner Lorenz; motion carried). - Approve participation in Rural Jails Mental Health Partnership Initiative grant (0% local match) for inmate mental-health services (moved by Commissioner Laurent; supported by Commissioner Knepper; motion carried). - Hire Ayers Associates to inspect Caribou Lake level-control structure — not to exceed $2,530 (moved by Commissioner Trainor; forwarded by Commissioner Martin; motion carried). - Approve Maximus Consulting Services for county cost allocation plan FY 2024–2026 — $5,000 per year (moved by Commissioner Lawrence; forwarded by Commissioner Nepper; motion carried). - Approve UP Engineers & Architects for courtroom HVAC design, bidding and contract administration — $3,900 (moved by Commissioner Trainor; seconded by Commissioner Martin; motion carried). - Release opioid-settlement steering committee application (due April 9) and release RFP for settlement-funded proposals (due May 5) (moved by Commissioner Lorenz; seconded by Commissioner Trainor; motion carried). - Approve February county claims and payroll (total reported in packet $2,000,356.71) (moved by Commissioner Martin; seconded by Commissioner Treanor; motion carried).

The board used voice votes for the listed motions and recorded "aye" or "opposed" on each; the meeting minutes reflect that each listed motion carried on a voice vote. Specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript for these items.

The board adjourned after committee reports and general comments; members directed staff to proceed with the advertised vacancies, contract tasks and the opioid steering-committee schedule.