Alpena County commissioners approve routine finance items and surveying contracts; adopt weekly transmittal policy

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved routine finance and administrative items at its meeting, including authorizing payment of bills, receiving the treasurer’s report, adopting a weekly transmittal policy for department deposits, and approving multiple budget adjustments and contracts for county surveying work.

On a roll call vote commissioners approved payment of the bills as presented. The board then voted to receive and file the treasurer’s report; meeting materials showed total assets of $3,443,959.28, liabilities of $234,605.87 and an ending fund balance of $3,209,353.41 (unreserved fund balance $2,941,339.41). The February revenue and expense report showed $581,447.68 in revenues and $1,036,653.75 in expenses for the month as presented to the board.

The board adopted a new policy requiring weekly transmittals to the treasurer’s office by departments and elected officials. Staff said the change is intended to reduce late deposits and improve recordkeeping; officials noted prior instances where deposits had been delayed by several weeks.

Commissioners approved budget adjustments the treasurer recommended: transfers from opioid funds previously budgeted for 2025 items, line‑item adjustments tied to election reimbursements that the county passes through to municipalities, and updates tied to contractual and grant receipts. Staff noted one county (Alcona) had delayed a $8,000 payment and that the county will temporarily carry that amount until reimbursement is received from that jurisdiction.

The board approved two professional surveying agreements to continue the county’s remonumentation program: Huron Engineering for $17,550 and Lewis & Lewis Professional Surveying for $18,900. Staff said the county will use a state grant (recording‑fee funded remonumentation grant, approximately $46,951 this year) to support the multi‑year program that surveys and re‑establishes government corners in the county.

Other routine items approved included the consent calendar and a poll vote staff described as corrective when an invoice had arrived while staff were out sick. The board also approved a letter instructing the chair to notify the road commission and begin the formal process to consider expanding the county road commission from three to five members; the process includes public hearings and input from the road commission. Finally, the board authorized a letter to the parks commission asking whether the parks would accept a 2012 Ford F‑250 (recently serviced) in exchange for covering the repair invoice; the parks commission was asked to respond by the end of the month.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to pay bills: approved by roll call (majority yes) - Treasurer’s report: received and filed (motion approved) - Weekly transmittal policy: adopted (motion approved by roll call) - Budget adjustments (multiple line items and opioid fund transfers): approved (motion approved) - Professional services for remonumentation: Huron Engineering ($17,550) and Lewis & Lewis ($18,900) — approved (motion approved by roll call) - Motion to have chair send letter to road commission to begin expansion process: approved (motion approved) - Motion to send letter to parks commission regarding truck transfer: approved (motion approved)

Board members said the changes are intended to tighten financial controls, ensure timely recording of revenue and improve the county’s surveying work. The board set follow‑ups to ensure reimbursements and grant receipts are tracked and that the road commission expansion process follows statutory notice and hearing requirements.