Ways and Means committee moves multiple personnel, contract and grant items; SRO grant fails

The Eaton County Ways and Means Committee voted on a series of staffing, contract and budget items during its Feb. 14, 2025 meeting and sent a proposal to change courthouse public hours to the full board for final consideration.

The committee approved authorization of three positions in the public defender's office after Human Resources Director Ben described ongoing recruitment needs in trial courts and related staffing pressures. Commissioner Haskell moved the authorization; Commissioner Wright seconded and the committee approved by voice vote.

The committee also approved a one‑year appraisal services contract renewal with Accurate Assessing with a maximum value of $25,840, and accepted a correction to a PA 116 agricultural tax‑status resolution after staff reported a parcel sold recently. Equalization staff said the parcel identifier 06003320009100 was sold and must be removed from the resolution. The PA 116 item was amended and approved.

Human Resources asked the committee to pause the annual reclassification process for this budget cycle except where reclassifications produce net cost savings; the committee approved a motion to hold reclassifications unless they are tied to cost‑saving reorganizations.

The committee approved a $15,000 transfer to support parks grant application work so the parks department could assemble stronger proposals for DNR funding. The parks item was moved and supported and passed by voice vote.

On borrowing for drains, the committee voted to forward a request that the board pledge full faith and credit for upcoming drain bonds (including the Bank Intercounty project) to the full board. Staff and finance said the county remains well within statutory debt limits; finance staff estimated drain commissioner borrowings outstanding at roughly $38.7 million and that county debt use was near 8% of the statutory limit.

A request from the Eaton County Sheriff's Office and the University of Olivet for a state SAFETEA (SAFETEA/Byron SCIP) grant to fund a full‑time school resource officer (SRO) and related equipment came before the committee. Sheriff Wright and University of Olivet representatives described the grant as covering a deputy position, a vehicle and campus security equipment. The committee debated the timing and financial implications given the county's pending public safety millage; Chair Mott and several commissioners said the county cannot commit to new personnel contracts while the millage outcome is uncertain. The motion to approve the SRO grant application and related commitment failed on a recorded voice vote.

Committee members approved moving the sheriff's requested items and several administrative proposals to the full board for final action, including a proposal to change courthouse administrative‑wing public hours and to lock in a schedule for an extended budget review process. The committee also approved payment of the county's bills and the budget schedule that provides extra meetings for department budget presentations during the FY 2025 budget cycle.

The committee convened a closed session under the Open Meetings Act to discuss pending litigation and later voted to accept a settlement agreement as recommended by legal counsel for case 2544CZ.

Votes recorded during the meeting included motions made, seconded and approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted in the meeting transcript. Where a mover and a seconder were recorded in the transcript, they are named in the actions array.