Commissioners approve smaller Board of Public Works after heated debate over septic receiving station finances

Livingston County commissioners voted on Dec. 16 to reduce the county Board of Public Works from nine members to seven and to approve reappointments, after a lengthy exchange over the board’s stewardship of the county’s septic receiving station and related finances.

The motion to reduce membership and confirm appointments to the Board of Public Works (resolution 2024-12-167) passed on a roll-call vote, 6 in favor, 2 opposed and 1 absence. The roll call recorded Yes votes from Commissioners Hellserman, Sample, Drake, Deaton, Smith and Gross; No votes from Commissioners Domas and Nakagiri; Commissioner Feanny was absent.

Why it matters: Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns that county taxpayers have borne large costs tied to the septic receiving station (SRS), including a multi‑million‑dollar settlement and a bond-financed expansion whose need and cost allocation were disputed. Opponents of the appointments argued that reappointing current members would perpetuate past missteps; supporters said immediate replacement could disrupt operations of an essential utility.

Commissioner Nakagiri, who spoke against the resolution, summarized his written report to colleagues and highlighted what he called substantial financial consequences from the Board of Public Works’ recent decisions. “The costs of ... that the Board of Public Works has cost the county are tremendous,” he said, pointing to a $6,200,000 settlement between the county and Heartland Township and a $7,250,000 bond issuance used to expand the county’s septic receiving infrastructure.

Nakagiri said the expansion had been justified by rising septage volumes but that recorded volumes later declined. He told colleagues that roughly two‑thirds of the septage processed after the expansion came from haulers serving properties outside Livingston County, and he questioned whether the expansion had primarily addressed out‑of‑county demand. He also warned about the county loaning operating money to the SRS enterprise fund and said repayment was uncertain.

Commissioner Domas, speaking in favor of confirming the appointees and proceeding with the restructured board, said the work of the Board of Public Works is complex and the current members bring technical experience. “It’s a very difficult job,” he said, noting the technical and regulatory constraints the SRS operates under and cautioning that removing current members abruptly could hinder operations.

Other commissioners urged a deeper review of contracts, operating agreements and financial projections without immediately removing members. Commissioner Gross said he agreed with the concerns raised and called for more investigation and discussion in the new year; Commissioner Smith cautioned against “penaliz[ing]” members for an earlier agreement that may have been poorly drafted.

What commissioners decided: The board approved the resolution to reduce the Board of Public Works’ membership and reappoint members. Commissioners who opposed the resolution framed their votes as a statement that the county should take a closer look at the SRS finances, bond decisions and inter‑jurisdictional septage flows before reappointing the same leadership.

Votes at a glance (selected resolutions from the Dec. 16 meeting): - 2024-12-167 (Board of Public Works membership/appointments): approved by roll call, 6 yes / 2 no / 1 absent. - 2024-12-159 (Q4 FY2024 budget amendment): approved (voice; recorded as passing). - 2024-12-160 (2025 remonumentation/state plane survey agreements): approved (roll call). - 2024-12-164 (Water sampling contract with Green Oak Township): approved (voice 8–0–1). - 2024-12-162 (Repairs to Long Lake Dam): approved (voice 8–0–1). - 2024-12-163 (DOJ COPS grant acceptance): approved (roll call). - 2024-12-165 (Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee appointments): approved (voice 8–0–1). - 2024-12-168 (Veterans Services Committee appointment): approved (vote selecting Robert Stance; see separate debate recorded). - 2024-12-169 (Community Mental Health Authority Board appointments): approved (voice 8–0–1). - 2024-12-170 (Human Services Collaborative Body appointments): postponed to the fourth Monday in April by vote (7 yes / 1 no / 1 absent). - 2024-12-171 through 2024-12-176 (various EMS, purchasing, and capital items, including Stryker agreement, cardiac monitors, EMS capital policy and commissioner compensation): approved (voice or roll calls as recorded in minutes).

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: - Settlement with Heartland Township: $6,200,000 (stated in discussion by Commissioner Nakagiri). - 2019 bond issuance to expand the septic receiving station: $7,250,000 (Commissioner Nakagiri stated this was backed by the county’s full faith and credit). - Septage volumes: commissioners discussed prior peak and more recent estimates; Commissioner Nakagiri cited a peak near 33,000,000 gallons and recent year estimates near 26,000,000 gallons (figures from his remarks). - Share of septage from out‑of‑county haulers: described by Commissioner Nakagiri as roughly two‑thirds of post‑expansion volumes.

What remains unresolved: Several commissioners called for additional review of pricing policies, intergovernmental agreements, the SRS enterprise fund’s cash flows and whether fee structures appropriately allocate costs to out‑of‑county users. No specific staff direction or timeline for that investigation was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: Commissioners split along procedural and oversight lines: a majority approved the board changes after the heated exchange, while dissenting members said the vote should prompt deeper financial and policy review in early 2025.