Macomb County commissioners move a package of capital and IT budget amendments; unanimous votes

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners voted to send a slate of capital and information-technology budget amendments to the full board, with each motion passing unanimously.

The measures included a construction contract low bid, multiple capital improvement budget amendments split between fiscal years 2024 and 2025, replacement and upgrades for county IT and audiovisual systems, jail software modules and final payments on previously financed projects. Commissioners voted 12-0 on each item.

Commission staff reported the lowest qualified construction bidder was Bridal Incorporated at $1,869,000. Staff said funding for that project was split between the county's 2024 and 2025 capital improvement plans, which is why the package included budget amendments for both years.

Other items moved to full board included: a $1,119,000 purchasing/capital amendment (items 6 B and C); IT infrastructure and facilities amendments of roughly $127,000 and $169,543 for network and wireless upgrades; replacement of two county-developed sheriff’s office systems with vendor-written modules (total approximately $157,900); replacement of the health department’s electronic health record system (Patagonia Health, $515,091); jury-room audiovisual replacement ($78,148.72); a multi-site video wall replacement project with an estimated total cost near $3 million split between 2024 and 2025; the final payment on the software-defined network financing ($1,126,696.49); final payment on a previously-financed file server expansion ($51,970.97); a network fax and broadcast messaging system ($97,731); and routine IT maintenance agreements for Q1 2025 (about $129,761).

Each motion was presented by staff and moved and seconded by commissioners at the meeting. For example, Commissioners Sabatini and Kraft moved and seconded the motion to forward items 6 B and C; the motion passed 12-0. For the electronic health record replacement, Commissioners Perna and Lucido moved and seconded the motion to send the item to full board; the motion passed 12-0.

Votes at a glance (agenda labels, summary, outcome): - Item 6A — Construction bid (lowest qualified bidder: Bridal Incorporated, $1,869,000; funding split 2024/2025) — forwarded to full board, motion passed 12-0. - Items 6B & 6C — Budget amendments, capital improvement fund (F & O purchasing, $1,119,000) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 6D — Capital/IT infrastructure (network/wireless upgrades, $127,000) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 6E — IT infrastructure/renovations (approx. $169,543) — forwarded, 12-0. - Items 6F & 6G — Sheriff’s jail transport and jail bond module replacement (vendor-written modules; total approx. $157,900) — forwarded, 12-0. - Items 6H & 6I — Electronic health record software replacement (Patagonia Health, $515,091.81) — forwarded, 12-0. - Items 6J & 6K — Jury room AV replacement ($78,148.72) — forwarded, 12-0. - Items 6L & 6M — Video wall replacement across several rooms (equipment/software/installation; total cited by staff close to $3,000,000 split across 2024 and 2025) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 6N — Final payment for software-defined network financing (5th payment, $1,126,696.49) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 6O — PowerScale expansion final payment (payment 3 of 3, $51,970.97) — forwarded, 12-0. - Items 6P & 6Q — Network fax and broadcast messaging system upgrade ($97,731) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 6R — Information technology maintenance agreements Q1 2025 (BS&A software, Core Technology/Talon, Workday; total about $129,761) — forwarded, 12-0. - Item 7A — Shelby Township application for industrial facilities tax-exempt exemption certificate (receive and file) — received and filed, 12-0.

All motions were presented as requests to move individual items to the board's full session; the meeting record shows no item was defeated or tabled during this session.

The items will return to the full board for final action; staff and commissioners noted some items span two fiscal years and are being carried as split-year budget amendments.

Ending: Commissioners and staff repeatedly framed several items as necessary to keep projects and system upgrades on schedule. Multiple commissioners asked for additional finance-department attendance at subsequent meetings to answer budget timing and funding-source questions in real time.