Delta County commissioners approve medical examiner contract, fairgrounds restroom contract and multiple labor agreements; several FOIA appeals decided

Delta County commissioners met Sept. 2 in the Delta County Service Center conference room and approved a series of operational contracts, personnel letters of agreement and rulings on multiple Freedom of Information Act appeals, while also hearing administrative updates on opioid settlements and county finances.

The board approved a one-year contract with Dickinson County to provide medical examiner services beginning Oct. 1, 2025, after the county’s longtime medical examiner announced retirement. Under the per-capita contract the county expects lower base costs compared with its current $42,000-per-year arrangement; additional fees will apply per service such as autopsies. Administrator Emily described the arrangement and said it will take effect with the county’s new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

The board also approved a contract with Cross General Contracting to remodel bathrooms and showers at the Delta County Fairgrounds using a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant administered by the county as the grant’s authorized signatory. County staff said the vendor was selected through an RFP process and that work is scheduled to begin in 2026.

On labor and staffing, commissioners approved multiple letters of agreement with the Teamsters covering the county dispatch unit: - A memorandum allowing a long‑time dispatcher (Delaney) to remain grandfathered into a 401(k) benefit while moving to part-time status, and related adjustments to staffing; - An agreement to restore a quasi‑supervisory position (bringing one manager back into the bargaining unit in a supervisory role) and to create a formal dispatch supervisor position to be added to the union contract; and - An agreement to preserve seniority calculations for employees moving between full- and part-time status in dispatch. County leaders said the changes aim to address overtime and staffing gaps while retaining experienced dispatchers to train new hires.

The county administrator reported three new opioid settlement opportunities with national manufacturers. Administrator Emily said one settlement would provide a one‑time payment of $52,515.68 and another (from Sandoz) would provide $159,834.65 spread over 15 years; deadlines to opt in vary, with one deadline noted as Sept. 30. Emily told the board that a prior county resolution allows staff to enter subsequent settlements without a new resolution each time.

Commissioners also heard departmental and community updates, including: - Introduction of Andrea Bell as the county’s new controller; - A Delta County Parks Commission event (Spooktacular) planned for Sept. 20 at Pioneer Trail Park with local business donations; and - A solid waste authority study under way to identify sources and remedies for ongoing odor complaints on Dump Road; the study may take up to 18 months.

The board recessed into a closed session under MCL 15.2680(8)(h) to obtain attorney advice and later reported no formal decisions during the closed session. Afterward the board approved a motion requesting the administrator to contact the office of attorney Scott Graham to request return of county files (motion text on the record asked for return within 30 days), to send reminders every two weeks, and to await further action following the outcome. The board stated a letter to the attorney had been sent Aug. 7 and said commissioners would evaluate next steps after the statutory period had passed.

Votes at a glance - Payment of bills: approved. Total report of claims cited by staff: $436,496.18 (roll call recorded as yes by commissioners as read on the record). - Contract amendment, Davis (county surveyor) corners: motion to approve and sign — approved. - Medical Examiner Services Agreement with Dickinson County: motion to approve — approved. Board noted base/cost structure change (approximate annual per-capita base noted by staff vs. previous $42,000). - MDNR Trust Fund contract with Cross General Contracting (fairgrounds restroom/shower project): motion to approve — approved. - Retirement of Jason Dix: lump-sum payout and authorization to fill probation supervisor position — approved. - Teamsters letters of agreement (Delaney 401(k) grandfathering; seniority preservation; creation of dispatch supervisor; moving a quasi-management position back into the union): motions to approve each LOA — each approved. - Multiple FOIA appeals (recorded by case numbers and outcomes below): board voted on several FOIA appeals during the meeting; individual motions either upheld denials, reversed denials, or clarified that requested materials do not exist. See detailed list.

FOIA appeals (selected items recorded on the meeting record) - FOIA appeal 20‑5‑138: motion to uphold denial — approved (roll call recorded on the public record). - FOIA appeal 20‑5‑175: motion to reverse the denial (board discussion centered on whether summary reports exist and whether raw data could be provided); motion passed (roll call recorded as mixed; discussion on feasibility and precedent noted). - FOIA appeal 20‑5‑176: motion to uphold denial — approved. - FOIA appeal 20‑5‑178: motion to uphold denial (materials stated not to exist) — approved. - FOIA appeal 25‑180: motion to uphold denial (material previously provided) — approved. - FOIA appeal 25‑183: motion to uphold denial — approved. - FOIA appeal 25‑186: motion to reverse denial (request for attorney work product bullets); the motion failed to attract support on initial vote, then later a roll call showed Yes/No votes as recorded in the minutes; commissioners discussed attorney work-product concerns and pending litigation exemption. - FOIA appeal 25‑188: motion to uphold denial (police report provided previously) — approved.

Process and clarifications recorded in discussion - Prosecutor’s office told the board that the raw data underlying the requested FOIA summaries is stored in a Microsoft SQL (Carpel/Prosecutor by Carpel) database and could be exported either as raw data or by generating a new summary report; the prosecutor also said an estimate to produce a custom export was submitted to a requester that day and that producing the requested summary could require review of about 1,700 files. - Board members discussed the legal limits around generating new reports specifically to satisfy FOIA requests, and the prosecutor cited concerns about setting a countywide precedent and data completeness when backfilled records exist.

What’s next / contextual notes - Administrator Emily said staff will proceed as needed on opioid settlements before stated deadlines and will circulate Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal information to the insurance committee when available. - The board said it will revisit correspondence with Attorney Scott Graham after the timeframe tied to the Aug. 7 letter has elapsed.

Ending The board adjourned with the next regular meetings announced: Sept. 16 at 5:15 p.m. and Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 (times noted on the meeting calendar).