Alpena County commissioners approve senior tax-fee waiver, pool budget revision and multiple carryovers

Alpena County commissioners on Jan. 15 approved a package of routine and time-sensitive fiscal items, including a resolution to waive some collection fees for qualified senior taxpayers, a revised budget for the Plaza Pool after termination of a management contract, and multiple budget carryovers related to airport overtime, ambulance radio purchases and dispatch-system implementation.

The actions were taken during the Alpena County Finance, Ways and Means Committee meeting at the county courthouse. Commissioners voted unanimously on the major measures reported in the meeting record.

Why it matters: The measures free up existing budget authority to pay invoices and complete multi-year projects (radio purchases and dispatch upgrades), adjust a local recreational budget after a vendor change, and temporarily reduce penalties for certain taxpayers ahead of the Feb. 15 homestead/property tax credit deadline.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to pay county bills: Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, second by Commissioner Ludlow. Roll-call vote: Commissioner LaHaye — yes; Commissioner Ludlow — yes; Commissioner Bray — yes; Commissioner Fornier — yes; Commissioner Britton — yes; Commissioner Kozlowski — yes. Outcome: approved. - Receive and file treasurer—s December report: Motion by Commissioner Ludlow, second by Commissioner Fornier. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2502, waiver of collection fees and interest for qualified seniors and certain disabled or veteran taxpayers who filed homestead/property tax credit before Feb. 15, 2025: Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, second by Commissioner Bray. Outcome: approved. - Revised Plaza Pool 2025 budget (injection/revision after termination of Synchronization LLC contract; conservative revenue assumptions, donations line set to zero): Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, second by Commissioner Bray. Outcome: approved. - Airport budget transfers for runway maintenance and overtime: Two separate transfers were approved (one transfer of $2,000 and a second transfer of $10,000 from airport cash savings to overtime wages). Motion and support: various; roll-call votes recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. Commissioners discussed concern that overtime adjustments were needed early in January and asked staff to follow up on causes. - Carryover of ambulance-millage match funds (approx. $36,000) for radios ordered but not yet invoiced: Motion by Commissioner Bridal, support recorded; outcome: approved. County staff said the radios were ordered as part of year 3 of a three-year contract and funds must be carried forward to pay the invoice when it arrives. - Carryover of $59,388 for Central Square dispatch equipment and implementation work not completed in 2024: Motion by Commissioner Britton, second by Commissioner Ludlow. Outcome: approved. Staff said the cutover is scheduled for the first week of March and remaining implementation work will be billed against the carried funds. - Informational poll votes (already completed): Transfers including $56,842.43 for a home-improvement item (informational) and payment of a Motorola Solutions invoice for $89,780 were noted as previously approved by poll vote and presented to the committee as informational items. - Equalization department maintenance agreement increase with townships: Motion by Commissioner Britton, second by Commissioner Fornier. The per-parcel charge for township maintenance was raised from $1.85 to $2.00 beginning with the 2025 billing cycle to reflect higher costs for tax-roll preparation and printing. Outcome: approved. - Approval to open recruitment and follow the personnel committee process for filling a vacant court-appointed legal-representative position (resignation of a member identified as Miss Burke): Motion by Commissioner Fornier, support by Commissioner Britton. Outcome: approved to proceed with recruitment; if multiple applicants are received, the personnel committee will meet to review and forward candidates to the full board. - Reappointment of Max Lund to the Veterans Affairs Board for a term through Dec. 31, 2026: Motion by Commissioner LaHaye, support by Commissioner Britton. Outcome: approved.

Treasurer's report and fiscal detail County Treasurer Cindy presented year-end and December-to-date figures and explained adjustments related to the county—s recent conversion from a cash to an accrual accounting system. Cindy said the general-fund unrestricted balance and cash-and-investment totals were updated and that auditors and staff remain "still working through a lot of different things with the auditors because we've gone from cash to accrual system." The treasurer reported year-to-date revenue and expenditure figures and noted that 2024 showed an overall increase in revenue over expenditures through the end of December.

Plaza Pool budget revision County administrator Jesse Osmer described the revised budget for the Plaza Pool after the county terminated its contract with Synchronization LLC in December 2024 and hired a new pool manager. Osmer said no increases were made to main equipment or maintenance line items and that the budget uses conservative revenue projections. "The new pool managers [are] implementing some innovative classes and a more aggressive approach at seeking sponsorships," Osmer said. He characterized the first year under the new manager as a trial and said anticipated revenue increases were conservative estimates.

Airport overtime and departmental transfers Commissioners approved two airport-related transfers to cover overtime wages and runway maintenance. One commissioner expressed concern that several early-January transfers for overtime indicate "somewhere the ball was dropped for overtime" and asked staff to follow up. County staff said they had discussed the issue and would make changes to address the overtime trend.

911, ambulance millage and dispatch implementation Kim (911/EMS staff) explained that year-3 radio purchases for township fire departments were ordered under a three-year program in which the ambulance millage provided a 50% match. Kim said the radios "have been ordered, but they have not arrived yet," and that no invoice had been received, so a carryover was needed to pay the county—s share when invoiced. Kim also described the Central Square dispatch upgrade, saying milestones had triggered prior payments and that the remaining work would carry into 2025; the firm now expects a March cutover.

Personnel and appointments The committee approved the county—s process to recruit and review applicants to replace a legal representative who resigned (identified in the record as Miss Burke). The committee also reappointed Max Lund to the Veterans Affairs Board for a term immediately through Dec. 31, 2026.

What comes next Several items require follow-up: staff said they will investigate early January overtime at the airport; the dispatch implementation will continue toward a March cutover; the county will post the legal-representative vacancy and, if multiple applicants apply, convene the personnel committee for candidate review. The board will consider any resulting appointments or contract invoices at future meetings.