Cass County commissioners approve consent agenda, appoint canvassers and authorize project and personnel agreements

The Cass County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine and project-specific motions at its meeting, including the consent agenda, appointments to the Cass County Board of Canvassers, a $5,000 engineering addendum for the Lawless International Dark Sky improvement project, authorization to execute documents related to Don Horn fiber relocation, and letters of understanding to implement a 2025 classification and compensation study.

The board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda (M-136-2025 through R-23-2025) by a recorded roll call; Commissioners Marchetti, Barrera, Grice, Northrop, Langley, Lawrence and Chair Jones were recorded as voting yes. The motion covered routine claims, approvals and docketed items listed on the circulated consent list.

On appointments to the Cass County Board of Canvassers the board selected Mary Ann Crete (Democratic nominee) and Kimberly Adams (Republican nominee). The clerk read the candidate names and the motion to appoint Mary Ann Crete and Kimberly Adams carried by voice vote. The clerk noted both appointees are state trained and certified to serve during the November special election.

Parks director Scott Wyman requested board approval to authorize O'Boyle (landscape architect/engineer) to update construction and electrical drawings for the Lawless International Dark Sky project. He said one bid returned higher than expected and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), as the grant administrator, has asked for refined drawings. The board approved an “up to $5,000” increase for those drawings; Wyman confirmed the project has been billed $95,312.75 to date and that construction costs will be reimbursable at the grant’s 50/50 rate once work begins.

The board also authorized county staff to negotiate and execute documents necessary to relocate existing fiber lines for the Don Horn relocation project. Jennifer Renfro was authorized to negotiate and sign agreements on behalf of the county subject to county attorney review; the motion passed by voice vote.

Two letters of understanding to implement the county’s 2025 classification and compensation study were approved: one with the CCIEA general unit and one with the CCIA courts unit. Both motions passed by voice vote.

A motion to approve the 2025 special assessment rolls (M-142-2025), presented by the drain commissioner, also passed by voice vote.

No recorded 'no' votes were shown in the transcript for the motions summarized above; several motions were decided by unanimous voice vote and the consent agenda was approved by roll call with all present commissioners recorded as yes.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (M-136-2025 through R-23-2025): Approved by roll call (Marchetti, Barrera, Grice, Northrop, Langley, Lawrence, Chair Jones — yes). - Appointments to Cass County Board of Canvassers: Mary Ann Crete (Democrat) and Kimberly Adams (Republican): Approved (voice vote). - Lawless International Dark Sky engineering addendum (up to $5,000 to O'Boyle): Approved (voice vote). Paid to date noted as $95,312.75; reimbursable under 50/50 grant once construction begins. - Don Horn fiber relocation: Board authorized Jennifer Renfro to negotiate and execute agreements (voice vote). - Letters of understanding for 2025 classification and compensation study (CCIEA general unit and CCIA courts): Approved (voice votes). - 2025 special assessment rolls (M-142-2025): Approved (voice vote).

What the board recorded - Consent agenda roll call: explicit yes votes recorded by name in the transcript. - Other actions: voice votes recorded as "All in favor, say aye; any opposed?" with motions carrying and no recorded opposition in the transcript.

Sources: motions and roll-call language recorded in the meeting transcript.