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Board appoints Barbara Freisinger to DHHS board; residents raise ICE and road‑diet concerns
Summary
The Jackson County board appointed Barbara (Barb) Freisinger to the county Department of Health and Human Services board and heard public comments criticizing an ICE agreement and opposing an MDOT road‑diet resolution; commissioners also recognized service and shared community updates.
At its Nov. 18 meeting the Jackson County Board of Commissioners appointed Barbara ("Barb") Freisinger as the public member of the county Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) board for a term expiring Oct. 2028, following the human services committee recommendation.
Transcript inconsistency: the applicant introduced herself as Barb Freisinger during public comment; when commissioners recorded the appointment the clerk later read the name as 'Barb Preissinger.' The transcript contains both spellings; the board motion to appoint the committee's recommended applicant carried by voice vote ('Aye').
Public comment included two notable items. David Alwell, Blackman Township clerk, urged the county to oppose an MDOT 'road diet' resolution that was on the consent agenda, saying his township had passed a similar unanimous opposition and that MDOT had backtracked on prior promises. Elle Scott, a Blackman Township resident, raised concerns that the county sheriff had signed an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and said other counties had rescinded similar agreements citing officer training and staffing shortages; she also referenced an Oct. 18 march and said she has footage of a recent downtown protest.
Earlier in the meeting the board presented an award recognizing 'Commissioner Tony Baer' for service to older adults and people with disabilities and his participation with the WellWise board during a building redevelopment; Baer thanked colleagues for the recognition.
During commissioner comments, Commissioner Bair reiterated he voted no on the CDBG contract selection because he believed posted contract language was unacceptable. Commissioner Pawlowski praised the sheriff's crew for community outreach at a local event and Commissioner Kennedy requested prayers for Commissioner Dukham, warned of a rezoning proposal for the Pine Hollow golf course, and said he will travel to Jamaica for hurricane relief efforts.
What happens next: The appointed DHHS board member will serve the term through October 2028. The transcript records public concern about the ICE agreement and the MDOT road‑diet item but does not show formal board action on either subject during the meeting.
