Committee recommends several public-safety purchases and opioid-settlement allocations to full board; Axon taser contract approved

At a public‑safety and records committee meeting, staff presented multiple budget and contract items that the committee approved to recommend to the full Board or to approve at committee level.

Mobile command vehicle: Brandon Lewis (emergency management/purchasing representative) requested approval to purchase a custom 36‑foot LDV mobile command vehicle for $797,219 using an HGAC cooperative contract. Lewis said the required funds were moved into the general fund in July to enable the purchase. Commissioners asked about deployment frequency and disposition of the older unit; staff said the older vehicle is near the end of its useful life and the county would evaluate its disposition. The committee recommended the purchase to the full Board (motion passes 13 to 0).

Axon taser contract: Captain Jeff McPherson outlined a FY2025 budget amendment of $444,638.25 and a proposed 10‑year contract with Axon Enterprises for $4,430,466 covering 01/01/2026–12/31/2035. Staff and a subject matter expert explained Axon’s five‑year useful-life guidance for taser handles, included refresh/upgrade provisions and a buyback credit that staff said contributes to roughly $1.3 million in discounts already reflected in contract pricing. McPherson said the contract would allow each road-patrol deputy to be assigned an individual taser handle. Commissioners asked whether upgrades are included; staff confirmed refresh provisions are in the contract. The committee approved the item (motion passes 13 to 0).

Road and Comtech contracts: The committee also approved a revised local cost-share for Powell Road rehabilitation (60% township/40% Department of Roads), a local agency contract with AECOM Great Lakes for traffic operations staffing at Comtech ($3,671,913, 80% federal/20% match), and a Michigan Department of Transportation contract for Comtech traffic operations work ($4,080,000, 80% federal/20% match). Those items passed committee without objection (motion passes 13 to 0).

Opioid settlement allocations: Staff presented multiple requests to spend state opioid settlement proceeds, including engagement‑center lease and utilities, residential treatment bed contracts ($390,000 over three years), jail‑based peer recovery coaching ($1,040,000 total, approximately $260,000 annually), increases to a Sacred Heart medication‑assisted treatment program (~$154,000 increase and a separate $200,000 line noted), and a medication‑assisted treatment programming line item of $1,972,890. Staff said funds target diversion alternatives and post‑release care; commissioners praised the use of settlement funds and approved the items for full Board consideration (motion passes 13 to 0).

Prosecutor positions and DOJ grant: County counsel presented a resolution to authorize prosecutor positions and salary fixes tied to a $1.6 million DOJ grant; counsel said the change reallocates grant-funded savings to hire an assistant prosecutor and a part‑time office assistant so grant dollars can be spent before the grant term ends. The committee approved sending the resolution forward (motion passes 12 to 0).

Next steps: Most items will appear on the full Board agenda for final action; the Axon contract and LDV vehicle were recommended by the committee and will be forwarded for Board approval.