Gratiot County commissioners approve bike-path repair, recurring pond treatments, recycling work-plan step and indigent-deficit resolution

The Gratiot County Board of Commissioners approved multiple routine actions at its regular meeting, including a parks-backed repair of the county bike path, authority for recurring algae treatments at county ponds, approval of projected expenditures for a regional recycling work plan, and adoption of a deficit-elimination resolution for the indigent defense fund.

The board voted unanimously to support a Parks and Recreation Board recommendation to hire Great Lakes Asphalt to repair sections of trail between Van Buren and Lincoln where tree roots have lifted pavement. Parks requested a budget amendment of $8,850 to dig out roots and repave affected stretches. The chair read the motion and a roll-call recorded Commissioners Bailey, Bunting, Gay, Sapsy and Oates voting “yes.” (A separate line in the transcript transcribes the motion amount as $88.50; the Parks recommendation and budget request in the meeting packet and discussion identify $8,850.)

The board also voted to allow the Parks and Recreation Board to arrange annual algae and aquatic-vegetation treatments for county ponds without returning to the full board for each instance. "I move that we allow the parks and recreation board to go forward with getting the ponds treated when needed, on an annual basis," a parks representative said; the motion was moved and supported and passed by voice vote.

On recycling, the board approved projected expenditures for the multi-county Material Management Plan so Gratiot County can be included in a regional work plan to submit to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Staff explained the state-formatted form lists projected first-year expenditures of $91,000 for the regional group and that the award is reimbursable; commissioners questioned the county’s exposure if reimbursement is delayed or denied but approved the step to include Gratiot on the regional work plan.

The board adopted resolution 25334 to satisfy state requirements for an indigent defense deficit-elimination plan. Staff described the amendment as a formality to meet state detail, and the board completed a roll-call vote to approve the resolution.

A motion to enter closed session for strategy and negotiations was made near the meeting’s end after commissioners discussed a recent fatal house fire involving relatives of county staff; the motion was supported and the board prepared to move into closed session.

Recorded votes and motions

- Bike-path repair — Parks requested a budget amendment of $8,850 to contract with Great Lakes Asphalt for root removal and repair; roll-call vote recorded five yes votes and the motion carried. Note: one line in the meeting transcript reads $88.50; the Parks estimate and packet indicate $8,850.

- Parks recurring algae treatment (J1) — Motion to allow Parks and Recreation to treat ponds annually as needed without returning to the board; passed by voice vote.

- Material Management Plan projected expenditures — Motion to approve the region’s projected expenditures/work plan submission to EGLE (state-formatted projected total $91,000 for regional first-year costs); passed by voice vote.

- Indigent defense deficit-elimination resolution (Res. 25334) — Motion to adopt the resolution passed by roll-call.

The meeting concluded with the board preparing to enter closed session for strategy and negotiations.