St. Clair County commissioners adopt 2026 special revenue budget, approve contracts and appointments

St. Clair County commissioners on Monday adopted the 2026 special revenue fund budget and approved a series of contracts, reappointments and memoranda of understanding covering public health, mental‑health recovery court services, airport work and library materials.

Mohammed Smitty, district director for U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, presented a congressional tribute recognizing the county administrator’s retirement and praised the administrator’s “diligence and fiscal expertise” and leadership on infrastructure modernization and long‑term planning.

During the public comment period Eileen Tesch, who identified herself as chair of the Saint Clair County Election Integrity Committee, told commissioners she has identified ‘‘over a 110 voters on the voter rolls’’ and said depositions and records related to a pending case involving former Lieutenant Scott Jones and Sheriff Matt King are available on PACER. "We FOIAed those records," she said, and asked the commission to look into the voter‑roll list and the county clerk’s website reporting, which she said has been nonfunctional for months.

Two applicants addressed the board as part of citizens speaking on appointments. David Smith described his 20+ years in management and said he is applying for a board seat after relocating to Marysville. Michelle Bedellian presented her application for a health advisory board seat and detailed her work on food‑security programs, saying that "food insecurity is a major social determinant of health" and that her background in mobile pantries and nutrition education would complement the board.

On unfinished business the board approved a one‑year subcontract with Smiles on Wheels to provide kindergarten oral health assessments for $70,622.10 (10/1/2025–9/30/2026). Commissioners discussed program uptake and reporting; one commissioner said the subcontract will require parents to register whether they "opt in or opt out" so the county can track participation and asked staff for quarterly or monthly reporting on utilization and return on investment.

In new business the board adopted Resolution 25‑41 to approve the 2026 special revenue fund budget and to amend 2025 general and special revenue funds. The board also adopted resolutions affecting personnel compensation and benefits, including Resolution 25‑39 (annual wage adjustments for nonunion employees), Resolution 25‑40 (compensation for Road Commission members) and Resolution 25‑38 (salaries for elected and nonelected officers for 2026).

Other approved contracts and actions included: - A McNaughton agreement for hardcover library materials ($68,968.20 for calendar 2026). - A memorandum of understanding with Blue Water Day reporting program for recovery court ($26,000 for 2026). - A memorandum of understanding with Community Mental Health for recovery court services ($30,000 for 2026) and a related amended agreement increasing mental‑health court funding to $45,862.15. - A January–December 2026 cleaning contract with Janitize It LLC for Smith Creek Landfill offices ($13,080). - A Mead & Hunt agreement for airport obstruction removal administration ($38,820) and an air sponsor contract (Resolution 25‑42) for obstruction removal design and construction phase 1. - Change orders for a pole‑barn project at Columbus County Park ($31,803.59). - A 2026 survey and remonumentation grant application for $77,574. - A contract with Plant Moran for audit matters related to current‑year tax collections (not to exceed $99,950). - Adoption of Resolution 25‑43 authorizing execution of documents related to the liquor license held for the Blue Water Convention Center.

The board reappointed multiple members to advisory boards, including the Commission on Aging, Central Dispatch Advisory Board, Environmental Health Appeals Board and the Land Bank Authority; it also completed several nominations and ballots for Parks & Rec and the Metropolitan Planning Commission, selecting Peter Lito and Melissa Hanners for parks seats and filling member‑at‑large slots on the planning commission.

In a closing administrative report county staff (Carrie) said the bid opening for the old health department building produced no bids and recommended listing the property with a realtor. Staff also reminded commissioners of deadlines related to a landfill supplemental environmental plan required under a consent agreement with EGLE and noted the January meeting schedule will shift to the second and fourth Thursdays because of the holidays.

The board received files, made final motions and adjourned "for the year."