Commissioners send long-term senior-center contract back to committee after concerns

A proposed county contract with the Hillsdale County Senior Services Center that would run from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2037 drew sustained debate at the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners meeting and was referred back to committee for further revisions and legal review.

County staff explained the contract term was aligned with the remaining life of the senior-services millage; proponents said extending the contract to the end of the millage made administrative sense. Several commissioners urged caution, saying a 12-year contract could tie future boards’ hands and that the county’s legal counsel had not yet reviewed the draft. Concerns included the lack of legal review before a long-term commitment, the contract’s payment schedule (percentages tied to month timing), and questions raised about whether millage funds were being used for a housing project they believed fell outside the millage’s intended purpose.

A motion to table the resolution pending legal review failed on a recorded vote, after which commissioners moved to refer the contract back to the appropriate committee to address term length, payment timing, and to obtain attorney review; the board asked staff to return with a revised draft before year-end if possible. Commissioners also noted practical considerations — such as the senior center’s internal process and the need for their attorney to review contract changes — and indicated they would pursue a shorter contract term or other refinements in committee.