Bay County commissioners completed their annual organizational business in January 2026, nominating and approving the board’s officers for the year.

Kathleen Zanotti, Bay County clerk, opened the meeting and called the roll before asking the board to appoint the county clerk as temporary chair to conduct the officer elections. Zanotti began the meeting by stating, "I, Kathleen Zanotti, County Clerk for the County Of Bay, and by the power vested in me, do hereby call this Organizational Meeting, the Bay County Board of Commissioners, into session the January 2026." The motion to appoint the clerk as temporary chair was made, supported and carried by voice vote.

Nominations for the chairmanship followed. A nomination for Tim Bonaczek was placed on the floor and, after the nominee accepted, the board moved to close nominations; a voice vote to close nominations carried. Bonaczek was confirmed as chair by the board’s voice approval. Paul Beggick was then nominated and accepted for vice chair; that selection proceeded after nominations were closed and was recorded as supported by the board. For sergeant-at-arms, Cassie Nemec was nominated, accepted the nomination and the board cast a unanimous ballot, with the clerk announcing that the motion carried.

After the officer selections, the meeting was turned over to Commissioner Buenavaczek to preside. The chair opened a brief public-input period; a few informal remarks were made on the record but no substantive public-comment items or follow-up actions were recorded. The board asked for any new business or announcements; none were advanced. A motion to adjourn was made, supported and carried by voice vote, and the meeting was closed.

All nominations and approvals were taken by voice; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript. No ordinances, resolutions, contracts or other substantive policy items were considered at this organizational meeting.