Barry County board approves invoices, claims, mileage, farmland partial‑termination resolution and several routine items

At its January meeting, the Barry County Board of Commissioners approved several routine financial and land‑use items, adopted a township request to partially terminate farmland development rights under PA 116, and conducted the regular consent business.

The board approved the consent agenda (motion by Smelker, support by Colton) and then voted to approve prepaid invoices totaling $6,756,927.12 (motion by Smelker, support by Toonison) and claims of $261,416.74 (motion by Colton, support by Campbell). Commissioners also approved reimbursement mileage for commissioners totaling $145.60 (motion by Tunis, support by Bassett). All votes were taken by roll call and passed.

Jeff Kiesler, filling in for clerk Sarah Vandenberg, presented a Johnstown Township request to partially terminate a PA 116 farmland development rights agreement for parcel number 0865724‑123121 (partial termination of specified parcel references). Commissioners asked about the size of the land removed from the PA 116 designation (staff cited roughly 4.5 acres for a cemetery area and noted PA 116 parcels may range and that a minimum size to qualify is generally 2 acres); staff also said the PA 116 acreage associated with the overall agreement is about 115 acres. Commissioners discussed whether reimbursements related to the termination would go to the township or the county and were advised the property will be township owned after the change. The board adopted Resolution 26‑4 (mover Campbell, support Smelker) approving the partial termination.

Other routine actions included approval of a junior security analyst job description (grade 12) and administrative approvals related to IT purchases and contracts, which the board also authorized by roll call. The board heard a county administrator’s report noting receipt of additional CVG grant funding for housing improvements and an invitation to apply for a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority EPA grant.

During commissioner reports, Commissioner Bassett reported a court ruling finding conflicts between the PIHP RFP process and Michigan law; Bassett said the ruling sent the matter back to the state. During public comment a speaker observed that sheriff’s office body‑worn and in‑car cameras will go live at month’s end, reinforcing staff testimony about increased data retention needs.

The meeting concluded with brief commissioner updates and no unfinished business reported.