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Lapeer County Board re-elects Gary Howell as chair, adopts calendar and routine personnel moves
Summary
At its organizational meeting, the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners re-elected Gary Howell as chair, confirmed the vice chair, adopted the 2026 meeting calendar, readopted rules of procedure and approved several personnel and administrative motions including the hire of a veteran services officer and amendments to the table of organization.
LAPEER COUNTY — The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners convened its first organizational meeting of 2026, re-electing Gary Howell as chair and approving routine governance and personnel actions.
Howell was nominated and confirmed by the commissioners; he pledged to run meetings "in an even handed manner." The board also confirmed a vice chair nomination, adopted the 2026 meeting calendar (committee meetings on the second Thursday, full board on the fourth Thursday with holiday adjustments), and readopted the board’s rules of procedure.
Personnel committee actions: The board approved a personnel committee package that included authorization to hire a candidate into the vacant veteran services officer position (step 1, pay grade 16) with the step to be reevaluated after one year; an amendment to the table of organization to remove one triage/clinical coordinator position and add a full-time intake DBT supervisor (pay grade 23) at no net general-fund cost; and an amendment to the paid-vacation policy effective-date language to apply to hires after Jan. 1, 2025.
Administrative and departmental matters: Commissioners approved acceptance of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' 2026 funding allocations for public-health services. During discussion, the health director explained that a $3,011 "body art fixed fee" covers inspections and plan review for roughly 10 local body-art facilities and that the department seeks 50% reimbursement from the state for those inspection costs.
Other items: The board approved routine audit-related motions, heard a short audit-status update from staff, and voted to extend/revise the county administrator’s employment contract after discussion of departmental improvements under his tenure.
Procedural note: Several items were handled by voice vote or unanimous consent; the board repeatedly emphasized public engagement and scheduled additional opportunities for public input on major items (notably the proposed ALPR procurement).
