County to remain fiduciary of regional task unit for one year amid concerns over paperwork, indemnification offered

County administration briefed commissioners on ongoing concerns with the regional TNU (task unit) for which Lapeer County has served as fiduciary since about 2002. The county administrator described persistent reporting delays and mounting administrative burden, saying the finance office had receipts and reimbursement requests pending for months. "We're gonna have to start talking to you that we need to move on, and they need to get another kind of to be a fiduciary," the county administrator said when describing efforts to transfer fiduciary responsibility.

Officials said they have already discussed the issue with participating counties, the sheriff and the prosecutor. The administrator said Lieutenant Horan of the Michigan State Police offered to include an indemnification clause in the current agreement that would allow Lapeer County to remain fiduciary for one more year while members work to restructure responsibilities: "he was very open to creating, an indemnification clause within the current union. So at least we could carry forward for 1 more year." Commissioners expressed concern about county liability and the value the TNU provides to Lapeer County relative to the administrative risk.

The board directed further conversations among county stakeholders and noted the group will meet Oct. 24 to discuss possible restructuring and the value of the unit to the county. No formal vote to change fiduciary status was taken at this meeting; commissioners said they want a clearer record of services, timeliness of reimbursements and, if the county remains fiduciary, contract language that reduces county exposure.

Next steps: county staff will continue negotiations with TNU leadership and MSP on indemnification language and report back to the board before any longer‑term extension of fiduciary duties.