Muskegon County approves $145,027 payment for Lakeshore Drive work, corrects FY25 budget error

Muskegon County commissioners on a June 2025 agenda approved payment of up to $145,027.05 for work at 2400 Lakeshore Drive and directed staff to correct a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment that had failed to account for an outstanding invoice.

Chair Paige put the DPW25/11-071 item before the board as a motion to authorize the payment. A commissioner asked whether the omission represented a negative oversight; Public Works staff replied that when the FY25 budget was prepared one invoice from a contractor had not yet been received and the amendment was therefore recorded incorrectly. "The money's there, just the budget didn't account for it," staff said, explaining the department must adjust the budget to account for the full amount and then process the payment.

The board approved the motion in a roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Hezekiah, Nash, Herman, Water Resources Commissioner Barrett, Cook, Sears and Chair Paige.

The same meeting included a broader explanation of stormwater billing processes. Public Works Director Savannah explained the county serves as fiscal agent for a seven-entity stormwater committee that manages MS4 permit compliance. The Conservation District administers the permit and invoices the county; the county pays and then invoices the seven entities on a prorated basis. According to Savannah, an invoice omission during a prior amendment led to the current reconciliation.

County staff said the county will correct the FY25 records and then bill the participating jurisdictions according to the existing proration. No additional funding source beyond the existing budget was identified; staff characterized the action as an accounting correction necessary to settle vendor invoices and maintain permit administration.