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Bay County commissioners approve series of grants, contracts and personnel actions
Summary
At their Feb. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Bay County Board of Commissioners approved multiple 2026 grants and contracts — including a Marine Safety grant, an MDHHS opioid-treatment grant and a MIDC criminal defense grant renewal — and heard updates on fairgrounds infrastructure and juvenile placement challenges.
Bay County commissioners met Feb. 10 and approved a package of grants, contracts and personnel actions across departments, including public safety, health, environmental services and recreation.
The board approved a 2026 Marine Safety Grant for the sheriff’s office’s marine program and unanimously moved forward with a 2026 MDHHS Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program Grant. Commissioners also approved a renewal of contract services with A and D Home Healthcare, an equipment offer agreement with Verizon, an environmental tire-shredding contract, light-trap data contracts and a 2026 control materials bid.
Commissioners added and approved a Criminal Defense MIDC grant renewal for 2026–27 after amending the agenda early in the meeting.
Why this matters: the approvals provide operating and grant funding for emergency response, public-health interventions and routine county services, and the MIDC renewal ensures continued state indigent defense funding for criminal defense services in Bay County.
Votes at a glance - Agenda amended to add MIDC criminal defense grant renewal: motion carried (voice vote; one recorded opposition when amendment was first called). - MSU Extension agreement of service 2026: approved (voice vote). - Bay County Marine Safety Grant 2026: approved (voice vote). - MDHHS Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program Grant 2026: approved (voice vote). - 9-1-1 central dispatch part-time outreach support position: approved (voice vote). - Michigan Association for Local Public Health Employee Well-being Grant 2026: approved (voice vote). - Time Clock Plus / Aladtec scheduling system for the juvenile home: approved (voice vote). - Juvenile home budget adjustment for youth placement and housing 2026: approved (voice vote). - A and D Home Healthcare contract renewal 2026: approved (voice vote). - Environmental contracts (control materials, light-trap data, tire shredding) and one-time Verizon equipment offer: approved (voice votes). - Civic Arena fee schedule and golf course fee increases for 2026: approved (voice votes). - Midc (Criminal Defense) grant renewal 2026–27: approved (voice vote).
What commissioners said: Chair (speaker 3) conducted routine roll call and handled votes with voice votes for most items. Commissioner Nackett (speaker 6) prompted discussion of marine safety needs given regional airboat grounding, and staff described current marine patrol capacity. During payables and general business Commissioner Dawkins (mentioned in the transcript) noted the MIDC grant location in the agenda.
The meeting closed with brief praise for contractors working on the county animal shelter and an adjournment motion that carried by voice vote.
What's next: Several grants referenced application or award timelines (the fairgrounds grant is due March 13 to the Michigan Department of Agriculture; award notifications expected in May). The MIDC grant renewal covers 2026–27 and will support assigned counsel/criminal defense services going forward.
