Resident asks county to investigate employee party spending and solicitation; county staff says no tax dollars used

An unidentified resident used the county's public comment period to ask the Livingston County Board to investigate what they described as questionable spending and solicitations tied to an employee holiday event.

The commenter said they had FOIAed records and found documentation that "upwards of $1,200 were spent and approved" for the event, including line items the speaker cited by amount: "$250 for a slushy machine and a $150 for a creamy machine." The resident asked whether soliciting cash and gifts from local businesses for door prizes to benefit employees and elected officials was ethical or legal and urged the board to tighten ethics rules.

County staff member Alina responded in the meeting, stating that "we do not utilize tax dollars to pay for anything related to the employee luncheon" and that the event was a potluck; she said some expenditures have been covered using a credit card rebate (which she described as taxpayer funds but not direct tax appropriations). Alina acknowledged that a solicitation letter had been sent ("that is not something that has ever been done before") and said the county would discuss the incident going forward and does not support that practice.

The board did not vote on any formal ethics resolution at the meeting. The public commenter asked for a resolution or ordinance to tighten behavior; the clerk and other staff said they would take the concern under advisement and discuss it further at future meetings.