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Clare County commissioners approve $12 million bond to fund Road Commission facility upgrades after debate
Summary
After debate over the scope and timing, the Clare County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize up to $12,000,000 in limited-tax general obligation bonds to finance improvements to Road Commission facilities; the meeting also approved several routine resolutions, appointments and a change to retirement eligibility for part-time staff.
The Clare County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution 25-05 authorizing the issuance of the county’s limited-tax general obligation bonds with a maximum principal amount of $12,000,000 to finance improvements to Road Commission facilities.
The decision followed extended discussion about whether commissioners should visit the Road Commission site before voting and questions about the cost of repairing the existing structure. One commissioner urged the entire board to tour the facility to see conditions firsthand, saying, "I honestly think all of the commissioners...should go over there and do the same walk through," while another replied that the board had time to review materials provided earlier and that delaying action would push out the project timeline.
Board members were told a feasibility/cost estimate to make the current building compliant is “close to $5,000,000,” and advisers noted that delays could affect market pricing for construction. Dwayne, a Road Commission representative who briefed the board, confirmed the county has inspection reports and cost estimates and said some repairs had been deferred pending a decision on a long-term plan. After discussion, the motion to adopt Resolution 25-05 was moved, seconded and carried.
The board also handled several routine and organizational items. Commissioners updated board rule 8.2 to align appointments with the next general election and adopted the full set of board rules as amended. They elected George Gilmore as chair by secret ballot (Gilmore received five votes to Jeff Haslam’s four) and selected Rick as vice chair. The board approved minutes, several appointments to the Department of Public Works Board, and financial actions including month-end expenditures and a budget adjustment of $112,280.83.
During public comment, resident Raymond Elliot urged county action on recurring truck leakage and roadside spillage near the South End of Harrison and was advised that landfill oversight is regulated at the state level and that a state representative had been contacted to assist. Transit leadership also announced personnel changes: Tom Brunsell, identified as executive director of Clare County Transit, said he will retire in February and introduced incoming staff.
Other notable actions included reappointing Joel Phillips to the Community Mental Health for Central Michigan Board of Directors for a three-year term and approving a motion to exclude part-time employees from retirement benefit eligibility — a change affecting about 60 employees that county staff estimated would reduce county costs by about $47,000 per year and would require a 4.7% employee contribution if the benefit were offered.
What’s next: Resolution 25-05 authorizes the county to issue bonds; specific sale timing and repayment terms will be set during subsequent finance steps and subject to the county’s bonding process. The board asked for the Road Commission’s feasibility materials to be circulated to commissioners; a commissioner also asked that commissioners be given an opportunity to tour the Road Commission facilities before or during follow-up discussions.
