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Gladwin County commissioners approve resolution to seek CDBG fire‑wells funds, renew Maximus contract and back three MI BEAD broadband applications
Summary
At its March 25 meeting the Gladwin County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the EDC to request CDBG funds for installing fire wells, renewed a Maximus contract through June 30, 2026 at $6,000, and unanimously authorized letters of support for three MI BEAD broadband applicants.
Gladwin — The Gladwin County Board of Commissioners on March 25 approved multiple operational and funding measures, including a resolution authorizing the county’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to seek Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for installation of fire wells, renewed a vendor agreement with Maximus, and authorized letters of support for three MI BEAD broadband applicants.
Robert North of Emergency Management presented EDC Authorizing Resolution 25-005, asking the board to allow the EDC to pursue CDBG funding to install fire wells in Gladwin County. Commissioner Tom Winarski moved the resolution and Commissioner Alan Donaldson supported; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call (Visnaw, Donaldson, O'Donnell, Moore, Winarski).
The resolution matters because CDBG funding would be used for infrastructure to support fire response across the county. The board vote establishes the county’s formal support for the grant application and enables the EDC to proceed with application steps.
The board also approved routine and budget-related items affecting county operations. Chairperson Karen Moore, presenting on behalf of Jail Administrator Matt McGourty, moved to approve Vanguard to remount fire detectors in the county jail at a cost of $1,721.36 charged to line 101-351-930.000; that motion passed on roll call. Treasurer Christy VanTiem requested approval for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to use $120 remaining from its FY23–24 budget to buy staff gift cards; Commissioners approved the request with one abstention (Alan Donaldson).
In personnel- and contract-related business, the board approved a renewal of the annual agreement with Maximus, extending the contract to June 30, 2026, at a stated cost of $6,000; Treasurer VanTiem presented the item and Commissioner Alan Donaldson moved the approval, which passed unanimously. The board also approved a personnel policy amendment granting Deputy Administrator Thume authority to make journal entries, and it approved an appointment of Jake McBride of Saint Gobain to the Heartland Materials Management Plan Committee.
The meeting record also shows the board acknowledged a contractually required payout: Lt. Rabidue of the Sheriff Department requested a pro‑rated cash‑out of 690 hours of PTO upon retirement (effective April 19, 2025), totaling $24,722.70 to be charged to line 101-301-707.000; the item was recorded as a payroll/payment action consistent with the union contract.
Board members also voted to authorize Chairperson Moore to sign letters of support for three MI BEAD broadband applicants — Charter Spectrum, Peninsula Fiber Network, and IBT Group USA — after motions moved by Commissioner Mike Visnaw and supported by Commissioner Tom Winarski; each motion carried.
The meeting minutes supplied to this report are issued as board minutes and do not include verbatim quotes of speakers. Where the minutes summarize a request or a motion, this article attributes that action to the presenter identified in the minutes.
