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Benzie County commissioners approve benefits renewal, opt out of Public Act 152; adopt EMS hardship policy and schedule budget hearing
Summary
At its Aug. 8 meeting, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners approved the 2023–24 employee benefits renewal, voted to opt out of Public Act 152, adopted an EMS financial-hardship policy permitting bill waivers up to $1,500, declared two pieces of equipment surplus, and scheduled the FY2023/24 budget hearing for Aug. 22.
Benzie County commissioners unanimously approved a slate of administrative measures at their Aug. 8, 2023 meeting in Beulah, including the county’s 2023–24 employee benefits renewal and a formal opt-out of Michigan’s Public Act 152 for the plan year.
Lauren Harris of Advantage Benefits Group presented the benefits renewal; after discussion the board voted to approve the renewal and authorized the county administrator to sign provider agreements. Separately, the board voted to opt out of Public Act 152, the state law that limits local public-employee health-care costs under certain rules; the board’s motion to opt out passed on a roll-call vote with all seven commissioners recorded as voting yes.
The board also authorized the chair and Emergency Management Coordinator to sign the 2024 EMPG Work Agreement with the Michigan State Police — Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, approving county participation in the federal/state emergency-management grant program. The board approved a $500 budget amendment recognizing library penal-fund interest and adopted an EMS Financial Hardship Policy and Procedure that allows the county to waive EMS bills up to $1,500 for qualifying residents.
Two items of equipment were declared surplus and authorized for sale by internet auction: a 2010 Van Kam snowmobile trailer (proceeds to EMS ALS refunds and rebates) and a 2006 Ski-Doo Bombardier Legend (proceeds to the equipment replacement fund). The board also approved the 2024 Secondary Road Patrol Agreement and Accident Prevention Program grant application.
All motions described above passed on roll-call votes with each of the seven commissioners (Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer and Warsecke) recorded as voting aye. The board set a public hearing on the fiscal year 2023/2024 budget for Aug. 22, 2023.
Votes at a glance: - Approve payment of bills, $985,680.70 — approved (roll call: Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer, Warsecke — all yes). - Approve 2023–24 benefits renewal; authorize signatures — approved (unanimous). - Opt out of Public Act 152 — approved (unanimous). - Authorize 2024 EMPG Work Agreement — approved (unanimous). - Budget amendment (Library Penal Fund interest, $500) — approved (unanimous). - Adopt Benzie County EMS Financial Hardship Policy; permit waivers up to $1,500 — approved (unanimous). - Declare and authorize sale of surplus EMS trailer (2010 Van Kam) — approved (unanimous). - Declare and authorize sale of surplus sheriff’s snowmobile (2006 Ski-Doo) — approved (unanimous). - Schedule public hearing on FY2023/24 budget for Aug. 22, 2023 — approved (unanimous). - Approve Secondary Road Patrol Agreement and grant application — approved (unanimous).
The motions were proposed and seconded on the record (movers and seconds noted in the minutes) and carried on roll-call votes recorded in the meeting minutes; the record shows no dissents.
