Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Benzie County commissioners place jail millage on August ballot and approve a slate of county measures
Summary
On March 12, 2024, Benzie County commissioners adopted a resolution to place a Jail Operations millage on the Aug. 6 ballot and approved multiple administrative policies and contracts, including recycling site leases, a $70,000 IT contracting commitment, and changes to fitness center rules.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted March 12 to place a Jail Operations millage on the Aug. 6, 2024 ballot and approved a series of administrative measures ranging from recycling site leases to a contracted IT budget.
Commissioner Markey moved and Commissioner Warsecke seconded adoption of Resolution 2024-009 to authorize a millage election for Benzie County Jail Operations; the board approved the resolution by roll-call vote with Commissioners Cunningham, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer and Warsecke voting yes and Commissioner Jeannot recorded as excused. The resolution certifies ballot language for the August 6 election.
The board also approved two-year site lease agreements for seven county recycling sites, accepted a one-year Financial Hardship Deferral from Foreclosure policy dated March 6, 2024, and established ad hoc committees for Tax Advisory Committee interviews and the county administrator evaluation process.
Other approved items included:
- A two-year renewal agreement with Grand Traverse County for housing Grand Traverse inmates, subject to legal form approval and authorizing the chair to sign.
- Acceptance of an Employee Assistance Program from ALLONE Health for mental health sessions at an annual rate of $3,450.
- A county commitment of $70,000 toward contracting a mid-level IT professional, with funds to come from technology department lines and General Fund contingency; contract terms will be considered later.
- Wage increases for specified Clerk’s Office positions, with a budget adjustment of $6,879.58 from contingency to the corresponding wage line and effective March 17, 2024.
- Authorization for the County Administrator and Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator to discuss regionalization of materials management with adjacent counties and prepare a recommendation.
- Adoption of Resolution 2024-010 to amend the county’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) district and plan to align with amended state law.
- Approval to submit a Tribal Council 2% allocation application on behalf of Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (ARES/RACES).
On a pair of motions related to county facilities, the board adopted a Fitness Center Waiver and Release form and amended the Fitness Center Rules to designate the gym as Benzie County employee-only; the board directed County Administrator Katie Zeits to establish a gym committee with county employee representation and Commissioner Warsecke to recommend rule changes within six months.
Annie Browning of the Village of Beulah raised concerns about a lack of affordable housing and said the village is planning for future needs; she also welcomed the county’s decision to bring a contracted IT person on site.
The board reached a consensus during the meeting to renew the Senior Services millage at 1 mill (up from 0.85 mills) for placement on the November ballot; County Administrator Katie Zeits was directed to prepare ballot language for consideration at the next meeting. No formal vote on the Senior Services millage was recorded at the March 12 meeting.
The meeting opened at the Frank Walterhouse Board of Commissioners Room in Beulah and adjourned at 11:53 a.m.
