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Barry County committee recommends conservation easements, 2025 health plans and appointments
Summary
At its Oct. 1 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Barry County Board of Commissioners recommended approval of two farmland conservation easements, the county's proposed 2025 employee health plans, a PA 116 farmland preservation application and several appointments and administrative salary resolutions; all committee motions passed unanimously and were forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners' Committee of the Whole voted unanimously on Oct. 1 to recommend that the full board approve a series of land conservation agreements, employee health-plan recommendations and administrative appointments.
Chair David Jackson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and the committee approved the Sept. 3, 2024, meeting minutes. Sheriff Leaf introduced and swore in Undersheriff Kevin Erb. Courtney Ziny, Commission on Aging Director, provided an update on the COA and its building project.
Commissioner Mike Callton moved, and Commissioner David Hatfield supported, to recommend approval of a purchase agreement and conservation easement between Barry County and Susan K. Butler, Trustee of the Alvin E. and Susan Kay Butler Trust, for property in Maple Grove Township; the committee voted all ayes and forwarded the recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Bob Teunessen moved, and Commissioner Bruce Campbell supported, a similar recommendation for a purchase agreement and conservation easement with Vanessa S. Carpenter covering property in Maple Grove and Assyria Townships; that recommendation also passed unanimously.
Presenters Luella Dennison and Stephanie Lehman outlined the proposed 2025 Barry County employee health plans. Commissioner Jon Smelker moved, and Commissioner Catherine Getty supported, recommending the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee's recommended plans for county employees; the committee approved the recommendation with all ayes.
The committee recommended approval of PA 116 application 24-1 for Shane Hickey, for property in Section 25 of Castleton Township, on a motion by Commissioner David Hatfield supported by Commissioner Bruce Campbell. Meshia Rose presented the 2024 Equalization Apportionment Report; Commissioner Hatfield moved and Commissioner Mark Doster supported recommending the report to the Board, and the recommendation carried unanimously.
County Administrator Eric Zuzga presented Resolution #24-23 naming a trustee and alternate trustee to serve on the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool Board; the committee recommended adoption of the resolution to the full board. Commissioner Catherine Getty moved, and Commissioner David Hatfield supported, recommending the appointment of Dr. Thomas Koster, D.O., as Deputy Medical Examiner for Barry County, effective Aug. 1, 2024; that recommendation was approved by the committee. Commissioner Jon Smelker moved and Commissioner Bruce Campbell supported recommending the reappointment of City Manager Sarah Moyer-Cale to the Barry County Solid Waste Oversight Committee to represent the City of Hastings for a three-year term beginning Nov. 1, 2024; the committee approved that recommendation as well.
On administrative business, Commissioner Mark Doster moved, and Commissioner David Hatfield supported, to recommend that the Board of Commissioners set compensation for the commission and salaries for other elected officials per submitted resolutions; the committee approved the recommendation unanimously.
During the public comment and administrative updates portion of the meeting, County Administrator Eric Zuzga said a hearing with the City of Hastings regarding the Royal Coach property is scheduled for Oct. 14. He reported that five applications have been received for the GIS Technician position in Planning and Zoning and one application has been received for the Planning and Zoning Director position; he also said a grant application related to a Consumers Energy project will be submitted in the coming weeks. Commissioners made brief announcements, including that Central Dispatch Director Stephanie Lehman was named the 2024 Michigan APCO Director of the Year, that Commissioner Mark Doster noted a namesake confusion in a local paper, and that Commissioner Bob Teunessen asked to discuss replacement windows for the old Friend of the Court building later this year.
The committee recessed briefly and reconvened before adjourning at 10:29 a.m. Most items were forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action; the minutes show all committee motions carried by unanimous vote.
