Benzie County commissioners send Road Commission bond to November ballot, approve multiple county measures

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted July 9 to submit a Road Commission facility bond proposal to the Nov. 5, 2024, general-election ballot and authorized contract engagements to support the bond effort, while also approving a slate of county financial and administrative measures.

The board adopted Resolution 2024-016 to place the bond question before voters and authorized engagement letters with Miller Canfield and Bendzinski and Company to provide legal and financial services related to the bond, contingent on voter approval (motion by Commissioner Sauer; seconded by Commissioner Markey; roll-call vote: Cunningham, Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer and Warsecke — Ayes; Nays — none). The board recorded unanimous roll-call approval on the resolution.

Why it matters: If approved by voters, the bond would allow the county’s Road Commission to borrow for facility improvements; the board authorized counsel and financial advisors in advance so the county is positioned to execute advisory and legal work if the electorate approves financing.

Votes at a glance - Bills payment: Approved payment of county bills dated June 21–July 3, 2024, totaling $319,187.63 (motion Markey; second Warsecke; unanimous). - Resolution 2024-016 (Road Commission Facility Bond): Adopted; authorized engagement letters with Miller Canfield and Bendzinski and Company; contingent on electorate approval (motion Sauer; second Markey; unanimous). - Employee benefits: Approved Delta Dental renewal and a transition to a Priority Health high-deductible plan (single plan deductible $1,600; two-person/family $3,200) with employer HSA contributions of $900 (single) and $1,800 (two-person/family); no retiree HSA contributions (motion Nye; second Jeannot; unanimous). - Budget amendment: Approved $9,500 budget amendment in fund 253 (MCOLES Training Fund) for the Sheriff’s office (motion Warsecke; second Cunningham; unanimous). - Resolution 2024-017 (Jail Commissary Fund): Adopted establishing a Jail Commissary Fund (motion Jeannot; second Markey; unanimous). - Regional grant authorization: Authorized a regional application to the Michigan High Speed Internet Office for digital equity programs on behalf of Prosperity Region 2 and directed Administration to work with identified partners (motion Cunningham; second Jeannot; unanimous). - Betsie Valley Trail design contract: Concurred with awarding Gourdie-Fraser (GFA) up to $76,975 for design and engineering services to pave the Betsie Valley Trail, with funds to come from the Betsie Valley Trail fund (motion Sauer; second Warsecke; unanimous).

Details and context: Board members said authorizing engagement letters before the election would allow staff to proceed quickly if voters approve the bond. The benefits action replaces the county’s previous plan structure with a high-deductible Priority Health medical plan and employer HSA contributions described above; the County Administrator’s Office was authorized to sign the benefit-provider agreements.

The board also approved a modest $9,500 budget amendment for MCOLES training expenses in the Sheriff’s office and established a jail commissary fund via Resolution 2024-017. Separately, the board agreed to participate in a regional digital-equity grant application intended to expand access-related programs across several counties. The commission accepted Gourdie-Fraser’s proposal for trail design and engineering, not to exceed $76,975, to advance paving work on the Betsie Valley Trail.

What’s next: The road bond will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot if placed there by staff and subject to election processes; engagement letters are contingent on voter approval. The board did not set an effective date for any bond-related borrowing — any funding action will depend on subsequent election results and follow-up steps by the Road Commission and county staff.