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Barry County committee forwards grants, audit engagement, farmland preservation application and budget amendment to full board
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Summary
At its Dec. 3 meeting the Committee of the Whole recommended that the Board of Commissioners approve a medical marihuana education grant application to LARA, a PA 116 farmland preservation application, Budget Amendment 24-C, a 2025 remonumentation grant agreement and an audit engagement for the Road Commission; motions passed unanimously in committee with one absence.
The Barry County Committee of the Whole on Dec. 3 recommended that the full Board of Commissioners approve a package of administrative items, including a medical marihuana education grant application, a PA 116 farmland preservation application, Budget Amendment 24-C, a remonumentation grant agreement and an audit engagement for the Road Commission.
The committee moved a slate of recommendations by individual motions. Catherine Getty moved, and Mike Callton supported, a recommendation to submit a 2025 grant narrative/application to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, on behalf of the Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force for education, communication and outreach under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act; the motion carried with all ayes and Commissioner David Jackson absent.
Planning and zoning business included a PA 116 Farmland and Open Space Preservation application (#24-6) for Shane Hickey in Section 24 of Castleton Township. Mike Callton moved and Jon Smelker supported recommending approval of the PA 116 application; the committee carried the motion unanimously (absent David Jackson). During that item Jim McManus introduced newly hired Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Keesler and new GIS Analyst Technician Eric Roberts; Vice Chair David Hatfield publicly thanked McManus for 31 years of service and noted his upcoming retirement.
County administration items included a recommendation by Mark Doster, supported by Catherine Getty, to approve Budget Amendment 24-C; the committee also recommended entering a 2025 remonumentation grant agreement with the State of Michigan and approved contracting Anderwylde LLC for grant administration services on a motion by Bob Teunessen supported by Catherine Getty. Jon Smelker moved and Mark Doster seconded a recommendation to approve an audit engagement agreement with Gabridge & Co. to perform the 2024 Barry County Road Commission annual audit. All administrative motions in the committee passed with recorded ‘‘all ayes’’ and one absence (David Jackson).
Other business and updates came in reports: Stephanie Lehman of Barry Central Dispatch briefed the committee on tower projects in Nashville, Hastings and Middleville; Courtney Ziny of the Commission on Aging announced a Giving Tuesday donor match through Dec. 31 and gave an update on a new facility; and Liz Lenz of the Barry Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force reported on opioid settlement questionnaire results and the timeline for an educational brochure. The committee adjourned at 9:56 a.m. after brief commissioner remarks.
Next steps: each recommended item will be considered by the full Board of Commissioners; the committee record reflects only recommendations, not final board approvals.