Benzie County commissioners approve new employee policies, opioid RFP and emergency jail repairs

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 27 adopted several personnel policies, authorized an opioid-settlement request for proposals and approved emergency repairs to the county jail, among other routine actions.

Chair Bob Roelofs convened the meeting in Beulah and the board moved quickly through routine business, approving the agenda (which removed an update from Representative Betsy Coffia) and adopting both the regular and closed-session minutes from Aug. 13, 2024.

The board approved payment of bills dated Aug. 9–22, 2024, totaling $395,069.69. Chief Deputy County Treasurer Suzi Mills was present to answer questions before the board voted unanimously to release the checks.

Doug Durand, Benzie Senior Resources director, thanked residents for passing the Commission on Aging millage and said the Blueberry Dash event was "very successful." Rebecca Hubers of Emergency Management said the Harm Reduction and Scam/Fraud public presentations "went very well" and reported the county’s Emergency Tower project is slated to go live in January 2025.

On personnel matters the board adopted a new Paid Time Off policy and an Hours of Work/Pay policy via the consent calendar. Separately, the board adopted a Remote Work Policy (6–1, Commissioner Nye opposed) and a Flexible Work Policy (unanimous). The board discussed a minor numbering correction in the Remote Work Policy before the vote.

The board also approved a Request for Proposal to solicit Opioid Settlement Fund eligible projects and services and directed administration to publish the RFP and accept proposals for a 90-day period. The motion to publish the opioid RFP carried unanimously.

In budget and grant items, the board approved submitting the Child Care Fund (Fund 292) for fiscal year 2024–2025 with a balanced revenue/expenditure total of $480,700 and authorized the chair to sign the application. The board also authorized a letter of support for the Benzie Conservation District’s Rotary Charities grant and a letter of appreciation acknowledging local partners investing in affordable housing in the county.

Two county jail projects that had been authorized on an emergency basis were confirmed by the board. The board confirmed emergency approval of a roof repair by Bloxsom not to exceed $12,130, using funds from the Jail Fund, and approved quotes from Twin Bay Glass and Johnson Controls for replacement of an employee entrance at the jail not to exceed $12,448.99 from the Capital Improvement Fund; both motions passed unanimously.

County Administrator Katie Zeits reported that Parks and Recreation surplus funds do not automatically carry over and said the Parks and Recreation Committee must present a plan for ongoing maintenance of county properties. Zeits also noted ongoing coordination with Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties on a Material Management Plan and that department head job descriptions are being updated. She said county staff were advised Benzie County cannot prepay the Maples bond and that revenue-sharing numbers are not yet available.

There were no public comments at either public comment slot, and the board adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda as amended: motion Cunningham/second Warsecke — approved 7-0. - Approve regular and closed session minutes (Aug. 13): approved 7-0. - Approve bills, $395,069.69: motion Jeannot/second Warsecke — approved 7-0. - Adopt Paid Time Off Policy and Hours of Work/Pay Policy (consent calendar): motion Warsecke/second Markey — approved 7-0. - Approve Opioid Settlement RFP publication (90-day proposals): motion Jeannot/second Cunningham — approved 7-0. - Adopt Remote Work Policy: motion Warsecke/second Markey — approved 6-1 (Nye opposed). - Adopt Flexible Work Policy: motion Warsecke/second Sauer — approved 7-0. - Approve Child Care Fund submission, $480,700: motion Warsecke/second Jeannot — approved 7-0. - Authorize letter of support for Benzie Conservation District grant: motion Nye/second Cunningham — approved 7-0. - Confirm emergency jail roof repair (not to exceed $12,130): motion Markey/second Nye — approved 7-0. - Approve replacement of employee entrance at jail (not to exceed $12,448.99): motion Nye/second Markey — approved 7-0. - Authorize letter appreciating agencies investing in affordable housing: motion Jeannot/second Sauer — approved 7-0.

The board also received routine written correspondence and department reports; no substantive public comment was offered. The board adjourned at 11:10 a.m.