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Chippewa County panel approves short extension to health department budget and related program purchases
Summary
The county finance committee approved a three-month extension of the Chippewa County Health Department budget through Dec. 31, 2025, authorized grant-funded purchases for SHACC and a $12,085 billboard campaign to promote EUP Connects/Community Connections, and approved related policies and fee schedules.
The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners' Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee on Sept. 9 approved a three-month extension of the Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) budget to Dec. 31, 2025, including authorization for maintenance and support contracts, IT equipment and travel, with the county allocation remaining $51,000.
Commissioner Damon Lieurance moved to approve the extension; Commissioner Justin Knepper supported the motion, which carried on a voice vote. Health Officer Karen Senkus presented the budget breakdown by administration, environmental health and public-health programs, showing combined revenues of $6,044,995 and proposed expenditures of $6,043,700.
The committee also reviewed and approved the CCHD mission statement, organizational chart and an updated set of policy manual indexes and fee schedules covering programs such as PFH, SHACC and environmental health; the minutes note modest increases in some water-sampling fees tied to higher city-laboratory costs.
As part of planned renovations to the Sault Health Adolescent Care Center (SHACC), the committee authorized a grant-funded purchase not to exceed $5,303.01 for student-friendly lobby furniture. Commissioner Justin Knepper asked whether local vendors were contacted; Health Officer Karen Senkus confirmed local businesses were contacted but did not carry the specific furniture being sought.
Separately, the committee approved a $12,085.00 quote from Lamar to run billboards in Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac counties to promote the EUP Connects/Community Connections community information exchange as part of a Social Determinants of Health grant. Commissioners inquired about the planned campaign length and how the outreach ties to the county's family-planning advertising; those details were discussed but not specified in the minutes.
The committee approved all motions related to the health department items by voice vote. No public commenters spoke during the meeting.
Next steps: the department will proceed with the contracts and purchases authorized by the committee and the budget will operate through Dec. 31, 2025, pending any further board action.
