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Chippewa County board backs historic-preservation tax-credit expansion, approves millage apportionment and staffing changes
Summary
At its Oct. 16 regular session, the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners adopted resolutions supporting state bills to expand historic-preservation tax credits, approved the county's 2025 millage apportionment and approved a range of personnel, contract and grant actions including an $80,000 cybersecurity grant and acceptance of an amended ICE contract.
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. '10/16/2025
The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 voted to support state legislation that would expand Michigan's historic-preservation tax credit program, approved the county's 2025 millage apportionment and took a series of personnel and procurement actions affecting county operations and services.
Chairman Jim Martin called the meeting to order at 4:29 P.M., and the board unanimously (with Commissioner Damon Lieurance absent) adopted Resolution 2025-22 supporting House Bills 4503 and 4504. The measure urges the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to increase the annual credit cap and make other program changes intended to help small and residential rehabilitation projects. "BE IT RESOLVED that the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners supports House Bill 4503 and House Bill 4504," the resolution states.
The board also adopted Resolution 2025-23, approving the county's 2025 Millage Report and authorizing the clerk and equalization director to file required state reports under MCL 211.34D, a procedural step to prepare the 2025 tax rolls. Commissioners Justin Knepper, Scott Shackleton, James Traynor and Chairman Martin recorded yea votes on both resolutions; Commissioner Lieurance was listed as absent for roll calls.
Beyond the resolutions, commissioners approved a slate of administrative and operational items recommended by standing committees. The personnel committee endorsed a previously approved 2% increase for non-union employees effective Oct. 1, 2025, and the board adopted several position-hour changes: the Sheriff's Office jail ICE liaison position was authorized as a 79-hour position; the Animal Shelter received approval to increase a veterinary technician's hours by six to eight weekly and add 10 hours weekly for a shelter attendant. The board also authorized creating a 58-hour janitorial attendee position and terminating one external cleaning contract to address afternoon coverage needs.
Health and benefits decisions included motions to remain with BC/BS at newly-negotiated rates, convert the group plan to the "Simply Blue" option, and add a GLP-1 weight-loss medication program with a reduced co-pay structure to manage medication costs, per administration recommendations.
The finance committee advanced several contracts and expenditures. The board authorized release of two requests for quotations for Health Department exterior door replacement and clinic security work paid from a Public Health Infrastructure Grant; it approved the Chippewa County child-care budget summary showing total expenditures of $816,262.83 for the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2025'Sept. 30, 2026.
The board accepted an amended contract between the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that raised the bed-day rate to $98.00, and it authorized a Memorandum of Agreement with the Michigan State Police for participation in the Statewide Records Management System. It also approved a Johnson Controls annual planned service agreement for jail fire-alarm services at $8,882.78 and reimbursed Kinross EMS $9,322.00 for EMT-B training for seven residents, to be paid from Office of Emergency Services funds.
Information-technology actions included acceptance of an $80,000 award from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program for multifactor authentication work and approval of a $46,515 purchase of a new Verge.IO virtualization cluster from DSTECH, Inc.
Other procurement and service approvals included buying three 24/7 dispatch chairs ($4,500) to be reimbursed by Mackinac County; authorization of Medical First Responder and Emergency Medical Technician basic training sponsorships (up to $6,770 and $10,280, respectively); and awarding multiple snowplowing and removal contracts for county facilities.
Commissioner Justin Knepper used the final commissioner-comments portion to note the Opioid Settlement Committee's second round of RFPs and urged residents not to be swayed by social-media coverage of recent city issues; Chairman Martin and Commissioner Shackleton echoed calls for measured responses.
The board adjourned at 6:30 P.M. and the clerk noted the minutes.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-22 (support HB 4503 & HB 4504) '1 adopted by roll-call (ayes 4, nays 0, absent 1). Resolution 2025-23 (2025 millage apportionment) '1 adopted by roll-call (ayes 4, nays 0, absent 1). Resolution 2025-24 (Operation Green Light for Veterans) '1 adopted by roll-call (ayes 4, nays 0, absent 1). Resolution 2025-25 '1 adopted by roll-call (ayes 4, nays 0, absent 1). Several committee recommendations and contracts were approved on voice votes as noted in the minutes.
