Chippewa County commissioners appoint opioid steering panel, approve dispatch integration and several finance actions
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Summary
At its May 15 meeting the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners appointed applicants to an Opioid Settlement Steering Committee with staggered terms, approved an amended dispatch agreement with the Michigan Public Safety Communication System, adopted a Correctional Officers' Week resolution, tabled an Amtrak support resolution for rewording, and approved multiple finance and contract items forwarded by committee.
The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners on May 15 appointed all applicants to a new Opioid Settlement Steering Committee, approved amended dispatch integration agreements with the Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS), adopted a resolution recognizing Correctional Officers' Week, and approved a package of finance and contract items forwarded from the county's Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee.
Administrator Kelly Church recommended appointing every applicant to the Opioid Settlement Steering Committee and assigning staggered terms by alphabetical order; Commissioner Damon Lieurance moved to follow that recommendation and Commissioner James Traynor supported the motion, which carried on a voice vote. The board did not record individual roll-call names for that motion in the minutes.
The board also adopted Resolution 2025-07 to approve amended and restated integration agreements between Chippewa County Central Dispatch and MPSCS, authorizing the Dispatch Director to sign the agreements and to approve minor wording changes in consultation with the 911 advisory board. The resolution passed by roll-call vote with Commissioners Justin Knepper, Damon Lieurance, Scott Shackleton, James Traynor and Chairman Jim Martin recorded as voting aye.
Commissioner Scott Shackleton offered Resolution 2025-06 declaring May 5–12, 2025 as Correctional Officers' Week in Chippewa County; that resolution was adopted by roll-call with all five commissioners voting in the affirmative.
A separate resolution, 2025-08, that would have expressed the board's support for extending Amtrak service to the Upper Peninsula — including specific routing and timetable language — was tabled at Commissioner Justin Knepper's request so staff can revise the wording. Knepper said he wanted some of the resolution's schedule and routing specifics omitted; Commissioner James Traynor supported tabling the item until the next meeting.
The board unanimously adopted a letter of support for DeTour Township Economic Development Corporation's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant application for the Stone Mountain Harbor Development Project. Chair Jim Martin signed the letter on behalf of the board; the letter will be sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration and other state and federal officials identified in the document.
Items advanced from the Finance Committee and approved by the board included updating the Health Department's "Pink Ribbon" reimbursement policy to a $3,500 cap and approving two Pink Ribbon reimbursement requests; accepting health department write-offs totaling $50,243.09 for services older than fiscal-year 2024; forwarding FY26 Liquor Tax fund requests for local programs; approving submission of an $85,000 Michigan Drug Court grant application; approving a $5,840 TC Energy Build Strong grant to purchase boat lifesaving equipment for the Sheriff's Office; authorizing the release of an Animal Shelter veterinary services request for proposals; approving a central server purchase quote from Avalon Technologies; authorizing signature on a FedRAMP package access request and nondisclosure agreement to meet CJIS requirements; approving replacement of the county building generator radiator at $15,425.04; and authorizing a contract with Kyle Raycraft, M.D., to provide backup medical examiner services at $125 per decedent plus travel costs.
On the county's monthly financials, the board approved April county bills and payroll totaling $6,393,180.06 across general claims, other fund claims and payroll, and Health Department claims and payroll.
Why it matters: The opioid steering committee appointments set up the advisory structure for local spending of opioid settlement funds; approval of the MPSCS agreements updates the county's public-safety radio integration and binds central dispatch to new terms; the finance approvals adjust how county health and public-safety programs will be funded and administered going forward. Tabling the Amtrak resolution delays a formal, board-level endorsement of a specific rail routing until language is revised.
Board members provided routine reports before adjourning at 5:53 P.M. Commissioner James Traynor noted federal wolf legislation has been approved and awaits signature; Commissioner Justin Knepper raised concerns about renters displaced by recent motel and apartment foreclosures; and Chairman Jim Martin reiterated that the board does not control the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) but hopes the state will find funding to improve Neebish Island ferry service.
The meeting minutes and all adopted resolutions will be posted by the clerk's office as part of the official record.