Finance committee approves Nov. 3 start date for Nic Modrzynski as Alpena County emergency manager

The Alpena County Finance Ways & Means Committee voted Oct. 14 to approve a motion recommending that Nic Modrzynski begin as the county's full-time Emergency Manager on Nov. 3, 2025.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer said Modrzynski had been chosen previously by Presque Isle County but that county later withdrew. The committee passed the motion to set the start date on a roll-call vote: AYES — Commissioners Dan Ludlow, Lucille Bray, Brenda Fournier and Todd Britton; NAYS — William LaHaie and John Kozlowski. Commissioners Bill Peterson and Travis Konarzewski were excused.

The committee also approved a budget adjustment to add $10,000 to the Emergency Management Director line to cover the remainder of 2025, with corresponding decreases to two commissioners' meeting lines and a registrations line to offset the cost, as presented by Administrator Osmer. Osmer said the full amount for the position is budgeted for 2026.

Kim Elkie, director of Emergency Management and 911, offered public comment after the vote, thanking the board: “I feel confident that her and Nic will work well together and make both programs the best that the citizens deserve,” she said.

The committee's action, recorded as a recommendation and an approved motion at the committee level, advances the hire; any additional approvals required by the full board were not recorded in the Finance committee minutes presented at this meeting.