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Benzie County board approves $3.9M in bills, multiple contracts, grants and appointments
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Summary
The board approved payment of $3,885,385.81 in bills, authorized contracts and small grants including $14,810 for opioid initiatives, a $21,500 remonumentation contract, a $25,725 appraisal services agreement, and accepted a $10,000 donation to support economic development; it also adopted an amended Directory of Charges and appointed Lisa Kenner as magistrate.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved routine and programmatic spending, several contracts and an appointment during its regular session.
The board approved payment of bills totaling $3,885,385.81 for the period Feb. 27–Mar. 27, 2025. It authorized up to $14,810 to support initiatives in a Bay Area Youth Initiative opioid funding proposal, with the grantee required to return impact feedback within 12 months. The board accepted a $10,000 monetary contribution from the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce to support county economic development efforts.
Contract approvals included a one-year agreement with Complete Appraisal Services (Dr. Mark Holley) for fieldwork services at a total annual amount of $25,725 to prepare for 2026 equalization, and a remonumentation services agreement with Crystal Surveying LLC not to exceed $21,500. The board also authorized a cleaning contract with Superior Image Cleaning Services, LLC (Rachel Gulish) for campus cleaning not to exceed $6,044.54 per month for six months, with an option to extend up to three years upon Buildings & Grounds committee approval.
Administrative actions included adoption of an amended Directory of Charges; approval of a minor budget amendment of $18 for Drug Court Services; formal support for BEAD broadband grant applications with authorization for individual letters of support on behalf of Benzie County; and approval of a Computer Replacement Process (Commissioner Markey requested adding a disposal guideline). The board accepted the 2025 Benzie County Equalization Report and authorized the chair to sign required documents for submission to the Michigan Department of Treasury State Tax Commission.
The board adopted Resolution 2025-011 appointing Lisa Kenner as magistrate of the 85th District Court assigned to Benzie County and reappointed Rick Drewyour to the Benzie County Jury Board for a six-year term beginning May 1, 2025.
In public comment, Benzonia Township resident Eric VanDussen said he had submitted FOIAs and received county attorneys’ invoices and called the charges 'ludicrous,' urging the board to track attorney bills monthly. The minutes record no immediate board response.
All recorded votes on motions in the open minutes show unanimous approval by commissioners present (Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Sauer and Trigg); Commissioners Roelofs and Warsecke were recorded as excused for the meeting.