Benzie County Board denies Step 3 grievance for Corrections deputy after closed-session review

After a closed-session consultation with legal counsel, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted on May 13 to deny a Step 3 grievance filed by the Police Officers Association of Michigan Corrections Unit on behalf of Corrections Deputy Gregory Johnson (Grievance #25-68).

Why it matters: personnel grievances that proceed to Step 3 typically exhaust internal dispute resolution paths and may precede external appeals or arbitration; the board’s written response will be the official record of its decision.

The board moved into closed session earlier in the morning to consult with assigned counsel, citing MCL 15.268(1)(e) and (h) for attorney-client privileged communications related to pending litigation and MCL 15.268(1)(c) for collective bargaining-related grievance proceedings. The board affirmed the selection of Gregory Grant as assigned legal counsel and met with its general counsel (Cohl Stoker & Tosky) in closed session with the County Administrator and the Sheriff’s designee present.

After reconvening in open session, Commissioner Sauer moved and Commissioner Roelofs seconded a motion that the board deny the Step 3 grievance involving Corrections Deputy Gregory Johnson and authorize the County Administrator to send a written response on the board’s behalf. The vote was unanimous: Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs, Sauer and Trigg voted yes; there were no nays.

The board’s motion does not elaborate the findings in the transcript. The County Administrator was authorized to deliver the board’s written response to the grievant and the union as the next procedural step.

(Reporting based on Benzie County Board of Commissioners meeting transcript, May 13, 2025.)