Benzie County board accepts audit, amends fund policy and commits $40,000 a year to economic development
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Summary
At its May 27 meeting in Beulah, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners accepted the 2023–24 audited financial statements, amended the county’s fund balance policy, and committed up to $40,000 annually for up to five years to support economic development services performed by the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday accepted the county’s audited financial statements for fiscal year 2023–24, amended its fund balance policy and approved a series of contracts and grants totaling several hundred thousand dollars.
Chair Art Jeannot convened the meeting in the Frank Walterhouse Board of Commissioners Room in Beulah, where the board voted to accept the audited financial statements presented by Aaron Stevens, CPA of Maner Costerisan. The motion to accept the audit passed by roll call with all members voting aye.
The board then approved an amended Fund Balance Policy dated May 27, 2025, including the change to section 2(A)(f). Commissioner Trigg moved the policy amendment; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by roll call.
On economic development, Norman Plumsted, president of the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Honor Bank, provided background on a proposed county commitment. The board agreed to commit $40,000 per year, for up to five years, to support economic development services performed by the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce, with funds to come from the General Fund. The motion carried unanimously.
Other approvals included procurement and capital items: the board authorized the purchase of a 2025 Ram 2500 Regular Cab truck in a not-to-exceed amount of $43,309 from Watson Benzie and declared a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 surplus for sale, with proceeds to be deposited in the General Fund. The board also authorized a contract with TMF Building and Contracting LLC to expand EMS Station 3 in Frankfort in a not-to-exceed amount of $208,000, with EMS Fund dollars to be used; both motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes.
On technology spending, the board authorized a Customer Order Form with BS&A for a migration to the vendor’s cloud system in a not-to-exceed amount of $172,000, with funds available in the General and Tax Administration funds. That motion passed on roll call with five ayes (Davis, Jeannot, Markey, Roelofs and Trigg) and two nays (Nye and Sauer). The board requested that a BS&A representative attend a future meeting to explain the benefits of the cloud migration and justify the cost increase.
The board adopted Resolution 2025-014 to maintain a $3.00-per-device 911 surcharge for Central Dispatch operations for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026; the resolution supersedes the board’s April 1 action. The board also approved submitting a Tribal Council Allocation 2% grant application for Benzie County and authorized the chair to sign.
The board concurred with the Benzie County DHHS Board to remit $3,000 to the Human Services Collaborative, and it tabled consideration of the Frankfort City-County Airport Authority’s FY 2025–26 budget until its June 24 meeting.
Votes at a glance: Accept audit — passed (7–0); Amend fund balance policy — passed (7–0); Commit $40,000/year to Benzie Area Chamber — passed (7–0); Purchase 2025 Ram truck (NTE $43,309) — passed (7–0); Approve Tribal 2% grant application — passed (7–0); Adopt 911 surcharge Resolution 2025-014 — passed (7–0); Authorize BS&A cloud migration (NTE $172,000) — passed (5–2; Nays: Nye, Sauer); Authorize EMS Station 3 expansion contract (NTE $208,000) — passed (7–0); Remit $3,000 to Human Services Collaborative — passed (7–0); Table airport authority budget — passed (7–0).
Evan Warsecke, a former county commissioner, offered a public comment during the meeting, saying he left his post four to six weeks earlier for job and personal reasons and expressing thanks to staff and fellow commissioners: "It was an honor to serve the citizens of Benzie County and thank you all," he said.
The board scheduled a special meeting for FOIA and Open Meetings Act training with legal counsel on June 27, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. and requested additional presentations and explanations for some procurements. The meeting adjourned at 12:48 p.m.
Details on funding sources, procurement form approvals and contract language were not specified in the public record presented at the meeting.