Barry County committee recommends planning reappointments, adopts Register of Deeds fees and approves land bank sale

At its April 15, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Barry County Board of Commissioners, chaired by David Jackson, recommended reappointing John LaForge and Jack Nadwornik to the Barry County Planning Commission for three-year terms beginning May 1, 2025, and approved a series of surveyor and remonumentation agreements intended to support county boundary and monument work.

The committee also recommended adoption of Resolution #25-15 to revise fees in the Register of Deeds office, effective June 1, 2025, and recommended acceptance of a $60,000 offer from Nate and Jillian Otto to purchase 118 West Main Street in the Village of Middleville from the Land Bank. All motions noted in the meeting minutes carried with unanimous support from members present; Commissioner Catherine Getty was recorded as absent.

Why it matters: the Planning Commission appointments and the remonumentation and surveyor agreements affect how property boundaries and land records are maintained in Barry County, the fee changes will alter the cost of accessing recorded documents, and the sale of a Land Bank parcel transfers a county-held property into private ownership in Middleville.

Key details from the meeting: committee members present were Marsha Bassett, Mike Callton, Bruce Campbell, David Hatfield, David Jackson, Jon Smelker and Bob Teunessen; Catherine Getty was absent. The committee approved the April 1, 2025 Committee of the Whole minutes at the start of the meeting.

County Administrator Eric Zuzga presented the Land Bank offer and explained that the county attorney and administrator were authorized to complete the necessary sale agreements if the Board accepts the committee's recommendation. Zuzga also reminded attendees that "wind and solar cannot be excluded from a zoning ordinance, but the ordinance may provide certain locations," and added that only marijuana dispensaries may be excluded under local ordinance.

Commissioners used the closing portion of the meeting to share local updates. Commissioner Bob Teunessen raised concerns about ambulance service continuity, noting the potential that Mercy ambulance service might no longer be available; no formal action on ambulance services was taken by the committee during this meeting. Other commissioner remarks covered local fundraising, downtown redevelopment efforts, and transportation projects.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of April 1, 2025 Committee minutes — moved by Marsha Bassett, supported by David Hatfield; outcome: approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommendation to reappoint John LaForge and Jack Nadwornik to the Planning Commission (terms 5/1/2025–4/30/2028) — moved by David Hatfield, supported by Jon Smelker; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommend approval of 2025 EGLE Scrap Tire Grant MOU with Eaton County — moved by Bruce Campbell, supported by Bob Teunessen; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Appointments of licensed surveyors to the 2025 Remonumentation Peer Review Board and authorization to sign peer-review agreements — moved by Bruce Campbell, supported by David Hatfield; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommend entering 2025 Monumentation Surveyor Agreements and authorize signatures — moved by Bob Teunessen, supported by Bruce Campbell; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommend approval of 2025 Agreement for Remonumentation County Representative Services with Brian Reynolds, P.S. — moved by Jon Smelker, supported by David Hatfield; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommend adoption of Resolution #25-15, Register of Deeds fees (effective June 1, 2025) — moved by David Hatfield, supported by Bruce Campbell; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent). - Recommend acceptance of $60,000 offer from Nate and Jillian Otto for 118 West Main Street (Middleville) and authorize completion of sale documents — moved by David Hatfield, supported by Bob Teunessen; outcome: recommendation approved (all ayes; Catherine Getty absent).

The committee adjourned at 10:00 a.m. The actions above are recommendations to the full Board of Commissioners where applicable; the minutes record committee approval but several items require final Board action as noted by staff.