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Benzie County commissioners approve dispatch upgrades, back $1M housing grant and set regular study-session time
Summary
On June 24, 2025, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a package of routine minutes and bills, authorized purchases and training for Central Dispatch and EMS, approved a letter supporting a $1 million Crystal Commons affordable housing grant application, and set monthly study sessions to begin consistently at 1:30 p.m.
BEULAH, Mich. — The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved a batch of routine actions and several measures affecting public safety technology and local housing.
At the regular session in the Frank Walterhouse Board of Commissioners Room, commissioners voted unanimously — with Commissioner Markey excused — to approve payment of bills totaling $481,239.12 for the period June 6–19, 2025, and to adopt the meeting minutes for prior sessions. The board’s votes on the meeting’s substantive agenda items were all recorded as unanimous with the one excused member.
The board authorized a suite of Central Dispatch actions. It adopted updated bylaws for the Benzie County Central Dispatch Advisory Board after a brief overview from Benzie County 911 Director Cory Ellis. Commissioners also approved a budget amendment moving $5,116.76 from the Dispatch Training Fund into the Central Dispatch Fund to reimburse wage costs related to training. The motions passed on roll-call votes.
Related purchases for emergency services were also approved. Commissioners authorized up to $11,440 to buy five wireless routers for placement in ambulances from Grand Traverse Mobile Communications, to come from the county’s 210 Ambulance Fund. Benzie County EMS Director Tom King and 911 Director Cory Ellis explained the devices’ intended placement and purpose during the meeting.
The board approved procurement of the Priority Dispatch AI Skill Lab Training solution for use as a training and continuing-education tool only. The initial cost is $1,465.75 for fiscal year 2024–2025, with an anticipated recurring annual cost of $2,500 for fiscal years 2025–2026 through 2027–2028, contingent on future budget appropriations and an ongoing determination of need by the Central Dispatch director.
On housing, the board voted to authorize a letter of support for Home Stretch Non-Profit Housing Corporation’s Crystal Commons project in Weldon Township, which seeks a $1,000,000 Federal Home Loan Bank grant to support affordable apartments. John Stimson of Home Stretch provided a handout and answered commissioners’ questions before the vote.
The board also moved a procedural change to the annual meeting schedule. A motion by Commissioner Trigg, seconded by Commissioner Sauer, amended the schedule so that the regular monthly study session will consistently begin at 1:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, effective July 2025; the motion passed unanimously with one excused.
Finally, the board accepted immediate resignations from two Benzie Transportation Authority board members — Christopher Kitchen and Sara Miller — in separate unanimous votes.
The meeting adjourned at 12:12 p.m. with no further business reported. The board has not set additional public hearings tied to the approved purchases or the housing grant support; those steps will follow the normal administrative and funding-review processes.
