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Benzie County commissioners approve building official, GIS mapping funds and multiple administrative measures
Summary
At its Aug. 26 meeting the Benzie County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-015 naming Nicholas Keck as the county building official, approved $34,000 for Colligo GIS mapping, authorized a $10,000 Friend of the Court budget amendment, and approved a hybrid Equalization staffing approach. Several other routine motions passed unanimously.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved a slate of administrative actions, including the designation of a county building official and funding for county mapping, and authorized county representation in a pending arbitration.
In a roll-call vote, the board adopted Resolution 2025-015 to designate Nicholas Keck as Benzie County Building Official (motion by Commissioner David Davis, seconded by Tim Markey). The motion carried with six ayes and one commissioner excused.
The board approved a not-to-exceed allocation of $34,000 from the General Fund balance to pay Colligo for GIS mapping layers requested by the Conservation District (motion by Rhonda Nye, seconded by Christina Trigg). The measure passed 5–1; Chair Art Jeannot cast the sole no vote and Commissioner Gary Sauer was excused. County staff John Ranson and consultant Jon Throop answered commissioners’ questions during the item.
Commissioners also authorized a $10,000 budget amendment to Fund 215 for Friend of the Court parenting services (motion by David Davis, seconded by Tim Markey) and approved a hybrid approach to Equalization staffing — contracting an Equalization Director of record while hiring a Deputy Director to manage day-to-day operations (motion by Rhonda Nye, seconded by Tim Markey). Both motions passed unanimously (6–0, one excused).
Other board actions included approval of payment of bills totaling $384,794.36 for the Aug. 8–22 pay period, adoption of the county’s Strategic Priorities, Goals and Action Plan dated Aug. 26, 2025, establishment of an ad hoc interview committee to recommend appointments to the Benzie Transportation Authority and the DHHS Maples Board, and routine approvals of the meeting agenda and amended minutes of Aug. 12, 2025. All those motions carried by roll call with six ayes and one excused, unless otherwise noted above.
During a closed session the board considered an attorney–client privileged written communication related to the Gregory Johnson arbitration under MCL 15.268(1)(h). After reopening the meeting, commissioners authorized Chair Art Jeannot, Vice Chair Rhonda Nye, Administrator Katelyn Zeits and Sheriff Kyle Rosa (or his designee) to attend a POAM Corrections arbitration to represent the county in that matter (motion by David Davis, seconded by Tim Markey). The motion carried 6–0, with one excused.
The meeting adjourned following a brief afternoon public-comment period and the presentation of correspondence from county partners.
The board did not record any formal dissent on the majority of items; where a recorded no vote occurred it is noted above. For items not fully described in the meeting packet, the board indicated staff follow-up.
