Benzie County commissioners vote to oppose Michigan DHHS behavioral-health RFP
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Summary
On Sept. 23, 2025, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted 6–1 to authorize the county to oppose the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' request for proposals for public behavioral health services; the board will send a letter documenting its position to Centra Wellness and other governing bodies.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted on Sept. 23, 2025, to authorize the county to oppose the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' request for proposals (RFP) for public behavioral health services.
The motion, made by Commissioner Tim Markey and seconded by Commissioner David Davis, passed on a roll-call vote: Ayes — David Davis, Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs and Christina Trigg; Nay — Gary Sauer. The board directed staff to send a letter to Chip Johnston at Centra Wellness and to other governing bodies stating Benzie County’s position.
The vote followed an earlier, separate motion to waive attorney-client privileged communication related to Community Mental Health so a related email could be read in open session; that motion failed (Ayes — David Davis, Gary Sauer, Christina Trigg; Nays — Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs).
Commissioners did not adopt specific language of the county’s proposed comments in public on the RFP at the meeting; the board’s action authorizes opposition and instructs administration to transmit the county’s position. The record shows the board’s posture is opposition to the state’s solicitation rather than adoption of a specific contract or provider approval.
Next steps: county staff will prepare and send formal correspondence to identified recipients and will follow up as needed. No formal litigation or contract action was taken at the Sept. 23 meeting.