Benzie County commissioners approve pay changes, $150,000 Maples payment and authorize EMS agreement talks
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Summary
The board voted Oct. 14 to convert three chief deputies to salaried positions, confirm a $150,000 capital payment to the Maples, authorize six new EMS computers and direct administrators to renegotiate intercept agreements with local BLS providers; all measures passed with unanimous votes of those present.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 approved a slate of administrative measures including a change in pay status for three chief deputies, a $150,000 capital payment to the Maples nursing facility and purchases to equip county EMS operations, and authorized negotiations to amend mutual-aid and intercept agreements with local BLS providers.
The board voted to shift the Chief Deputy Clerk, Chief Deputy Treasurer and Chief Deputy Register of Deeds from hourly pay to salaried positions, adopting changes detailed in an Oct. 7 memorandum from County Administrator Katie Zeits. The motion, moved by Commissioner Gary Sauer and seconded by Commissioner Tim Markey, passed by roll call with Commissioners Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs and Gary Sauer voting aye; Commissioner Christina Trigg was recorded as excused.
The board confirmed payment of $150,000 for fiscal year 2024–25 to the Maples for capital expenditures consistent with a Document of Understanding dated Oct. 26, 2021. Maples Executive Director Megan Garza told the board the facility ended September with a 99.3% census, 11 admissions for the month, 76 referrals (47 from Benzie County) and roughly 160 employees. Chair Art Jeannot asked that any remaining capital funds be considered to address persistent window issues at the Maples.
On EMS operations, the board authorized purchase of six Dell computers and docking stations using funds in the county’s 210 EMS Fund. Thompsonville EMS representative Jim Franke had earlier warned the board that proposed intercept fees could threaten small-area providers’ viability — saying, “If they have to pay $500.00 each time, they will not be able to survive.” EMS Director Tom King responded to public praise for county EMS and attended the meeting with staff to hear community comments.
The board also authorized administration to renegotiate the county’s mutual aid and intercept services agreements with Thompsonville Fire & EMS and Almira Fire & EMS; the board directed that any proposed changes be approved by both the county board and the affected township boards. Commissioner Gary Sauer was named the board’s representative for the negotiation process and will report back with recommendations.
Additional actions taken included authorization to apply for and accept the 2025–26 Secondary Road Patrol grant for the Accident Prevention Program, and acceptance of the resignation of County Commissioner David Davis (District VI). The board set a special meeting for candidate interviews on Oct. 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to fill that seat.
All votes noted above were recorded as ayes from Commissioners Jeannot, Markey, Nye, Roelofs and Sauer with Commissioner Christina Trigg excused. The meeting recessed at 10:49 a.m. and reconvened at 10:58 a.m.; it adjourned at 12:13 p.m.