Alpena County approves consent calendar, budget transfers and contracts including county attorney engagement

At its Jan. 28 meeting the Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved the consent calendar and several routine financial and personnel actions.

Clerk Keri Bertrand presented bills totaling $81,959.08, which the board approved for payment. The board also approved the Courts & Public Safety Committee recommendation to reimburse the City of Alpena $12,500 for drug kit/drug box restocking and an additional $22,500 for disposable EMS supplies under the Ambulance Service Agreement; the First Responder Call quarterly disbursements were listed with a $117,000 total allocated among the city and townships.

The board approved a Sheriff’s Office budget amendment to transfer $22,923.80 in unused 2024 CPE funds into a 2025 expenditure line (CPE‑MCOLES) to cover required state training costs. County Administrator Jesse Osmer presented and the board approved additional budget transfers, including an $800 transfer to cover MSU Extension’s phone bill. Osmer reported renewal of liability insurance with Alpena Agency for 2025 with a rate increase of about $34,000 and authorization for the chair or administrator to sign insurance documents.

The board also approved a second amendment to a purchase agreement with Duane Jennings for airport lots, pending attorney approval, and authorized county signature on the amended agreement. Separately, the board approved a contract with attorney Katy Conklin to fill a legal representation vacancy beginning Feb. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026, at $3,800 per month; roll call votes on consent items were recorded as unanimous unless noted in the record.

These measures were presented as routine consent and administrative actions; the board recorded roll call votes where required and carried each motion.