Benzie County commissioners approve $30,000 match for Beulah stormwater project, advance Crystal Lake Outlet bid

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 12 unanimously approved a series of funding, contract and personnel actions, including a $30,000 matching contribution to the Village of Beulah for a stormwater management project and authorization to move the Crystal Lake Outlet Project to the bidding phase.

The actions taken by the seven-member board at a regular meeting in the Frank Walterhouse Board of Commissioners Room also included adoption of an MSU Extension services agreement for $48,496; appointment of Michael Beach as Equalization Director; a $19,500 budget amendment and contract authorization for Kofile, Inc. to rehabilitate the county plat book; two Tribal Council 2% allocation grant applications; renewal of recycling-site leases; and a copier-maintenance agreement.

The most immediate county-funded infrastructure decision was a motion by Commissioner Tim Markey, seconded by Commissioner Rhonda Nye, to contribute $30,000 in matching funds from the county's General Fund Fund Balance to the Village of Beulah to support its Stormwater Management Project. Officials representing the Village (Dan Hook, Ed Hoogterp and Mary Pitcher) were present to answer questions; the board directed that a Memorandum of Understanding be prepared and signed by the board chair.

Separately, the board accepted final plans recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission for the Crystal Lake Outlet Project and authorized staff to solicit bids. ED Hoogterp and Shaun Johnson answered technical questions before Christina Trigg moved, and Tim Markey seconded, the motion. The board voted unanimously to proceed.

On finance and records, Commissioners approved payment of bills totaling $504,653.46 (motion by Gary Sauer, seconded by Rhonda Nye). County Administrator Katelyn Ziets reported that the County Treasurer recently hired a Deputy Treasurer Clerk and that interviews for a chief deputy were ongoing.

Register of Deeds Paula Eberhart requested and won approval for a $19,500 budget amendment to the 256 Automation Fund and authorization to contract with Kofile, Inc. for plat-book rehabilitation and upgrades (motion by Tim Markey, seconded by Gary Sauer). The board also approved two-year site-lease agreements for six county recycling sites and a 12-month copier-maintenance agreement with Netlink Business Solutions in an estimated annual amount of $13,990.

The board approved two Tribal Council 2% allocation grant applications: one on behalf of Housing North and another on behalf of Horse North Rescue. Yarrow Brown, executive director of Housing North, participated via Zoom to answer questions. Both motions passed by roll-call vote with no dissent.

In personnel and governance actions, the commissioners appointed Michael Beach as the county's Equalization Director and made several board and advisory appointments: Annie Browning and Cory Brown were reappointed to the Material Management Advisory Council through Dec. 31, 2028; Kayla Russell and Michael Smith were appointed to the Benzie Transportation Authority to fill seats vacated by David Davis and Dorene Strang, with terms and expirations noted in the official minutes.

At 12:22 p.m. the board entered closed session to review the annual evaluation of the County Administrator pursuant to MCL 15.268, Sec. 8(1)(a); the board returned to open session at 1:00 p.m. No substantive closed-session details were disclosed in the public minutes.

Public comment opened at 1:50 p.m.; Annie Browning of Frankfort spoke about ranked-choice voting before the meeting adjourned at 1:51 p.m. (motion by Bob Roelofs, seconded by Gary Sauer). The board recorded unanimous votes on all motions cited above.

Documents presented to the board included lake elevation reports, correspondence regarding the Crystal Lake Outlet Project and committee agendas and minutes. County Administrator Katelyn Ziets also reported that an audit of the Flexible Spending Account found the county is owed over $3,000 and confirmed auditors recently conducted fieldwork.