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Benzie County commissioners approve parks master plan, jail medical contract and vehicle purchases
Summary
At its Nov. 25 meeting the Benzie County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2025-018 adopting the county's Recreation and Cultural Plan 2026'1031, renewed a jail medical services contract, authorized two patrol vehicle purchases totaling up to $120,000 for outfitting, and approved two 2% Tribal grant applications for local nonprofits.
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners met Nov. 25 in the Frank Walterhouse Board of Commissioners Room and unanimously approved a set of routine and policy items, including adoption of the county's Recreation and Cultural Plan 2026'1031, renewal of jail medical services, and authorization to acquire two patrol vehicles.
The board adopted Resolution 2025-018 to approve the Benzie County Recreations and Cultural Plan 2026'2021'2031, as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Sara Kirk was present to answer questions during the vote; all commissioners voted aye.
The meeting also included public-safety and contracting actions. The board authorized a one-year Professional Services Agreement with All Access Care, PLLC to provide medical services to residents of the Benzie County Jail, with automatic annual renewals unless fees change; the agreement will be paid from the Jail Fund. Undersheriff Hubers and Sheriff Rosa were present to respond to questions during the item.
The board approved purchasing two Dodge Police Pursuit Durangos from Watson Benzie and authorized funding of up to $120,000 to outfit both vehicles for police use, to be paid from the 401 Capital and 425 Equipment Replacement funds. Separately, the board accepted a bid from Northwest Commercial Door to replace jail pod doors E16 and E17 using Capital Fund dollars.
Two 2% Tribal Council Allocation grant applications were approved: one on behalf of Benzie Senior Resources and one on behalf of Hope House of Northwest Michigan; the board authorized the chair to sign both applications. During the Benzie Senior Resources update earlier in the meeting, Kelly Ottinger reported operational growth: "a growth of 16% in on-site meals, and a growth of 7% in delivered meals," and said the kitchen is fully staffed and a door-to-door newsletter will be distributed around Thanksgiving.
Other business approved by roll call included declaring a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe (VIN ending 3360) surplus with proceeds to the 425 Equipment Replacement Fund, and adopting an amended Purchase Policy and related procedure. The board also approved the Capital Plan as amended.
County Administrator Katie Zeits reported the Government Center's public hours will change Dec. 1 to 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Animal Control weekend hours are expanding to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Patty Leasure will start as the chief deputy treasurer Dec. 2. Zeits summarized options under PA69 related to a $25 recycling surcharge and noted ongoing conversations with DTE and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the meeting passed by roll call with ayes from Commissioners Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Len Mathieu, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs, Gary Sauer and Christina Trigg and no nays.
Key next steps: the meeting minutes were approved and the next regular meeting is reflected as approved on Dec. 9, 2025; several approved contracts and purchases will proceed under the funding sources the board identified.
