Benzie County amends road-financing agreement, OKs Hobbs & Black for new road facility design

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted to concur with the Benzie County Road Commission to engage Hobbs and Black for architectural and design services for a new road facility and approved an amended financing agreement that clarifies budgeting requirements for bond repayment. The motion, made by Commissioner Gary Sauer and seconded by Commissioner Bob Roelofs, passed by roll call (Art Jeannot, Len Mathieu, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs, Gary Sauer, Christina Trigg voting aye; Tim Markey excused).

The board and Road Commission representatives discussed items in the proposed financing agreement, with Road Commission member Joe Nedow raising questions about two provisions. The board agreed that item 6 (County investment of funds) would remain as written and that item 7 would be amended to read that “the Road Commission will include in its budget for the fiscal year of which the first principal payment is due and shall include in its budget each fiscal year thereafter….” The amended language will be resubmitted to counsel for form approval before the agreement is finalized and signed by the chair.

The vote authorizes the county to formalize the relationship with the Road Commission as it relates to bonding and repayment and to proceed with selecting Hobbs and Black for architectural and design services, subject to attorneys’ approval of the agreement’s final form.

The board’s action follows questions and input from county and Road Commission officials and does not itself authorize bond issuance; any bond sale or financing schedule will require follow-up steps and counsel approval.