Benzie County commissioners approve equipment purchases, personnel policy changes and new dog-license rules

Beulah, Mich. — The Benzie County Board of Commissioners took a series of routine but consequential actions at its Feb. 10, 2026 regular meeting, approving technology and vehicle purchases for public safety, adopting personnel policy changes and establishing a new dog-license timeline tied to state law.

The board unanimously authorized a jail server and camera upgrade, accepting a proposal from CCI – Chrouch Communications and approving spending not to exceed $50,000 from the Jail Capital Fund; commissioners asked that warranty language be clarified before final execution. Commissioners also approved a budget amendment recognizing $5,420 in revenue and expenditures for Sheriff’s Office training and a separate $3,342.30 grant-related amendment for Emergency Management.

On vehicles, the board approved purchase of one 2026 Dodge Durango for the Sheriff’s Detective Bureau and authorized up to $43,000 to outfit the vehicle, with funds available in the 401 Capital Fund and payment to Watson Benzie.

Personnel policies were revised: the Paid Time Off policy was amended to allow part-time employees to roll over a maximum of 72 hours on Dec. 1 with no payout option and the prior Aug. 27, 2024 PTO policy was rescinded. The board also adopted the Benzie County Educational Assistance Policy, rescinding Section 13 of the 2016 Staff Policy Manual.

The board authorized submission of an application to the Michigan Public Safety Critical Incident Mapping Grant Program and approved a memorandum of understanding with Critical Response Group to support the county during the grant process if the award is received.

Commissioners entered closed session to consider a written communication from legal counsel under MCL 15.268(1)(d) related to a potential property purchase; the meeting record notes the County Administrator, Deputy Administrator and EMS Director were authorized to attend and that Matt Delzio was not present for the closed session. The board later re-entered open session.

The board established a subcommittee to discuss recycling surcharge appeals, appointing Commissioners Art Jeannot, Christina Trigg and Bob Roelofs. It also adopted Resolution 2026-008, which sets dog-license expiration dates, conversion provisions and licensing requirements consistent with the Dog Law of 1919 after staff from animal-control answered questions.

Chair Art Jeannot addressed an external request to adopt a resolution concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and said, "I do not see that as our role and choose not to respond." During the public-comment period Annie Browning of Frankfort spoke about ICE.

Commissioners provided routine reports on meetings and committees; County Administrator Katie Zeits announced upcoming meetings including a Regional Material Management Committee meeting, an MDOT pre-construction meeting and a construction kickoff for the Point Betsie Lighthouse. Staff also said the Benzonia recycling site at Save‑A‑Lot will be moved this spring, with a new location to be determined.

The meeting approved payment of the bills from Jan. 23 through Feb. 5, 2026, totaling $471,182.62 and adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda (motion: Rhonda Nye; second: Len Mathieu) — Passed, Ayes: Art Jeannot, Tim Markey, Len Mathieu, Rhonda Nye, Bob Roelofs, Gary Sauer, Christina Trigg. - Approve minutes (motion: Christina Trigg; second: Gary Sauer) — Passed, unanimous. - Pay bills $471,182.62 (motion: Rhonda Nye; second: Len Mathieu) — Passed, unanimous. - Jail server and camera upgrade (motion: Bob Roelofs; second: Tim Markey) — Authorized up to $50,000, passed, unanimous. - Sheriff training budget amendment $5,420 (motion: Tim Markey; second: Len Mathieu) — Passed, unanimous. - Mapping grant application and MOU (motion: Gary Sauer; second: Rhonda Nye) — Approved, unanimous. - Emergency Management grant amendment $3,342.30 (motion: Rhonda Nye; second: Tim Markey) — Passed, unanimous. - PTO policy amendment (motion: Christina Trigg; second: Gary Sauer) — Adopted, unanimous. - Educational Assistance Policy (motion: Christina Trigg; second: Len Mathieu) — Adopted, unanimous. - Closed session to consider written legal communication (motion: Christina Trigg; second: Gary Sauer) — Approved, unanimous. - Recycling surcharge appeal subcommittee (motion: Rhonda Nye; second: Tim Markey) — Established, unanimous. - Resolution 2026-008 (motion: Gary Sauer; second: Christina Trigg) — Adopted, unanimous. - Detective vehicle purchase and outfit funding (motion: Tim Markey; second: Christina Trigg) — Approved, unanimous. - Committee appointments (various motions) — Approved, unanimous.

What this means

Most votes were unanimous, enabling the county to move forward with capital and staffing supports for public safety and to update employee benefit and education-assistance policies. The closed session was convened under the statutory provision allowing consideration of written legal advice about a property matter; no public details were released. The new dog-license resolution aligns local rules with the Dog Law of 1919.

Next steps

Staff will finalize warranty language on the jail upgrade agreement, proceed with vehicle procurement and outfitting, submit the mapping grant application if materials are secured, and follow up on recycling-site relocation and the newly created recycling surcharge appeals subcommittee.