Barry County administrator recommended 3% raise after closed-session review

The Barry County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 voted to acknowledge a positive performance evaluation of County Administrator Eric Zuzga and recommended a 3% increase to his base salary, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The action followed a closed-session discussion held under the Open Meetings Act.

Chair David Jackson moved that the board enter closed session under Public Act 267 of 1976, Section 8(c) (MCL 15.268(c)) to discuss collective bargaining and Section 8(a) (MCL 15.268(a)) to consider the annual evaluation of the county administrator at the administrator’s request; the motion was supported by Commissioner Mike Callton and carried with all present members voting aye. The board entered closed session at 9:47 a.m. and reconvened at 10:44 a.m.

After reconvening, Commissioner David Hatfield moved, supported by Commissioner Bob Teunessen, to acknowledge the evaluation compiled from input by commissioners, elected officials, direct reports, other staff and select community members. The minutes note ratings generally ranged from 3 to 4 on a 1-to-5 scale with an average above 3.5; based on those results the board recommended a 3% salary increase to the administrator’s base pay effective Jan. 1, 2026. The motion passed unanimously (Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Getty, Hatfield, Jackson, Teunessen; Absent: Campbell, Smelker).

The board subsequently approved the closed-session minutes on a motion by Commissioner Mike Callton, supported by Commissioner Catherine Getty. The meeting adjourned at 10:54 a.m.

The evaluation and salary recommendation were adopted by a recorded vote of present members; details of the closed-session deliberations were not released in the public minutes beyond the evaluation summary and the board’s formal acknowledgment and action.