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Barry County commissioners approve $125,383.91 in claims, adopt pension change, authorize grants and contracts
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Summary
At its Nov. 25 meeting the Barry County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $125,383.91 in claims, adopted a MERS plan amendment for Central Dispatch telecommunicators (3% employee contribution effective 1/1/2026), and authorized several grant and contract agreements including SCAO grant contracts and a Net Cost Agreement for SUD services with SWMBH.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners approved claims totaling $125,383.91 and a package of personnel, grant and contract actions during its Nov. 25, 2025 meeting in the Commission Chambers in Hastings.
The board voted unanimously (Ayes: Bassett, Callton, Campbell, Hatfield, Jackson, Smelker, Teunessen; Absent: Getty) to approve the claims. Commissioners also approved a MERS Defined Benefit Plan Adoption Agreement and a custom definition of compensation to merge divisions 23 and 24 for Central Dispatch telecommunicators; the plan calls for a required employee contribution of 3% effective Jan. 1, 2026.
In a bundled motion, commissioners approved fiscal year 2026 State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) grant contractors for the Adult Drug Court, Sobriety Court and Swift and Sure Sanctions Probatlon Program and authorized the board chair to sign a Net Cost Agreement with Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health Regional Entity (SWMBH) for substance use disorder services for fiscal 2026. The board also approved an amendment to the Hastings City/Barry County Airport management contract with Lucci Distributing covering Dec. 1, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2027, and accepted Audit Engagement Agreements with Gabridge & Co. to perform the 2025 Barry County Road Commission and the county annual audits.
Each item was moved and seconded as stated in the official minutes and carried by the seven commissioners present. Examples of recorded motions include:
• Approval of claims of $125,383.91 — moved by Jon Smelker, supported by David Hatfield; unanimous approval. • FOIA 25-171 appeal approval — moved by Bob Teunessen, supported by David Hatfield; unanimous approval. • Adoption of the MERS Defined Benefit Plan amendment for Central Dispatch telecommunicators (3% employee contribution, effective 1/1/2026) — moved by Jon Smelker, supported by David Hatfield; unanimous approval. • Approval of fiscal year 2026 SCAO grant contractors for Adult Drug Court, Sobriety Court and Swift and Sure and approval of the Net Cost Agreement for SUD services through SWMBH — moved by Mike Callton, supported by Marsha Bassett; unanimous approval. • Approval of an amendment to the Hastings City/Barry County Airport Contract for Airport Management Service with Lucci Distributing (Dec. 1, 2025–Nov. 30, 2027) — moved by Bob Teunessen, supported by Jon Smelker; unanimous approval. • Approval of Audit Engagement Agreements with Gabridge & Co. to perform the 2025 Barry County Road Commission annual audit and the 2025 Barry County annual audit — motions made and approved as recorded in the minutes.
Why it matters: the motions cover a mix of routine financial governance (claims and audits), employee retirement plan wording for a county telecommunicator group, and agreements that affect service delivery — notably SUD treatment funding and an airport management contract. The Net Cost Agreement executed with SWMBH allocates PA2 funding to support adult specialty court treatment and a peer recovery coach role to assist program participants.
Other business: Administrator Eric Zuzga reported the Rock the Country concert is scheduled for Aug. 7–8, 2026 at the Barry County Fairgrounds and noted the sponsor still owes a balance for the 2025 event. He said recommendations for an ERP/payroll solution will be presented Dec. 9, labor negotiations are temporarily on hold, and an IT steering committee will be formed in 2026. Chair David Jackson updated the board on the jail charrette and the next steps for the new jail project. Several students from Barry County Christian School attended and presented to the board during the meeting. Public comment included remarks by Gary White of Castleton Township on jail planning, sexual education law and county fees; Sheriff Dar Leaf also commented on the student presentations and state material approvals.
The board adjourned at 10:35 a.m.; the minutes were later approved and signed.