Oceana County sets 2025 tax millage, approves transfer station work, wage adjustments and winter-service contracts
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Summary
The Oceana County Board on Sept. 25 approved the county's L-4029 tax form (a 6.7% increase from 2024), awarded excavation and a gate installation at the Transfer Station, accepted winter plowing bids for county facilities, approved chief deputy wage increases, reappointed two Brownfield board members and authorized payment of claims totaling $685,298.23.
The Oceana County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to set the county's 2025 tax-millage paperwork, approve multiple procurement items for county facilities and enact personnel wage adjustments.
At the regular meeting Chairperson Robert Walker and Clerk Melanie A. Coon certified the board's actions after roll-call votes. Commissioners approved the L-4029 prepared by the County Equalization Director to set the 2025 tax millage rate and authorized the clerk and board chair to sign the form; the board recorded a 6.7% increase in the millage rate from 2024.
The board also accepted bid proposals for snow-plowing, removal and salting services for the 2025-26 winter season. The accepted submissions included Hallack Contracting Inc. for multiple county locations (examples in the packet: $152 per plowing for the County Building grouping; $89 per plowing for the DHD #10/OCEMS complex) and Beckman Brothers Inc. for the Animal Shelter and Shelby OCEMS location (fees shown as $38 and $49 per plowing, respectively). The board approved the slate of contractors on a motion by Commissioner Paul Erickson and a second from Commissioner Craig Hardy.
On solid-waste operations, the board authorized a $10,810 contract award to Ken Adams & Sons for excavation work at the Transfer Station to improve workflow and site layout, with project spending not to exceed $15,810 if additional work is required; funds will come from the Public Improvement Fund. Separately, the board approved a $13,172.89 quote from Great Lakes Pet Fencing, Inc. to supply and install a gate at the Transfer Station, also to be paid from the Public Improvement Fund.
The board approved personnel actions recommended by corporate counsel: a wage adjustment of $5,622.26 for the Chief Deputy Treasurer and $2,502.64 for the Chief Deputy Registrar to be paid in the next pay period. Commissioners voted unanimously on those adjustments.
Commissioner Joel McCormick moved to reappoint Lynne Cavasos and Anne Pawli to three-year terms on the Brownfield Redevelopment Board, with those terms to expire Sept. 30, 2028; the motion passed by voice vote. The board also voted to add the Corporate Counsel Policy adopted Aug. 14, 2025, to the Board Rules of Order and the County Policy Handbook so the policy is available to employees and future commissioners.
The board approved payment of accounts payable and the release of funds for Sept. 25, 2025. The roll-call motion recorded a Grand Total of $685,298.23 across the funds listed in the regular meeting packet. The County Administrator had provided the board a separate internal review of claims and noteworthy expenditures for items greater than or equal to $1,000; that review totaled $305,577.89 and identified items such as $72,235 to BS&A Software for software expenditures, $35,135.68 to Enterprise FM Trust for vehicle leasing and $16,239.42 to Advanced Correctional Healthcare for inmate medical services.
During commissioner reports, members updated one another on township meetings and interagency work: discussion of an eel barrier at the Hesperia Dam, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission budget activity and Mason-Oceana 911 upgrades, including a newly deployed encrypted radio channel and consideration of an AI quality-assurance package for 911 training reviews. Chair Walker asked County Administrator Tracy Byard for a status update on the Flock camera system.
The board adjourned at 11:55 a.m. and will return for its next regular meeting as scheduled.