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Oscoda County board agrees to cover ice‑storm debris removal while awaiting state reimbursement
Summary
Chair Charles Varner said the county will pay for remaining ice‑storm debris removal at township collection sites and seek 75% reimbursement from the State of Michigan; commissioners cited fire‑hazard concerns and slow state response.
Charles E. Varner, chair of the Oscoda County Board of Commissioners, told the board on July 8 that the county will move ahead to pay for removal of remaining ice‑storm debris at township collection sites and pursue reimbursement from the State of Michigan.
Varner said the county followed state guidelines to qualify for 75% reimbursement and has been coordinating with townships that provided collection sites. He said some counties still await promised state assistance—such as chippers and bucket trucks—and described accumulated debris as a potential fire hazard.
The board referenced a prior June 10 motion authorizing acceptance of bids for the remaining debris removal and said it is obtaining estimates for work at three township locations. Commissioners said townships have been instrumental in staging and maintaining collection sites and that the county does not view the work as a long‑term county obligation but will cover costs now to expedite cleanup.
The board did not report a firm timeline for reimbursement. Varner said the county expects reimbursement from the state “sometime in the near future” but provided no firm date. The board voted in June to accept bids for debris removal and reiterated that action in committee reports during the July 8 meeting.
The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for July 22, 2025, where the commissioners may receive updates on debris‑removal contracting and reimbursement status.
