Board authorizes publication of notice to issue up to $7.5M in bonds for county nursing facility improvements

The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners on April 9 approved Resolution No. 25-04-03 authorizing publication of a Notice of Intent to Issue Bonds to finance capital improvements at the Shiawassee County Medical Care Facility (MCF).

Commissioner Garber moved the resolution and Commissioner Holzhausen seconded; the motion carried on a recorded vote of 7-0. The resolution declares the county's intent to issue limited tax general obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,500,000 and directs the county clerk to publish the statutorily required notice in a newspaper of general circulation.

The resolution states the Shiawassee County Department of Health and Human Services Board (HHS Board) has requested county assistance to finance a portion of the Project. The transcript wording anticipates the HHS Board will contribute MCF funds toward project costs (the minutes state a 25% contribution is anticipated for project costs up to $10,000,000 and describe continued MCF funding of costs beyond that threshold). The board also authorized engaging the firm Dickinson Wright PLLC as bond counsel to prepare issuance documents.

The published notice language described in the resolution states the bonds will be issued under Act 34, Public Acts of Michigan, 2001, as amended, and that the county's full faith and credit will be pledged for payment. The notice also explains electors' right to petition for a referendum: a petition must be filed within 45 days after publication, signed by not less than 10% or 15,000 of registered electors, whichever is less, to force a referendum on the bond issuance.

The action authorizes publication of notice and retention of bond counsel; no bond sale occurred at the meeting. Further procedural steps (publication, petition window, and competitive or negotiated sale terms) are described in the resolution text.