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Calhoun County commissioners approve telecommuting policy, contract extensions, road equipment lease and other motions
Summary
At its Oct. 7 meeting the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners approved a permanent telecommuting policy, waived a purchasing policy to extend three service contracts, authorized a lease for a Vortex road patcher after a 5–2 vote, adopted a public-roads development policy, and voted to propose dissolution of a regional solid-waste consortium.
The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a set of operational policies, contract extensions and equipment purchases intended to preserve services and standardize county procedures.
The board unanimously adopted a permanent telecommuting policy that replaces a pandemic-era temporary policy, allowing remote work when mutually beneficial and requiring supervisor and Human Resources approval, Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott said. The motion to adopt the telecommuting policy was moved by Comr. Gary Tompkins and seconded by Comr. Rochelle Hatcher and passed on a roll call vote (Res.162-2021).
The board also unanimously approved a waiver of a purchasing policy provision to allow contract extensions for jail medical services, the medical examiner and inmate phone services. Scott and Assistant Administrator Brad Wilcox said the extensions preserve previously negotiated pricing and avoid service disruption after price increases during the pandemic; the board moved and approved the waiver (Res.163-2021).
The board approved a road department lease agreement to add a Vortex patcher to the county fleet, increasing the number of patchers from four to five. Comr. Tommy Miller questioned the need for an additional piece of equipment; Comr. Gary Tompkins said it would improve efficiency. The motion passed 5–2, with Miller and Comr. Jake Smith recorded as voting no (Res.164-2021).
The board adopted a Policy for Developing Public Roads to formalize requirements and procedures for accepting roads into the county system. Road Department staff, including Engineering Director Kristine Parsons, said the intent is to standardize existing practice; Parsons confirmed contractors must be Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) prequalified where required. The motion passed unanimously (Res.165-2021).
On intergovernmental matters the board approved a resolution proposing dissolution of the Southwest Michigan Solid Waste Consortium or, if dissolution does not occur, authorizing Calhoun County to withdraw. Corporation Counsel Jim Dyer told commissioners the consortium never organized as a separate unit of government, creating legal complications. The resolution passed unanimously (Res.166-2021).
Separately, the board elected two members to the Calhoun County Board of Canvassers from party-submitted slates. By unanimous ballot the board appointed Brendel Hatley as the Democratic member and Erica Brown as the Republican member for terms Nov. 1, 2021–Oct. 31, 2025 (Res.159-2021). Chair Steve Frisbie presided over the balloting and Comrs. Gary Tompkins and Jake Smith tabulated results.
The board also approved a resolution supporting Battle Creek Unlimited's application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge to develop the Michigan Unmanned Aerial System Park (MUASP) (Res.160-2021), and accepted the consent agenda that included health-plan renewals, the FY2021–22 Child Care Fund annual plan and related grant agreements (Res.161-2021).
The board closed the meeting after approving Claims Payable for Sept. 10–28, 2021 totaling $7,526,782.86 (Res.168-2021). The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
