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Marquette County commissioners accept resignation, adopt budget amendments, approve appointments and table airport fuel agreement
Summary
At its March 24 meeting the Marquette County Board accepted a commissioner resignation, adopted 2025 fourth-quarter budget amendments that included major grant-funded projects, approved a USDA drawdown and several appointments, directed counsel on a FOIA appeal after closed session, and tabled an aviation fuel agreement for a March 26 special meeting.
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners on March 24 accepted the resignation of Commissioner Stephen Adamini (District 3), adopted year-end 2025 budget amendments affecting multiple funds, approved appointments to the Pathways mental health board, authorized a USDA drawdown for the K.I. Sawyer water project, and sent an aviation fuel supply agreement to a special meeting on March 26 for further consideration.
The actions followed public comment that included repeated concerns about county ARPA allocations, a proposed new jail, and potential county involvement with the fixed-base operator (FBO) and aviation fuel supply. Commissioner Nordeen moved to accept Adamini’s resignation; Comm. Alholm seconded the motion, which the board adopted. The board also read a retirement resolution recognizing Gerald "Jerry" Messana for 12 years of service at the Marquette County Health Department; Chairperson Joseph Derocha said Messana “did an amazing job and was a great leader.”
Finance Manager Kamila Fassbender outlined a range of 2025 fourth-quarter budget adjustments across numerous funds. Notable items included a courthouse circulating pump replacement (total project cost reported as $65,360), increases in corrections-related health and detention costs, a DNR-backed consultant for a Community Wildfire Protection Plan ($20,000), an increase in MSHDA CHILL program rehab costs ($66,500), an EGLE Environmental Justice grant for Little Trout Lake Park ($441,500), and airport capital projects noted at $301,495 in county funding plus $2,045,000 in federal grants for projects such as HPMP agreement, hangar floor replacement and PFOS floor drain work. Comm. Alholm moved to adopt the amendments; the motion passed on a roll call with Ayes recorded from Comm. Alholm, Comm. LaLonde, Comm. Nordeen and Chairperson Derocha; Comm. Numinen was absent.
On ARPA spending, an effort by Comm. Nordeen to alter allocations was not supported. Comm. LaLonde then moved to defer any ARPA allocation decisions to the next Jail Committee meeting; Comm. Alholm seconded and the motion passed. Several public commenters had urged broader or different ARPA spending priorities during the public-comment period.
County administrators also sought and received approval for the fifth USDA loan drawdown tied to the K.I. Sawyer water project. Administrator Duane DuRay described Pay Application No. 12: Smith Construction construction costs of $26,034.75 and GEI Consultants engineering costs of $10,058.00, for a total draw request of $36,092.75. Comm. Nordeen moved to approve the drawdown; Comm. Alholm seconded. Roll-call support was recorded from Comm. Nordeen, Comm. Alholm, Comm. LaLonde and Chairperson Derocha; the motion passed.
Responding to public concern about airport management and fuel supply, the board voted to table the Aviation Fuel Supply Agreement and move the item to a special meeting on March 26 for further consideration. Several speakers during public comment—including pilots and FBO stakeholders—urged careful review; Mathew Bloch, identified as an airplane owner and flight trainer, said fuel is "a huge part of flying" and that board decisions on fuel will affect many users.
The board reappointed Glenn Wing and Margaret Rayner to the Pathways Community Mental Health Board (terms ending March 31, 2029). A consent motion approved claims and payroll items for the period, including total expenditures of $922,683.09 and biweekly payroll of $922,809.53; a separate check (#237776) for $418.09 was approved with Comm. Alholm recorded as abstaining.
The meeting included a closed session under MCL 15.268(1)(h) to consider material exempt from disclosure. After returning to open session, the board directed Civil Counsel, by motion, to grant the appeal of the Sibley FOIA under the parameters discussed in closed session.
The board adjourned at approximately 8:10 p.m.; the minutes were signed by County Clerk Linda K. Talsma and Chair Joseph Derocha. The board scheduled follow-up consideration of ARPA allocations at the next Jail Committee meeting and set a special meeting on March 26 to continue deliberation of the aviation fuel supply agreement.
