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Marquette County board approves IT migration contract, opioid settlement participation and several airport leases
Summary
At its April 21 meeting the Marquette County Board approved a Microsoft 365 migration contract recommendation, authorized participation in a remnant opioid settlement, and approved multiple airport lease agreements and short-term hangar arrangements; all votes were 4-0 with two members absent.
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners on April 21, 2026 approved multiple administrative and contract items, voting unanimously (4-0) with Commissioners Benzie and Numinen absent.
Outlook 365 migration: County Administrator Duane DuRay and IT consultant Karhu Cyber recommended contracting with 12:34 MicroTechnologies to migrate the county’s email from Novell GroupWise to Microsoft 365 (Government Community Cloud). The scope covers migration of existing email and calendar data and licensing for approximately 300 end users for a one-year term. The recommendation cited a lower one-time migration cost from 12:34 MicroTechnologies (one-time migration support $32,575 and annual licensing $147,600; total first-year cost $180,175) versus the alternative. Funding will come from IT Technology Fund Reserves. Commissioner LaLonde moved to approve the recommendation and authorize the chairman to sign; Commissioner Alholm seconded and the motion adopted (4-0).
Opioid settlement participation: The board authorized Marquette County to execute a Participation Agreement to join the remnant-defendants settlement in the national prescription opioid litigation. The settlement documents cited combined payments of $97,625,000 by the named remnant defendants; the county had previously executed participation agreements in other opioid settlements. Commissioner Alholm moved to approve the participation; Commissioner Nordeen seconded. Roll-call vote: four ayes, zero nays.
Airport agreements and leases: Airport Manager David Erhart presented multiple items. The board pre-approved revised airline use fees and three-year lease agreements with American Airlines and SkyWest, and authorized development of a like-term agreement with United to support launch of new service; staff will work with Civil Counsel on final lease drafts and the chairman is authorized to sign. The board also authorized staff to draft a short-term lease with Yulista Contract Services, LLC for 4,157 sq. ft. in Hangar 663 between May 15 and Sept. 30, 2026 at $1,732.08 per month. Separately, the board approved a draft standing seasonal agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for intermittent occupancy of Hangar 402 (7,785 sq. ft.) from March 25, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2030 with base rent of $5,838.75 per month and a 3% annual escalator; the tenant is responsible for utilities plus a 15% administrative fee. All airport-related motions passed (4-0).
Claims and accounts: The board approved total expenditures paid via check and EFT transfers of $665,801.44 for April 10–16, 2026 and biweekly payroll of $938,162.72 for the period ending April 11, 2026; Commissioner Nordeen moved and Commissioner Alholm seconded (motion adopted 4-0).
The meeting also included a privileged comment from Civil Counsel Christina Nestor that a federal lawsuit filed by Mark Hangen was dismissed, several public comments urging funding for transit and mental-health services, and recognition of the passing of former Commissioner Charles Bergdahl. The agenda item listed as "Construction Code Ordinances" (10g) had been removed at the start of the meeting and was not acted on.
What this means: the approvals clear staff to proceed with contract negotiations and administrative steps, including IT migration work, opioid-settlement paperwork, and airport lease finalization; specific contract signatures and construction or implementation timelines were pending Civil Counsel review or subsequent staff action.