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Residents urge pause on final allocations and ask county to demand sustainability plan from mental health crisis center
Summary
Speakers at public comment asked the Board to pause final decisions about marijuana-tax and other allocations for the county mental health crisis and access center and to require the center’s leadership to present a sustainability plan before final funding decisions; the board added the item to the agenda and scheduled a report for early August.
At the start of public comment, Kate Dahlstrom of Long Lake Township asked the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners to delay final allocations of marijuana-tax and other funds for the county’s mental health crisis and access center and to require the center’s leadership to present a plan for long-term sustainability.
"I'm asking the commissioners to put a pause on deciding a final allocation, especially the marijuana tax money," Dahlstrom said, and requested the crisis leadership team provide a sustainability plan and explain whether neighboring counties could be asked to contribute. She said she sits on a community advisory group and told the board she had not seen financial statements for the center or clarity about remaining ARPA funds.
Dahlstrom also raised concerns about operations at Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, saying the agency’s problems have affected grant certifications and cash flows; she attributed the claim to her advisory-group knowledge. Commissioners avoided making an immediate decision and instead voted to add a formal request to the agenda asking the crisis center to appear and report on operations and sustainability.
Chair moved that the board formally request an update from the crisis center and schedule the presentation; the board agreed to invite the center to the first meeting in August so members could hear what leadership has accomplished and what plans are in place for continuity. Commissioners also asked the presentation to address the center’s ARPA funding balance.
Why it matters: The board has already allocated county funds to the center and commissioners said they want more detailed, county-level financial and operational information before finalizing any continued or permanent allocations. Scheduling a formal report gives the board a public opportunity to review sustainability plans and ask follow-up questions.
The board did not take a final funding vote at this meeting. The crisis center is scheduled to appear for an update in early August; commissioners said the report should include the center’s financial statements, detail of remaining ARPA funds, and a plan for sustaining operations beyond one-time allocations.
