Benzie County commissioners adopt hazard mitigation and brownfield plans, pause dispatch relocation review

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on May 26 adopted two major planning resolutions, approved several budget and personnel actions and voted to postpone further work on a possible relocation of central dispatch.

Vice Chair Roger Griner called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and the board approved the agenda and minutes. After reports from department heads, the board voted 5–0 (Bates and Warsecke excused) to place all information about a potential dispatch move on hold until Aug. 1, 2015, after Central Dispatch reported that a recent laptop purchase came in about $7,000 under budget and said unresolved radio-communications work remains. "We still haven't fixed the radio communications here and that was what we were to do when the rate was increased to $3.00," Central Dispatch representative Ron Berns told the board, and he asked the board not to explore relocation costs for now.

Emergency Management Director Frank Post said FEMA had approved the county's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan pending the board's formal adoption. Vice Chair Griner read the proposed resolution and the board unanimously adopted Resolution 2015-014, formally adopting the county Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.

During a public hearing, Ed Kowalski, chair of the Brownfield Authority, presented a scattered-site Brownfield Plan for properties in the Village of Honor (including the Question Mark building and the former Bud's site). With no public comments offered, the board adopted Resolution 2015-015, making the Brownfield Plan effective June 1, 2015.

The board approved a series of administrative and financial measures. County Administrator Karl Sparks reported that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation had preliminarily approved a $463,000 grant for Crystal Mountain. The board voted to raise the joint court mileage reimbursement rate to $0.575 per mile, effective Jan. 1, 2015. The board approved payment of county bills totaling $303,028.49 for the May 13–26 period and approved multiple finance consent items as presented.

On buildings and grounds business the board authorized hiring Tammy May to paint restrooms, stairways and hallways at a total cost of $12,704.00; that motion passed 4–1 with Commissioner Walterhouse voting no. The board also approved an equipment lease agreement with the National Park Service for recycling containers, as requested by Recycling Coordinator Marlene Wood.

Personnel and appointments included approval to provide three name badges to Sgt. Tucker upon retirement and authorization for the COAM union to purchase his firearm; Commissioner Tucker abstained from that vote. The board made multiple committee appointments and reappointments, including Mary O'Connor Heitjan to the Centra Wellness Board, Roger Papineau to the Construction Board of Appeals, and Neil Nye to the EMS Advisory Board; it also appointed three members to the Health Department Board of Appeals.

A Veterans 2% grant request to the Grand Traverse Band was approved, and a 2014–15 budget amendment was adopted to adjust state grant and project expense lines for recycling work ($13,000). County Administrator Sparks reported a pending FOIA appeal (no response received from the requester) and the board set that item over to the June 9 meeting.

Commissioner Carland announced his interest in applying for the county administrator position and said he will abstain from future discussions on that appointment. The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.; the board is scheduled to reconvene June 9, 2015.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2015-014 (Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan) — adopted (roll call: Carland, Griner, Sauer, Tucker, Walterhouse; Bates and Warsecke excused). Resolution 2015-015 (Brownfield Plan) — adopted (same roll call). Motion to hold dispatch relocation information until Aug. 1, 2015 — adopted. Motion to provide Sgt. Tucker three name badges and allow union to purchase his firearm — adopted (Tucker abstained). Mileage rate increased to $0.575 per mile (joint court employees) — adopted. Tammy May painting contract ($12,704) — adopted (4–1). Equipment lease with National Park Service for recycling containers — adopted. Veterans 2% grant to Grand Traverse Band — adopted. Budget amendment (increase State Grants reimbursable $13,000; decrease Project Expense $13,000) — adopted.