Midland County commissioners approve contracts, staffing changes and two labor agreements

The Midland County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 17 approved a package of contracts, staffing changes, budget adjustments and labor agreements during its regular meeting.

The board voted to award the contract to Three Rivers Corporation to remodel the County Services building, approving a $300,000 construction contingency and identifying Fund 404 (General Capital Improvements) as the funding source, according to an Administration & Operations Committee report submitted by Janette Snider, chairperson. The committee report included an estimated project cost in the transcript that is unclear; the board approved the contract on a 6–0 roll-call vote with one commissioner absent.

The board also approved two care coordination agreements with Blue Cross Complete — one for children's special healthcare services and a separate agreement for elevated blood case management. Both agreements were described in committee reports as effective Oct. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024, with automatic renewal clauses; the board approved both measures on roll-call votes.

Other formal actions included extending the county's auditing services contract (the transcript lists the contractor name as 'rean' — spelling unclear) to cover fiscal-year audits from 2025 through 2034; approving proposed adjustments to the 2024 budget as recommended by the Finance Committee; and two staffing changes recommended by Human Services: increasing a community health nurse position (transcript reads from '0.6 FTE to 0.8 FTE') with no net budget increase, and reducing a vacant Deputy Treasurer accounting position from 0.8 FTE to 0.5 FTE effective Jan. 6, 2025. All motions passed on roll calls recorded as six yes, one absent.

The board also approved multiple appointments and reappointments to advisory boards and commissions, including members of the Midland County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board, the Mid Michigan Mosquito Control technical advisory committee, the Midland County Parks and Recreation Commission and the Midland County Road Commission; term dates were specified in the committee memorandum and the appointments were approved by voice vote.

After a brief closed session for labor negotiations, the board returned to open session and approved tentative agreements the unions reported had been ratified by their memberships: one with the 75th Judicial District Court employees association and one with the United Steelworkers (as transcribed). Both agreements are effective Jan. 1, 2025, and passed on roll-call votes.

Chairman Bone commented during the meeting, "I think it's great to see a local company get the business," and several commissioners offered farewell remarks to departing members and staff. Commissioner Snider said she would "miss you dearly" as colleagues leave the board.

The meeting ended with the board adjourning until an organizational session on Jan. 7, 2025.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 minutes: voice vote, passed. - Payment of listed General Bank claims (Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 weeks): voice vote, passed (transcript lists several weekly totals including $631,000 and $613,500). - Award contract to Three Rivers Corporation for County Services building remodel: roll call 6–0 (one absent), construction contingency $300,000, funding: Fund 404 General Capital Improvements. - Policy 303.1 purchasing policy changes: roll call 6–0 (one absent), approved. - Blue Cross Complete care coordination agreements (children's special healthcare; elevated blood case management): roll calls 6–0 (one absent), approved; terms Oct. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2024, auto-renewal per committee report. - Audit services contract extension (contractor name transcribed as 'rean'): roll call 6–0 (one absent), approved; extension covers audits 2025–2034. - 2024 budget adjustments (Finance Committee): roll call 6–0 (one absent), approved. - Staffing changes (community health nurse; Deputy Treasurer accounting): roll calls 6–0 (one absent), approved; effective dates per staff memo (Deputy Treasurer change effective Jan. 6, 2025). - Appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions: voice vote, passed. - Tentative labor agreement — 75th Judicial District Court employees association: roll call 6–0 (one absent), approved; effective Jan. 1, 2025. - Tentative labor agreement — United Steelworkers (as transcribed): roll call 6–0 (one absent), approved; effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Clarifying details and limits of the record - The committee report for the County Services building remodel includes an estimated cost in the transcript that is garbled in the record. The board approved awarding the contract and a $300,000 contingency; the exact total project estimate is unclear in the transcript and is listed as unclear in meeting records. - The auditing contractor name appears in the transcript as "rean"; spelling and corporate identity are unclear from the audio transcription and should be confirmed in procurement records. - Several numeric FTE values and document reference codes in the transcript are garbled (for example, some FTE notations and agenda item numbering); the article reports the transcript wording and flags unclear items rather than inventing details.

Sources: Midland County Board of Commissioners meeting transcript, Dec. 17, 2024.