Isabella County commissioners approve contracts, place senior millage renewal on August ballot

The Isabella County Board of Commissioners approved a series of contracts, budget amendments and program actions at a regular meeting in Mt. Pleasant on April 21, 2026.

Chairman Frank Engler opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. The board unanimously ratified two invoice lists — $2,057,522.65 (April 3) and $667,548.31 (April 10) — after Administrator/Controller Brian Smith reviewed the expenditures.

Commissioners voted to approve a TRANE proposal to replace the courthouse rooftop unit for $254,427.00 and authorized the board chair to sign the contract. The board also approved a contract modification with Conley’s Detective and Security Guard Agency for security services with Isabella County serving as fiscal agent for Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works for the Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 term.

On senior services, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration) to continue the Senior Project Fresh program and voted to place a renewal of the Senior Millage — up to 1.0 mill for a ten-year term from 2026–2035 — on the August 2026 ballot.

The board contracted Resource Recycling Systems, Inc. (RRS) to begin work on Materials Management Plans and approved the purchase of a One American Baler 2 Ram under an EPA Infrastructure Grant agreement with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. To support the county’s Material Recovery Facility, commissioners authorized an interfund loan of $652,385.00 at an interest rate of 3.72%, to be disbursed in installments that match vendor payment schedules.

The board approved the 2026 Equalization Report on the State Tax Commission form L-4024 and Resolution #2026-02 as presented by Equalization Director Pete Preston; the minutes record the motion as carried. (Note: the meeting minutes list Commissioner Bob Campbell as absent earlier in the roll call but later list him among the yeas on the equalization item; the minutes therefore contain an internal inconsistency regarding Commissioner Campbell’s attendance.)

Commissioners also approved Budget Amendment 2026-19BOC for a DTE BESS preapplication escrow and adopted Capital Improvement Fund Policy No. 416. Several community announcements followed; the board adjourned at 5:31 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Ratified invoice lists (April 3 and April 10): motion by Commissioner Steve Swaney; carried (Yeas listed: Hope, Moreno, Swaney, Jaloszynski, Engler, Weber). - TRANE courthouse rooftop unit contract ($254,427.00): moved by Commissioner Steve Weber; carried unanimously. - Conley’s Detective contract modification (security services, Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026): moved by Commissioner Steve Weber; carried unanimously. - MOU for Senior Project Fresh with MDHHS: moved by Commissioner Tobin Hope; carried unanimously. - Senior Millage renewal (up to 1.0 mill, 2026–2035) placed on August 2026 ballot: moved by Jerry Jaloszynski; carried unanimously. - RRS Materials Management Plan contract: moved by Commissioner Engler; carried unanimously. - Interfund loan for Material Recovery Facility ($652,385.00 at 3.72%): moved by Commissioner Steve Weber; carried unanimously. - Purchase of One American Baler 2 Ram (EPA Infrastructure Grant): moved by Commissioner James Moreno; carried unanimously. - 2026 Equalization Report (STC form L-4024) and Resolution #2026-02: moved by Commissioner James Moreno; carried (minutes list yeas including Bob Campbell despite earlier 'absent' listing). - Budget Amendment 2026-19BOC (DTE BESS preapplication escrow): moved by Commissioner Jerry Jaloszynski; carried unanimously. - Capital Improvement Fund Policy No. 416: moved by Commissioner Steve Swaney; carried unanimously.

What it means: These approvals advance facilities and waste-management projects, preserve funding for senior services and set a county millage question for voters this August. The interfund loan and capital purchases will affect county cash flows and require vendor disbursements tied to project schedules. The equalization filing is a state-required submission that sets the county’s property valuation records.

The board’s minutes reflect unanimous support for recorded motions; however, the minutes also contain an attendance/vote discrepancy concerning Commissioner Bob Campbell that the clerk’s office may need to clarify in the official record.