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North Country Community Mental Health outlines Bergmann Center closure; meeting with center scheduled
Summary
North Country Community Mental Health told the Charlevoix County Board the Bergmann Center is closing after pandemic-era funding shifts and the winding down of emergency state funds; the agency said it closed two directly operated programs to try to regain sustainability and will meet with Bergmann Center representatives to explore options.
Brian Babbitt of North Country Community Mental Health told the Charlevoix County Board on May 27 that changes to the pandemic-era funding model and the state’s winding down of emergency funding contributed to financial strain at the Bergmann Center.
Babbitt said some demand for services has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, forcing the agency to adjust rates and, in 2024, to close two directly operated programs in an effort to increase program volume and restore sustainability. He briefed the board on the timeline that led to the current closure and said a meeting was scheduled later in the week with Bergmann Center representatives to determine whether a path forward exists.
Board members asked questions about the timeline and financial drivers; Babbitt responded to those questions. During unscheduled public comment, three speakers — Jake Smith, Deb Nieswander and Jeff Glenny — addressed the Bergmann Center closure and urged clarification or action from county and behavioral-health partners.
There was no formal board action on the Bergmann Center at the meeting. The scheduled follow-up meeting between North Country Community Mental Health and Bergmann Center representatives is the next procedural step noted in the transcript.
