Benzie County commissioners approve EMPG grant, $154,276 in bills and a $5,000 budget amendment

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 25 to authorize the chair to sign an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) agreement and to approve a series of finance and buildings items, including payment of $154,276.23 in county bills.

The measures were approved during a regular meeting at the Government Center in Beulah, where Chair Vance Bates called the board to order at 4:00 p.m. Commissioners voted to approve the EMPG grant agreement following a presentation from Emergency Management Director Frank Post. The motion to approve the EMPG agreement passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Why it matters: the EMPG program supports county emergency planning and response capacity; authorizing the agreement permits the county to accept state/federal grant funding and proceed with grant-related work.

In other finance business the board approved payment of county bills for Aug. 11–25, 2015 totaling $154,276.23 (motion by Commissioner Griner; seconded by Commissioner Tucker; unanimous roll call). The board also approved Finance Committee consent calendar items 1–9 as presented and authorized the chairman to sign where needed. Committee materials listed several authorizations, including funding for cameras and lighting at three recycling sites ($8,000 authorized), amendments to EMS and Child Care budgets, purchase and configuration items for BS&A financial software, and authorization to install fiber optic cable from the Government Center to the sheriff’s office at a cost of $4,165 to be performed by Feyen Zylstra.

The board passed a budget amendment moving $5,000 from state grants into account 230-000-957.30 for landscape/trail maintenance (motion by Tucker; seconded by Sauer; unanimous roll-call vote). The amendment was recorded as an intrafund transfer to reflect an increased maintenance allocation.

Facilities and property matters approved included the Buildings & Grounds consent calendar. Supporting materials recommended renewing a janitorial contract with Gottschalk Cleaning for three years effective Oct. 1, 2015, with listed service rates (janitorial $1,975 per month; window cleaning $175 per quarter; carpet cleaning $1,200 semiannually; strip and refinish $550 semiannually). The board approved the Buildings & Grounds consent calendar by motion (Walterhouse moved; Tucker seconded; unanimous vote).

Treasurer Michelle Thompson updated the board on the Land Bank: proposals are being accepted for demolition and redevelopment in Honor and Lake Ann; the Land Bank hauled more than 700 tires from a recently sold parcel; five of seven parcels have sold, with two parcels slated for a no-bid sale. The Land Bank was scheduled to meet to consider submitted bids.

County Administrator Karl Sparks told commissioners the county has a balanced budget under final committee review and expects to present a finalized budget at the Sept. 8, 2015 meeting. Sparks also noted a Community Development Block Grant award of $463,000 for a Crystal Mountain expansion project and ongoing IT work including a website redesign and phone-system RFPs.

The board adjourned at 5:36 p.m. and will reconvene at the regular meeting on Sept. 8, 2015 or at the call of the chair.