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Sand Lake County commissioners adopt park grant support, honor retiring police chief and approve routine fiscal items
Summary
The board unanimously adopted a retirement resolution for Chief Brian McGinness, approved a MDNR trust fund grant application to support a Lexington Park accessibility plan (clarified as a reimbursement grant), passed a proclamation recognizing 211 Northeast Michigan week after wording was adjusted, and approved multiple routine fiscal, procurement and personnel items before adjourning at 1:52 p.m.
The Sand Lake County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 18 unanimously approved a series of resolutions and routine fiscal items, including a retirement resolution honoring long-serving law-enforcement official Brian McGinness and a resolution supporting a Michigan Department of Natural Resources trust fund grant application for a Lexington Park accessibility plan.
Commissioner Ballard read a resolution recognizing Brian McGinness’s more than three decades of service in law enforcement and the community; the board adopted the resolution on a roll-call vote with all seven commissioners recorded as voting yes. McGinness accepted a certificate of congressional recognition and thanked the board.
The board also voted to support submission of a MDNR trust fund application for the Lexington Park accessibility plan after staff and commissioners discussed the reimbursement nature of the grant and the county’s need to demonstrate available funding. During the discussion a commissioner clarified that the grant is reimbursement-based and described partial payments previously received on other park projects. The motion passed by roll call with all seven commissioners voting yes.
Commissioner Lee introduced a resolution designating Feb. 23–28 as 211 Northeast Michigan week and provided background statistics on calls and top service needs. Lee said she had removed wording that implied the service was "free" after consulting with the health department to avoid misrepresenting funding sources; the resolution passed unanimously.
The board approved multiple fiscal and administrative items vetted in a prior finance meeting, including payment of current claims; budget amendments and account updates; an increase in appropriation for the medical examiner; award of a demolition and abatement contract for Lexington and Applegate (contract value not to exceed $5,800, reimbursed by the state land bank as stated in the agenda item); authorization to purchase a 2023 GMC truck for animal control (cost not to exceed $35,000) and authorization to dispose of two older county trucks; acceptance of Brownfield Redevelopment Authority policies; authorizations to post and fill several county positions; a temporary assistant prosecuting attorney agreement (rate and hour limits specified in the agenda language); and the FY2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant agreement. All motions were carried by voice or roll-call votes as recorded.
Public commenters urged wider use of Brownfield tools and local grant-consulting partnerships. The board adjourned at 1:52 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Resolution honoring Brian McGinness — Adopted (roll call: Don Black, Roger Ballard, Gary Heberling, Bill Sarella, Christine Lee, Evans Ehart, John Moody — all yes). - MDNR trust fund grant support — Adopted (same roll-call result). - 211 Northeast Michigan week proclamation — Adopted (same roll-call result). - Demolition and abatement contract award (Lexington & Applegate) — Adopted (motion recorded; contract amount and funding source recorded in agenda).
