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Commissioners approve $780,042.18 in claims after debate over $72,000 transfer and DDA reimbursement
Summary
The board approved $780,042.18 in claims but probed several items: a $72,000 contingency transfer tied to a furnace installation that had not been moved into operations, a $107,524 park electric installation with disputed reimbursement from the DDA and a DNR grant, and membership dues to MTA; administrators said they will seek written reimbursement commitments before spending DNR grant funds.
The Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners approved claims totaling $780,042.18 after extended discussion of several line items that commissioners said required clarification.
The board questioned a $72,000 accounting issue related to a furnace installation. Jeff Nichols, Veterans Affairs director, said the contingency transfer intended to cover the furnace bill "never got moved," leaving the operational fund exposed; Francine confirmed corrective action was taken to address the oversight. "So that was just an error somewhere along the way," Nichols said.
Commissioners also raised a $107,524 charge described as a parks trailer and park electric installation. Administrators said the county expected reimbursement from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and noted there is an $80,000 DNR grant connected to the project. County staff said the DDA has paid $22,000 to date and that $78,000 remains outstanding; the clerk's written guidance reportedly describes the DDA pledge as a 50% match up to $100,000, while some board members understood there was a firm $100,000 pledge. The administrator said she will attend the DDA meeting to secure clarification and any written commitments before authorizing further DNR grant purchases.
Several commissioners also asked about a $750 MTA (Michigan Townships Association/state membership) dues line; one commissioner said last year's payment had been $2,500 and asked staff to confirm which departments, if any, utilized the membership benefits. Commissioners asked staff to check department use of subscriptions and to call peer counties for comparison.
After discussion and assurances that staff will pursue written reimbursement and clarify membership benefits, the board approved the claims. One commissioner noted the board would not begin ordering items under the DNR grant until the reimbursement picture was clear.
What happens next: Administrator Francine will attend the DDA meeting to seek written confirmation of the reimbursement arrangement and will delay additional DNR grant spending until the county can verify funding.
