Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mackinac County commissioners adopt capital-improvement policy, approve agreements and multiple bills
Summary
At their June 25 meeting in St. Ignace, the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution establishing a Capital Improvement Fund policy, authorized survey and remonumentation agreements, and approved four sets of warrants and budget amendments; several personnel and grant items were discussed and one staffing motion was rescinded.
The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners on June 25, 2026 met in the Annex Boardroom in St. Ignace and approved a resolution establishing a Capital Improvement Fund policy, authorized survey and remonumentation agreements and approved multiple warrant payments and budget amendments.
Chair Mike Patrick called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. and roll call showed Commissioners Austin Kimberling, John Kling, Mike Patrick, Daryl Schroeder and Judy St. Louis-Scott present. The board first approved the meeting agenda as amended and then approved minutes for April 21, May 12, May 28 and June 11, 2026 as presented.
Sheriff Ed Wilk told commissioners the Sheriff's Office had "just received a DNR grant in amount of $12,700," a grant he presented during elected/staff reports. Treasurer Tina Massey said the county's 2025 audit is complete and "turned out favorable on our part," and she reported the auditors recommended the county adopt a grant policy. Massey also presented a list of tax-foreclosure parcels and reminded the board that it holds the first right of refusal on such parcels; commissioners scheduled that item for a future agenda decision.
Equalization Director Dulcee Atherton told the board the county must hire an outside appraiser this year to complete commercial appraisals and that an RFP needs to be issued soon, with work due in October; she said she will present the RFP for board approval at the next meeting and plans to post the Equalization Clerk vacancy if an internal employee is promoted.
Chief Deputy Register of Deeds Michelle Peters presented the Survey and Remonumentation agreements; the board approved those agreements on a roll-call vote (Yes: Kimberling, Kling, Patrick, Schroeder, St. Louis-Scott).
During unfinished-business discussion, Treasurer Massey referenced House Bills 5880 and 5872 and renewed a request for board approval of overtime hours for her office. Massey said the clerk's office recently received another employee and noted she feels her office is scrutinized more closely, stating it is "interesting that her requests get over analyzed." Commissioners indicated they want to review the matter further and placed the overtime request on the next agenda for a decision.
The board moved, on a motion by Commissioner Austin Kimberling seconded by Commissioner John Kling, to adopt a resolution establishing a Capital Improvement Fund policy as recommended by the county auditors and the county attorney; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes.
Commissioners also approved a schedule change to hold the first September meeting as a Committee of the Whole in Engadine at the Garfield Township Hall at 4:00 p.m., and they noted the county's Opioid Committee will present grant recommendations at the first July meeting for the board's action.
Court Administrator Christine Bawol requested that five weekly hours previously allocated to the Circuit Court Clerk be reassigned to another court employee. A motion to approve that reallocation was made but later rescinded by the mover and seconder after additional discussion, leaving the request without action.
The board held multiple closed sessions to obtain and discuss a legal opinion under Michigan's Open Meetings Act citation MCL 15.268(i)(h). Following the closed sessions, the board moved to "accept our Attorney's recommendation," on a motion that carried unanimously; the transcript records the action but does not detail the content of the legal opinion or recommendation.
On routine financial business, the commissioners approved extra bills dated June 3 totaling $201,097.23, regular bills dated June 11 totaling $141,049.49, regular bills dated June 25 totaling $171,591.01 and additional bills dated June 25 totaling $127,599.66. The board also approved budget amendments #26-16 through #26-19 on a roll-call vote.
Communications received included the May banking report and a letter from Alger County. The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Next steps: The board scheduled consideration of tax-foreclosure parcels and the Treasurer's overtime request for a future meeting and will accept opioid-settlement grant recommendations at the first July meeting.
