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Commissioners debate reinstating standing committees; $25,000 strategic plan draws concern
Summary
At the March 12 Committee of the Whole meeting, Commissioners voted to reaffirm prior standing committees while several members questioned a $25,000 strategic planning proposal as duplicative. Commissioner David Persons warned that longer meeting commitments could prompt resignation.
The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners debated reinstating standing committees and the value of an outside strategic planning engagement during its Committee of the Whole meeting March 12.
Commissioner Jeff Sieting urged reinstatement of the prior committee structure and raised concerns about spending $25,000 for strategic planning that he said mirrored a previous “Grand Vision” effort. County Administrator David Schaeffer and other commissioners discussed process and information flow; Commissioner David Comai said he has sometimes voted without sufficient background material. Commissioner David Persons told the board he opposed expanding meeting obligations, saying, “I will resign if more/lengthy meetings are required.” The board moved a motion by Sieting to reaffirm standing committees from the Jan. 2, 2025 organizational meeting and advanced the matter to the Board for further consideration.
Why it matters: Commissioners must balance oversight and staff time while setting governance structures that determine how departmental business is vetted. The $25,000 planning figure was raised as a fiscal concern by multiple commissioners and by County Clerk Deborah Hill later in public comment.
What’s next: The item will be considered by the full board; commissioners requested review of prior minutes and by-laws to clarify the committee process before any new contract or expenditure is authorized.
