Kalkaska County approves Inter-Fluve to design Rugg Pond project, authorizes $531,754 contract

The Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 21, 2025 to accept Inter-Fluve's proposal for the Rugg Pond design contract in the amount of $531,754.00, a measure the board said will be paid with the Rugg Pond Removal grant and matching funds. Commissioner Robert Baldwin moved the approval and Commissioner Jeff Sieting supported the motion; the roll-call vote was six in favor, zero opposed and one absent (Commissioner Scott Matley).

Commissioner Baldwin introduced the motion and summarized the county's multi-year review of options for Rugg Pond, saying the county had examined repair and removal pathways and consulted state agencies and fisheries stakeholders during the process. Tom Vitale, project manager with Conservation Resource Alliance, told the board Inter-Fluve was the steering committee's recommended engineering firm after interviews and qualifications review, and that Spicer Group ranked as the second contender. Chair Kohn Fisher presided over the roll call that concluded the motion was carried.

The board did not adopt a separate detailed funding plan during the special meeting; commissioners noted additional funds will be required and that potential funding sources are being discussed as the project advances toward design and implementation.