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Soil Conservation leaders say county millage payments missing, seek immediate repayment with interest
Summary
Soil Conservation District Director Renee Penny and board member Carol Hart told the county finance committee that millage funds were not submitted by the county treasurer, that funds were withdrawn from investments to cover payroll, and they requested immediate payment plus interest; the committee agreed to review Treasurer documents.
Renee Penny, director of the Soil Conservation District, told the Kalkaska County Finance Committee on April 7 that the district's millage distributions "have not been submitted to Soil conservation from the County Treasurer," and asked for clarity on the channel for follow-up, saying she "requested what the correct channel of communication is to address this." Carol Hart, a Soil Conservation Board member, added that some millage funds "have been removed from an investment to meet payroll/expenses" and "requested the collected millage funds to be provided immediately plus interest for Soil Conservation loss," noting she believes legally the funds must be dispersed by April 1 each year.
The Committee heard both speakers and discussed broader concerns about millage accounting. Chair Jeff Sieting and Commissioner Robert Baldwin expressed concern over ongoing discrepancies, with Baldwin extending the concern to the County Road Millage and other collected millages. County Administrator/CFO Patrick Whiteford told the committee the County Treasurer (Tracey) provided a box of bank statements but not the monthly reconciliation reports the board had requested.
The committee did not take immediate formal action to release funds during the meeting. Members agreed to review the documents provided by Treasurer Tracey at the end of the meeting and to continue review of the matter at the Committee of the Whole on April 8, 2026. The Soil Conservation representatives asked for remedial payment plus interest; the committee discussion did not include a formal vote on that demand during this session.
