[0:00] Councillor Session. Madam Clerk, will you please take the roll.

[0:10] He is running late, so please know how lady is when he arrives, please.

[0:18] President.

[0:23] I have not heard from him either way, so.

[0:30] Thank

[0:33] you. Next we'll have a moment of silence, and then the pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner.

[0:51] Thank you.

[0:52] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic of

[1:00] which stands for one nation under God in the physical liberty and justice for all.

[1:15] Thank you.

[1:17] Next item of business is approval of the agenda.

[1:24] May I have a motion to approve the August 20th, 2026 Board of Commissioners regular session

[1:31] and agenda as presented.

[1:34] Second.

[1:36] Strobridge and U. Is there any discussion?

[1:41] Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

[1:44] Aye.

[1:45] Aye. Any opposed?

[1:47] Motion carries.

[1:51] Next up is approval of the minutes

[1:54] for August 6th, 2026 Board of Commissioners' regular meeting.

[2:05] Tompkins, Strobridge, any discussion?

[2:09] Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

[2:12] Aye.

[2:13] Any opposed?

[2:15] Motion carries.

[2:21] Next item on the agenda is citizens' time.

[2:24] During citizens' time, the board chair shall recognize any person wishing to address the

[2:29] board.

[2:30] A person recognized by the chair shall approach the podium and state his or her name and

[2:35] it in community of residents. A person may address the board only once on the same matter

[2:42] during each period set aside by four citizens time on the agenda, and only on matters that

[2:49] are relevant to county government. The chair shall control the length of the time each

[2:55] person shall be allowed to speak, which shall not exceed three minutes, and shall not allow

[3:02] negative personal comments. During citizen's time, if this is your first

[3:07] opportunity here, this is not a question and answer of period. However, during

[3:12] commissioner time later in the meeting, commissioners may choose to provide

[3:17] clarity to any subject matter. Is there anybody wishing to address the board,

[3:26] sir?

[3:26] I guess tonight we're going to vote on a agreement between the road department and the solar

[3:41] farm is supposedly getting built this year.

[3:46] I heard a little bit about the agreement

[3:48] just a few minutes ago.

[3:52] Supposedly what we've heard, like $8 million is going to be given.

[3:58] to the road department as I was just told a few months ago,

[4:03] 2 million was going to be held till they did prep work

[4:07] before the thing started.

[4:10] Then afterwards the rest of the 8 million

[4:13] is going to just give them to the road department.

[4:15] I hope you commissioners vote it down until we get a thing

[4:22] somehow is the road department keeps track of what they're spending

[4:27] of the $8 million in lead township or not get paid the money until they do the work because

[4:37] there's incidents out there in lead township where as promised stuff we paid for stuff and

[4:42] we didn't get it and all I can see is they run the road department kind of like a ponds

[4:49] that seem what they can get from somebody is to help pay for something they promise somebody else

[4:57] As another thing, I don't know how you guys can vote or why people don't come here is because we have no idea of citizens

[5:06] If they come here have no idea what you guys are going to vote on or nothing like how

[5:12] How could I before hand find out what that road agreement was so I could

[5:18] Convey to my commissioner whether I thought a prove did or a didn't prove it. You don't know nothing you just

[5:27] all of a sudden you're going to vote on something and that's it.

[5:33] Thank you.

[5:34] Thank you, sir.

[5:38] Would anybody else like to address the commission?

[5:42] Barry?

[5:48] Barry, you want to add, I'm 6.2 West Green Street

[5:51] and Marshall's three blocks that way.

[5:55] I agree with the previous speaker.

[5:57] We need to be concerned about what's

[6:01] going on with the placing of all these solar

[6:07] solar farms. It's an amazing amount of acreage that's been disboiled. And particularly

[6:15] up in the leak township, I know about a couple of friends who have a farm up there, and

[6:20] they are constantly complaining about how, with the same underhanded methods, bring in these

[6:31] solar farms. I know it's real easy for a farmer.

[6:37] who has children who could care less about farming and so many comes in and dangles all this

[6:47] solar farm money or mega site money or whatever that they cave in, particularly when they

[6:58] are advised that if they choose not to sell out, that life could be made intolerable for

[7:09] them after that.

[7:13] So we need to think twice about this over industrialization, over technologicalization,

[7:23] and if that's a word,

[7:26] of Kalham County particularly recognizing that it is the agricultural

[7:33] and natural resources of the county that are irreplaceable and once dispoiled it's

[7:45] a real job trying to bring it back.

[7:49] But like the previous speaker was talking about the transparency issue, sufficient public

[7:58] notice I think is actually required and most people in the county unfortunately have

[8:10] decided into a political

[8:12] apathy knowing that it's,

[8:18] it takes too much of an effort

[8:20] to actually find out what's

[8:22] going on and to try to find out

[8:26] the whole truth about things is

[8:28] another whole other burdensome

[8:30] project.

[8:34] So, for example,

[8:37] with the City of Marshall just

[8:39] this new pseudo moratorium, a moratorium that's not a moratorium, that can be terminated

[8:50] at any time. All right, I'll be back.

[8:58] Thank you very. Is there anyone else who wishes

[9:01] to address the commission?

[9:06] Seeing none, we will move on to elected and appointed county

[9:11] officials comments. Is there any elected or appointed county officials who would like

[9:16] to address the commission.

[9:21] Seeing none.

[9:22] We'll move on to item number eight, special order of business, and there is none.

[9:27] So on to item number nine, consent agenda.

[9:32] We have four items, five items on the consent agenda this evening.

[9:40] Can I have a motion to approve the consent agenda for the August 20th, 2026 Board of Commissioners

[9:47] There's regular session as presented in

[9:55] Strollbridge.

[9:57] Is there any discussion?

[10:00] Seeing none, all those in favor of the consent agenda as presented, say aye.

[10:05] Aye.

[10:06] Any opposed?

[10:08] Motion carries.

[10:11] Moving on to item number 10, special committee and workshop and board reports.

[10:16] Is there any commissioner, French?

[10:20] Thank you, Chair.

[10:21] I just like to acknowledge on Tuesday, I believe it was Kelly had the opportunity to represent the county and speak for the Burma Leadership Fellowship at the City of Battle Creek City Hall and she did a phenomenal job in representing the county and I just want to say thank you Kelly for representing the county in such manner.

[10:43] Also, I like to congratulate the New Justice Center.

[10:48] They had the ribbon-cut ceremony and it was a great turnout for that as well.

[10:57] The care well services did not meet this week because we did not have corn, but those are my reports.

[11:04] Thank you, Commissioner French.

[11:06] Is there any other updates?

[11:10] I just have one.

[11:11] And I had the opportunity today, I was invited by our specialty courts Supervisors Act

[11:20] can house to attend sobriety court graduation today.

[11:25] And for me it was a good opportunity because I had the opportunity as captain and as sheriff

[11:35] enough to attend those when I was with the Sheriff's Office.

[11:39] And now to attend a graduation of sobriety court, they had two graduates today, both participated and

[11:49] passed what can be up to a year and a half sobriety court to graduate.

[11:56] way. Also there today were representative Frisbee and Senator Albert and I was thankful

[12:06] to see them there as well because we often need funding from our legislature to keep

[12:12] those specialty courts going. And lastly, it was Judge Bomyas.

[12:25] I will say that his last, because he's going to stay on running sobriety court because he was appointed by Governor

[12:33] Whitmer to circuit court, and he'll be moving up to circuit court.

[12:37] In fact, he was moving office furniture after the hearing today, but until the governor points

[12:46] a replacement to replace him in the district court, he apparently is going to keep the sobriety court going forward.

[12:53] But over time, I had the opportunity to attend under Judge Hallecy, Judge Beardsley and

[13:01] now Judge Bomiya, and the sobriety courts are a great problem solver in our community.

[13:10] and Calhoun County's recidivism rate for drunk driving of those that graduate from sobriety court is around 5% which is much lower than the state average for sobriety court.

[13:25] So that started in 2010, so we're several years in and still have a 5% or less recidivism rate just shows how good that program is.

[13:39] So long winded but I was hoping Cher King would get here by the time I stopped talking, but that hasn't happened so.

[13:49] If there's no other comments or elect where we at here.

[13:56] Unfinished business.

[13:59] All right, yeah, I lost my page here. Next item 11,

[14:03] In an unfinished and old business, there is none.

[14:06] Next item, 12 new business County Administrators report.

[14:10] I will turn it over to County Administrator Controller Scott for her report.

[14:18] Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair.

[14:20] All right, so we got some nice media coverage about our opioid settlement funds steering committee meeting last week.

[14:28] the black squirrel news, a local sort of grassroots media, did a story just trying to explain to the community what the opioid settlement funds are about, how we use them, how we've invested them.

[14:39] So, and Commissioner Sachsen sits on that committee on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, the Native American Heritage Fund Board met yesterday, and this is a once a year opportunity to award about close to 500,000 in grants

[14:57] to support Native American

[15:00] Education, cultural awareness, curriculum development and replacement of inappropriate school mascots. So they considered 13 applications this year and awarded nine of them. We will not announce those awards until we notify the recipients and then you'll see a press release on that. So that comes from part of the casinos net win on slot machine revenue. So a great opportunity to give more money to local governments.

[15:29] across the state, and then just to add to the Burma Center's Elevate Fellows Leadership Program that was on Tuesday.

[15:37] Yes, it was a great opportunity to participate with the City of Battle Creek and just educate dozen or so leaders from the Burmese community, about 2000 Burmese residents in our county, the largest portion in the whole state of Michigan.

[15:52] And these were individuals who were interested in participating in local government and also in I would say in employment opportunities.

[16:05] And so in addition to my presentation, commissioners French and U were there and they brought up all the city commissioners and county commissioners at the end and ask them why they decided to go into public office.

[16:17] And so I thought it was really amazing that Dominic and Monique both just talked about the passion for this community

[16:24] And if you want to make the change, you've got to be the change.

[16:27] So I thought they did a wonderful job.

[16:30] That was a great opportunity to do that.

[16:34] Let's see what else.

[16:38] Yeah, I think that's it for my report.

[16:41] And then under new business tonight, we just have one item.

[16:46] It's a big item.

[16:46] And this is 12v1, this is a road department, road use agreement with Maple Run Solar.

[16:54] So as with all of commercial developments throughout the county, the road department is charged with putting in place a road use agreement that protects our taxpayers and the townships and pretty much tries to hold the county harmless for any damage done.

[17:16] We're thankful for this new development, but it's huge construction, and it does involve large heavy trucks using our roads.

[17:25] So we are trying our best to protect us with these road use agreements, and they have been evolving over the years.

[17:33] I just want to give kudos to our Corporation Council, Kate Ambrose, and Assistant County Administrator.

[17:40] for continuing to learn from lessons from previous ones and make it the best that we can.

[17:46] I think this is the best agreement that we have.

[17:49] This is for the solar agreement in Lee Township.

[17:53] We call Sunfish One.

[17:55] I think it's the largest in the state, one of the largest in the nation.

[18:01] They're proposing to construct a solar facility between T Drive North and

[18:05] I'll drive north in Lee Township, and this will generate almost 500 megawatts in solar

[18:12] energy, which I did the math at one time about how many homes that will generate power for,

[18:17] but it's huge.

[18:19] And the point is, they have a hull route, they need to bring their heavy trucks.

[18:23] The roads are not in good shape in Lee Township, so we want to make sure that we can put the

[18:28] roads on the front end, we can put the roads in safe condition during construction.

[18:33] We can maintain public safety, and most importantly, after the construction, we can ensure full restoration once the construction is complete.

[18:43] And that should be, again, not on the county's dollar, not on the taxpayers' dollar, not on the township's dollar, but on the solar company because this huge development will, obviously it's going to generate a bunch of revenue for them in the future.

[18:57] So, I'm going to stop there and ask Doug to talk about the details.

[19:02] And also we have our road department, managing director, Christine Parsons,

[19:06] also the road department.

[19:07] She's been instrumental in taking leadership and making sure that we've got

[19:11] a really good estimate of what we need from these companies to make this happen.

[19:17] So, Doug, if you want to start?

[19:18] Yeah, I'll start, Christine.

[19:19] Feel free to add in.

[19:21] You know, I'm really happy with where we got to with this agreement.

[19:25] And we worked with the township quite a lot, their engineer provided some thoughts on what we could do on the front end, especially on pre-construction.

[19:36] They also provided thoughts on post-construction.

[19:39] And we were able to work some of that in, and that's something that I think we can do better at.

[19:45] And Lee Township really needs some of that immediate relief, and you'll see that in that $2 million doing a mile crush on shape on our drive is really big.

[19:54] The small portion of T drive that were crush and shaping as well is on their haul route, and that's for my understanding one of the worst in the county.

[20:02] So getting some relief there, wedging is going to help those roads that are not in great condition, get through this construction and then where that wedging is having a lot of that is getting redone after the fact.

[20:14] So again, about $2 million in pre-construction and $6 million in post.

[20:21] And yeah, it was great working with the township, working with their engineer,

[20:26] ours, and all coming together to find something that worked for all three parties.

[20:29] And it took a lot of conversation, a lot of hard conversations, but we got there.

[20:35] One thing I will mention, just in case you do have the question on how can we make

[20:40] sure post-construction work dollars are actually utilized, it's built into the agreement.

[20:45] We have one full year, one full construction season, after the project is complete to do that work that's in the Appendix and Post-Construction.

[20:56] Whatever we don't get done, the company can self-perform through its own contractors still meeting MDOT, you know, specs.

[21:05] And that would then be funded through whatever's remaining in the funds that they gave us.

[21:10] So that's how we worked that out.

[21:13] And I really just have to speak to what Doug says.

[21:15] We had a lot of support from Doug and from Kate and Kelly and from the rest of you that

[21:21] we're able to be involved with this.

[21:23] It was a difficult negotiation because there was still a lot of people that feel very passionate

[21:26] about the road in Lee Township and the impact of solar.

[21:30] And what we wanted was really to find that balance between what is best for the roads right

[21:34] now, what's best for the roads at the end, and how can we come together to make all of that

[21:38] happen.

[21:39] And at the same time be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and making sure that we're

[21:43] accounting for that cost so that the residents of Lee Township don't have to pay for

[21:47] that on the back end, because the majority of these, not all of them, the majority

[21:50] of them are local roads, which, as our current policy requires, 50 percent of that cost

[21:55] comes from an outsized source, which is typically the township.

[21:57] And we didn't want to leave that burden on a township that already struggles to develop

[22:01] funding for local road work.

[22:03] So this, we really count as a win, we've, as Kelly mentioned, we've had a lot of

[22:08] evolution in the way that these roadies agreements work, we've worked closely with other counties with the kind of road association at a statewide level to really determine how can we make these advantageous in the sense that the solar company is doing the large majority of the damage right now is going to be covering the cost of that so it accounts for both maintenance during construction, the pre-construction work and the post-construction work, and as you can already see, we've done some work with previous solar developers and

[22:38] And this is a continued evolution of even better than we've had in the past.

[22:42] So we're really excited to work with the folks that make a run,

[22:45] we have a good relationship with them, we speak with them on multi day per week basis.

[22:51] So we're very closely tied with them and

[22:53] making sure that that work is happening as it's supposed to be happening.

[22:57] So we intend to actually start tomorrow if you approve this.

[23:03] So that's what we're hoping for right now.

[23:05] So thank you.

[23:06] Thank you.

[23:08] Is that on the presentation prior to?

[23:11] Yes.

[23:11] Okay.

[23:11] Thank you.

[23:13] Madam Clerk, can you let the record show that Chair King did arrive at $7.19?

[23:23] Can I have a motion to approve the Calhoun County Road Department road use agreement with Maple Run Solar as presented?

[23:32] So.

[23:32] So, Tom Pkins, King.

[23:38] I'm sure there's questions, so commission.

[23:41] Thank you very much.

[23:42] Just want to verify just what you had indicated as such, because obviously it is something that people have noted in question about.

[23:49] So the pre-construction money, the $2 million, that'll be obviously provided to us upfront so we can do the work that we need to do.

[23:55] So, at 5.9 million on the back side, if you will, is not going to be available to us until

[24:01] the construction is completed, or all of that money is going to be given to us right

[24:05] at the same time.

[24:06] I believe, and if you have a case, I believe it's after we complete the pre-construction,

[24:14] and everybody's were good with that, then they fund the remainder.

[24:20] So we'll get that up front, if you will, as well, before we do post-construction.

[24:30] Thank you.

[24:32] And then I do know that I saw in their someplace that there is also a contingency

[24:36] fund for anything that occurs that has to be funded by the solar company so that

[24:40] the set amount of money is kept in there in case anything comes up that we have to

[24:44] provide for from our end.

[24:47] So that's a non-exhaustible fund, so to speak.

[24:52] It's exhaustible, but it's substantial enough to cover what we feel should be the life

[24:56] of the project.

[24:57] Okay.

[24:58] Thank you.

[24:59] Is there any other questions?

[25:02] I have a few here.

[25:06] So, this is a road use agreement, right?

[25:09] This is not approving the installation of a solar field.

[25:15] That was done by Lee Township, am I correct?

[25:18] So this road agreement is not approving the largest solar field in Calhoun County.

[25:27] that was done by lead township.

[25:29] Okay.

[25:30] And then as to this agreement and this item on our agenda, our board agenda was posted

[25:40] according to Open Meetings Act and this was posted on our website and available for citizens

[25:45] to see prior to tonight as well.

[25:49] So thank you.

[25:50] Sometimes you don't want to ask those questions, you don't know the answers to, but I do

[25:54] We know that we posed our minutes and our meeting agenda, and this road agreement was available for citizens to see prior to the night, along with all our board members, obviously.

[26:16] I think that's all that, because I had a commissioner Schroberg asked about contingency fund to fix emergency damages during the construction as well.

[26:27] So with that, is there any other questions?

[26:32] see none, Madam Clerk, will you open the vote?

[26:37] It's open.

[26:46] The answer is not open.

[26:49] Okay.

[26:50] The answer is not open.

[26:52] In what stringent it says it's not join, but you were on it, so make sure our talk gets.

[27:00] Yes.

[27:01] Make sure our sacks don't.

[27:02] Yes.

[27:03] Commissioner Morpher is.

[27:06] Excellent.

[27:07] Excuse.

[27:08] Okay.

[27:09] Commissioner O.

[27:10] Yes.

[27:11] Yes.

[27:12] Mr. McQuatch.

[27:13] Yes.

[27:14] Mr. McQuatch.

[27:15] Mr. O'Gritch.

[27:16] Yes.

[27:17] Mr. King.

[27:18] Yes.

[27:19] It's you and Alex.

[27:21] It's you.

[27:22] Thank you, Madam Clerk.

[27:27] That concludes my report.

[27:28] Thank you.

[27:29] Thank you, Administrator Scott.

[27:32] And for the record, Chair King did advise upon his arrival at 719 that Commissioner O'Marc

[27:42] I called him earlier and he should have been excused at the start, but I was not

[27:48] made aware of that.

[27:50] Next item on the agenda is item 13, Citizens' Time.

[27:55] Our next item is Citizens' Time, the same rules apply as during the first

[28:01] Citizens' Time, please limit your time to three minutes and no negative personal

[28:06] comments. And before we start that, I'm going to move that box over speakers. You

[28:22] know, we can't see them.

[28:27] Not at all. Can you start it? Is it started? All right. Yeah, we got it.

[28:47] Anybody wishing to address the commission?

[28:51] Well, I mean, a couple other. I'm Carl Galley, lead township. So I don't know about this road agreement. But anyway, I got a couple of things.

[29:01] may be somebody you commissioners ought to ask. One is the

[29:07] piece stone, steel coated or whatever you want, and fog sealed,

[29:13] V drive north and canvas township. There's 600 feet from where

[29:19] canvas township starts and Garfield Lake Road is. They didn't do that.

[29:26] that. There's two yards of stone at the end of V drive because that ends on I-69 and

[29:33] maybe one of you guys could ask a question why didn't they do the 600 feet? The road's

[29:40] good shape. I mean, could have saved it maybe. The second thing I want to take are commend

[29:47] And the road department, after spending six, seven years ago, $5 million on some equipment

[29:58] I meant the mode of the roads and the brush.

[30:00] And stuff and that, they take and bought electric pole saw for one of the road workers to come out and trim a few trees along a corner. So I'm glad you least bought a pole saw. Thank you.

[30:15] Thank you.

[30:17] Does anyone else want to address the commission, Barry?

[30:21] very

[30:26] well Adams again.

[30:30] Just finishing my thought from before.

[30:35] The Marshall City Council

[30:37] did a maneuver that really showed bad faith and has got a lot of people in town in

[30:46] an uproar as the maneuvering that they did to impose this phony moratorium, a 365-day

[30:56] moratorium that can be terminated at any time by the whim of the council.

[31:03] So it was really nothing but a political palliative to try to sugarcoat and tamp down the heat with

[31:12] the city residents, but it's kind of backfired and actually got a more angry.

[31:19] But at the last meeting I asked for an opportunity to dispute and Mr. King said wait till the next

[31:30] meeting so here I am.

[31:35] Within from the information I get which I can pretty much trust within a month.

[31:45] there just won't be enough diesel fuel available in the nation. Now that doesn't

[31:52] mean there won't be a single drop, it just means that the amount of fuel that

[31:57] can be produced will not keep up with demand and that will create a

[32:04] spiraling of economic catastrophes, which is not hyperbole, which will result in empty

[32:17] shells in the grocery stores, whatever fuel is available. I was alive back in the mid-70s

[32:27] when they had the open embargo and things got out of hand.

[32:38] So but the attorney for me felt

[32:41] that that kind of situation was going

[32:45] to be a boon for the electric vehicle industry,

[32:51] where if there is a corresponding economic collapse,

[32:56] the collapse of the value of the dollar, people are going to be looking to buy a $30,000

[33:02] light pickup, electric vehicle pickup.

[33:09] They're probably going to be doing more walking and riding bicycles.

[33:13] So we'll see what happens in a month.

[33:15] I don't want to be a doom and boom guy, but the information that says that there is going

[33:22] to be a real constriction in economic

[33:26] availability is very significant and

[33:29] credible.

[33:30] Thank you, Bury.

[33:32] Is there any other that would like to

[33:34] address the commission?

[33:38] Seeing none, next item is commissioners

[33:41] time.

[33:42] Do any commissioners have anything to

[33:44] share during the commissioner time?

[33:51] Seeing none, next item is payable

[33:57] Listings claims payable for July 30, 2026 through August 12, 2026 in the amount of 9,066,465 and 38 cents.

[34:13] Can I have a motion to approve the Calhoun County claims payable for July 30, 2026 through August 12, 2026 in the amount of 9,066,000.

[34:27] $465 and $38.

[34:33] Can you open up the vote?

[34:42] Still not working?

[34:46] Can you call the vote, please?

[34:50] Yes.

[34:51] yes

[34:59] yes unanimous vote thank you madam clerk and

[35:12] next item of business is any

[35:14] announcements are there any announcements commissioner Tom comes you got to

[35:20] have one all right very

[35:28] good

[35:29] Did you see the bridge? Did you see the bridge?

[35:32] I did see the bridge as a matter of fact, yes, very nice.

[35:35] Absolutely, there was, if I may, so, I mean,

[35:38] I knew I could get it.

[35:40] You could get something out of me.

[35:41] I will just tell you that people were very, very pleased.

[35:43] The fact that that is now back open and the thoroughfare.

[35:46] You know, it's a major, I was just, you know,

[35:47] it's a major thoroughfare there.

[35:49] So they're very excited to have it.

[35:51] And obviously, the all-dry bridge is currently under construction.

[35:54] We'll have that probably late fall too, as well.

[35:56] Isch, maybe.

[35:58] No?

[35:59] Winter?

[36:00] Okay, late winter, but still.

[36:01] Yes, very positive.

[36:03] So, yes, we're going to give a chance to see it.

[36:04] Thank you.

[36:04] She just said we're going to have a late winter this year.

[36:08] I think is what she said.

[36:11] So, if that's the only announcements, meeting adjourned at 736.

[36:30] And I told my commissioner, French, I said, if he said these and Hastings right now,

[36:38] he's north of Hastings.

[36:42] Were you even close to Hastings or were you in middle of it all at least?

Board of Commissioners

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