[4:47] Russ common county Board of Commissioners meeting for August 26th at

[4:51] 9:00 a.m. Please stand for the pledge.

[4:56] » I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[5:03] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[5:09] justice for all.

[5:14] » Roll call, please. Spencer,

[5:18] » here. >> Milbour,

[5:20] » here. >> Wilson,

[5:22] » here. >> Here.

[5:28] » Approval of the agenda. >> So move, madam chair.

[5:33] We have a second. >> I'll second.

[5:37] » Any discussion? Roll call, please.

[5:41] » Marley, >> yes.

[5:43] » Milbour, >> yes.

[5:45] » Wolson, >> yes.

[5:47] » Yes. >> Approval of the consent agenda. The

[5:51] items within are the meeting minutes from August 12th, 2026 board meeting and

[5:56] the lake level control structure special meeting correspondences A through C.

[6:02] which includes a letter from a L lion Township resident, letter from Tammy

[6:07] Thompson regarding Lake Kieran Regional Development Corporation in the Higgins

[6:12] Lake Foundation, monthly department reports, the administrator controller

[6:17] report. Do I have a motion to approve the

[6:21] consent agenda? >> Second.

[6:26] » Roll call, please. >> Wilson,

[6:29] » yes. Mley, >> yes.

[6:32] » Spencer, yes. Milbour, >> yes.

[6:37] » Public comment for agenda items only. Is there any public comment for agenda

[6:41] items?

[6:45] Any visitors?

[6:51] Unfinished business. Lake level control structure operator interviews.

[6:58] Commissioner Wilson and I met with um two out of the four applicants.

[7:04] Um based on the interviews, I do believe that we have a gentleman that might be a

[7:11] good fit and I believe that we would like to offer him the job if I'm not

[7:16] mistaken. Commissioner Wolson, >> I think he

[7:25] » um What was his name?

[7:38] » Yep. Um the wage scale that was given to us.

[7:44] Um where was that basic?

[7:50] Sorry.

[7:56] » Um, was that a grade three? Um, step starting at 1921 an hour at

[8:05] step one and would it go all the way to 2260 at a step seven? Um what we're

[8:12] trying to do is figure out that middle range

[8:18] with approximately how many hours on average

[8:27] might be out there every single day >> right

[8:35] » and I'm man

[8:38] you guys okay I'm sure you can still hear me even if I don't have a

[8:41] microphone. Okay. So, it's also kind of looking at what money we contribute into

[8:47] those funds going forward. What like what else could we It's also not just

[8:52] that salary, but we're looking at how much we have in those those different

[8:56] funds those SADs as well like on the ongoing going down the road. We don't

[9:01] want to deplete everything and not have anything or other things. Is that am I

[9:06] » Yeah. Yeah. And then you have to look at how many years and you have to figure

[9:10] those into future assessments and ongoing costs and things like that.

[9:14] » Okay. As long as that's still kind of going into the calculation.

[9:18] » Yep. >> Well,

[9:19] » with the wage and salary committee putting kind of where it needs to go

[9:22] there, that's that's a great start. >> And it's a lake operator. It's not a

[9:29] delegated authority. It's not a manager. It's strictly the operator. So, the job

[9:34] duties aren't quite as extensive as what they were when Chase had it and things

[9:38] like that. >> That's the way I understood.

[9:42] Good, >> Madam Chair.

[9:44] » Yes. >> Um, I realize funding is always an

[9:47] issue, but the $10,000 this county committed to each of these lakes per

[9:54] year was not committed with the dedication for what it was to be used

[9:59] for. was just 10,000 put into the SAD every

[10:03] year. >> What was it intended for then? I'm

[10:07] sorry. >> It just was $10,000 commitment. It was

[10:10] not tagged for this purpose or that purpose. So, um just

[10:18] » we just have to make sure that when we do future assessments that everything is

[10:22] looked at and covered, >> correct?

[10:25] » And looked at. Yep.

[10:30] I think we kind of come up with a number.

[10:35] » Um I I know we have talked about a couple different numbers but and I think

[10:39] until we really sit down um I know at one point we talked about the 21,000

[10:49] that was initial but then when we went back and we looked at how many hours a

[10:52] week that would average out to I think we kind of looked at some other things

[10:57] too. 21,000 was a maximum,

[11:00] » right? >> Um, it'd be good to be able to offer the

[11:04] job after today. So, if we could settle on a number today,

[11:08] » is that is that the request for today's meeting that we do that today, Madam

[11:13] Chair? >> Um, I would like to have a ballpark like

[11:16] a wage in between this and this so that as Rex and I if we can.

[11:21] » Sure. you know, um, >> can you review that one more time

[11:24] because I don't have that wage in. >> So, if you go went by when we sat down,

[11:31] we looked at roughly I think it was an average of $10 or 10 hours a week, which

[11:37] then would equate to 520 hours out of the year basically.

[11:44] And at the low end, if you did that of the

[11:49] wage scale, you would be at 9,98920. At the high end of that wage scale, you

[11:55] would be at 11,752.

[12:00] » You guys have looked at qualifications and checked all the boxes. So, what's

[12:04] your recommendation in between that? You want low end? You want high end? What do

[12:08] you want us to vote on? Well, you know, wages scale doesn't take into account

[12:14] this person is basically on call 247. I mean, every day he's on call. Doesn't

[12:21] know if tomorrow he has to go to the site or not, but you know, and and

[12:26] there's a cost involved with putting someone on call every day.

[12:31] I would suggest around $11,000 figure. the I think was

[12:36] like 11,900 >> 750

[12:39] » 750 um >> would be a fair price

[12:44] because of being on call and it you know coincides with wagian salary

[12:51] » starting at the top of the wage scale >> okay

[12:55] » yes >> I recommend 11,752 that you mentioned

[13:01] seems reasonable >> you know and he may not accept accept

[13:05] it. We don't know, >> right?

[13:06] » We have to talk with him. And the candidate we chose lives on the

[13:13] river over by the St. Helen Dam. >> It's a big job.

[13:17] » It's a big job just being responsible every day. I mean, you know, he's going

[13:22] to we want to move to operating the lake levels at the average daily level,

[13:30] » which would mean that information is yesterday. So, you

[13:35] know, he's going to get up in the morning, look at yesterday's level, and

[13:40] then that determines whether he has to respond or not.

[13:44] » And it is still the delegated authority to make that call or does he make the

[13:49] call based upon? >> He's going to have the ability to make

[13:53] the decisions manual or wherever it's supposed to be.

[13:57] That's already >> the instructions for it. Mhm.

[14:00] » And our role will be to guide him in what way do we

[14:03] » if he has a question? >> Yeah.

[14:05] » Got it. >> If he has a question and then obviously

[14:08] Rex and I will also continue to keep an eye on the levels and make sure that it

[14:14] is being operated the way that it should be. And he when we interviewed him, he

[14:20] understood that, you know, the final call relies with the board

[14:25] and he was okay with that. He does um he did own his own manufacturing company

[14:30] for 23 years. Um he also worked at school craft college in the

[14:36] manufacturing department. Um

[14:44] and he's just really looking, you know, one of the first questions I asked him

[14:48] was why he applied for the job. And he likes to keep busy. He's retired and he

[14:54] wants to keep busy. Right now he ms lawns part-time and things of that

[15:00] nature, but it's more or less just to keep busy, keep active.

[15:06] » I think this also frees up us putting that on our maintenance crew as an

[15:11] interim right now because they're busy, especially with the projects that are be

[15:14] coming forward for capital projects that they're not being pulled from their

[15:19] daily job to go do something. So, >> sounds like Mark, is that a motion on

[15:25] your end? fine with that >> just as an agreement until we if he

[15:31] accepts then obviously it'll come back for board's final approval and stuff

[15:35] like that. >> So we will reach out to him and

[15:40] » a motion for that. Right. >> Okay.

[15:46] » All right.

[15:51] So we are at new business which we don't have anything listed and so now we are

[15:57] at our motions and resolutions.

[16:03] So whenever you are ready

[16:07] motion one move to appoint William Mountain to the Roscommen County Veteran

[16:12] Affairs Committee for a 4-year term beginning 86 of 2026 through 1231 of

[16:18] 2030. Who moves? >> Second.

[16:22] » Any discussion? >> Good.

[16:26] » Yes, I would agree. Um, roll call, please. Marley,

[16:32] » yes. >> Wilson,

[16:33] » yes. >> Milbour,

[16:34] » yes. >> Spencer,

[16:35] » yes. Motion carried. Motion two, move to approve MDOT

[16:43] contract number 2026-0679

[16:47] author authorizing airport manager Eric Jer to acquire S sur and maintenance

[16:55] equipment rotary cut finish mower box blade for the Roscom County Bladget

[17:02] Memorial Airport whose associated city is Holton Lake, Michigan as outlined in

[17:08] the sponsor contract with a $0 county share match to move.

[17:13] » Second. >> Any discussion?

[17:17] Roll call, please. Spencer, >> yes.

[17:19] » Orley, >> yes.

[17:20] » Wilson, >> yes.

[17:21] » Milbert, >> yes.

[17:22] » Motion carried. >> Number three. Move to adopt resolution

[17:29] number 2026-08-01

[17:33] authorizing chairperson Darlene Sensor to sign sponsor contract on behalf of

[17:38] the Rosscom County Board of Commissioners. Whereas the Roscommen

[17:42] County Board of Commissioners on behalf of Rosscom County Logit Memorial Airport

[17:48] enters the into contracts grants and certificate certifications through

[17:53] federal and state programs. And whereas the Ross Common County Board of

[17:57] Commissioners elected Darlene Spencer to serve as chairperson for fiscal years

[18:03] 2026 and 2027. And whereas it is the the desire of the Roscommon County Board of

[18:09] Commissioners to grant chairperson sensor the authority to execute airport

[18:14] sponsor contracts between Roscom County Lodge Memorial Airport and the state of

[18:19] Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics as approved by the

[18:24] board. And whereas the Roscom County Board of Commissioners does agree that

[18:29] if the designated signer changes, Roscommen County and/or Ross Common

[18:34] County Lodge Memorial Airport will contact the state of Michigan Department

[18:39] of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics with the changes. Therefore, be it

[18:45] resolved that Darling Censor of the Roscomin County Board of Commissioners

[18:49] chairperson be authorized and directed to execute airport sponsor contracts

[18:55] with the state of Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics on

[18:59] behalf of Ross Common County Lodge Memorial Airport.

[19:04] » So, move madam chair. >> Second.

[19:07] » Any discussion? >> Yes, ma'am. Like to thank Mr. Shro, our

[19:11] county controller and our board chair for all the work they put into this.

[19:15] Thank you. >> Thank you. Roll call, please. Marley,

[19:19] » yes. >> Wilson,

[19:20] » yes. >> Sensor, yes. Milbourne,

[19:23] » yes. >> Um, adopted mo or resolution adopted.

[19:32] » Um, committee reports. Commissioner Mley.

[19:36] » Yeah. Um, wow, that still sounds loud, doesn't it?

[19:41] Um, August 14th, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health, their personnel

[19:44] committee met. We looked over the climate survey um for them, which is

[19:48] there's been some improvement um in the culture there. Um, this past year on the

[19:54] 19th, uh, we started our department head budget meetings. We have completed the

[19:59] airport, animal control, IT maintenance, and equalization in spongy moth on that

[20:04] day. on the 20th Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Board meeting

[20:08] was up in Leelana this time. Uh, Representative John Roth was there to

[20:13] speak about he is the chairperson for appropriations for DHHS which

[20:20] impacts the money that Northern Lakes receives. So he talked about some of the

[20:26] things that they're working on more equality within each of those regions

[20:29] where money in rural areas get better money versus just downstate big city.

[20:36] There's only three months left in this year before that the new people might

[20:41] take place. So he doesn't know how much they'll get done. But he said since the

[20:45] director of DHHS has left, it seems like the staff have been more open about

[20:51] talking about different options on how to clean those up and kind of equalize

[20:55] out how we do mental health across the state. So, so we'll we'll see. Um I

[21:01] wanted to note about their quality and compliance group because we all know

[21:06] that when we hear people in our county going through audits.

[21:10] This group one they updated like nine policy and procedures in a month and

[21:16] they did three random sample audits, three targeted audits. February DHS did

[21:22] their HSAG audit on them. In April, DHHS did their site review audit on them. In

[21:29] January, NMRE did their qualitative review and then their KAF review, which

[21:33] gave them their three-year accreditation. That all happened in one

[21:36] year. It's a lot on people to get through, but they they did it. So, just

[21:41] shows the work that that group does um behind the scenes. Finance reports

[21:45] looking good. Cash flow is better. They're not having to get the money from

[21:48] NRE first in order to pay their bills. So, that's good. But definitely still

[21:53] working. uh we will they are looking at trying to increase county contributions.

[21:58] Um as I have shared with our chair, we've been pretty open about kind of our

[22:04] stance on giving those increases, you know, because it has not changed for

[22:09] decades. It's been the same dollar amount for I don't know how long.

[22:13] Controller, you might know. Way it's never changed since you've been here.

[22:17] Yeah. um not a lot, but um they're going to

[22:20] meet with us, the CEO and our controller and our chair will be meeting just to

[22:24] understand what that's like and what they're facing because of the Medicaid

[22:28] reduction. They won't be able to supply that and the state is not given any

[22:32] additional money for decades to mental health. It's been the same value for a

[22:37] long time. A little bit about that because I think it'll be helpful for all

[22:40] of us as commissioners when they do come before us. um you know we um I think we

[22:47] contribute about 57 a year 57,000 maybe a year and we serve about 300 on an

[22:52] average every month and when you compare that to some of our local groups like

[22:57] Crawford they only do about 190 people a month that they serve and they pay way

[23:02] less than we do they pay 35 a year does 137 a month and they're at about the

[23:08] same amount 35 a year does far more than us. They have over

[23:13] 500 people, almost 550 every month that they do and they're paying 76,000. So,

[23:18] just to give us all a ballpark of what what we're getting for what we're

[23:22] spending today before that. Um, so heads up, the public hearing for them is in H

[23:29] Hotton Lake on September 10th. I know our controller and our chair have an

[23:32] invite, our sheriff's, um, the school district superintendent are invited and

[23:37] things like that. So, it is open to the public. August 21st, the budget meetings

[23:42] continued. Um, thank uh circuit court, central filing, district court, and

[23:47] probate family court. We did all that and in that day, um on the 24th, more

[23:52] budget here group meetings with department heads, the clerk, the

[23:55] treasurer, the veterans office, and then on the 25th, I know they completed the

[24:00] sheriff's department, and my apologies for not being able to get there due to

[24:04] somebody being in the hospital. So, that's it. Thank you.

[24:11] On August 20th, I attended the community action meeting in Trevor City. The big

[24:16] thing there, they gave an annual report, but they talked about this new program

[24:18] called home sharing networking. What they're doing is they're unrolling a

[24:23] program that's going to allow seniors to match with other seniors to stay in

[24:28] homes. Should be a good Thank you, Madam Chair.

[24:33] » Okay. Um, we had

[24:36] the interview of the lake level control structure operator applicants. Um, we

[24:41] also had a Holton Lake improvement board meeting where we learned of additional

[24:46] acres within H Hotton Lake where Mil Foil has

[24:51] the first time sprung up in some different areas. um board after a

[24:57] lengthy discussion did decide um to have um over 1,800 acres additional acres

[25:05] sprayed um which was later in the season but it's still

[25:10] in the experts eyes hadn't gone to seed yet so it was worth doing and I believe

[25:17] they did that yesterday I know it was going to be sometime this week but I

[25:20] think it did happen yesterday Um

[25:24] and then the budget and finance um department head budget proposal

[25:29] meetings. We've had quite a few and I think our last grouping is September 4th

[25:34] that we will be meeting and finalizing or

[25:42] more on that in the budget and finance meeting.

[25:47] Commissioner Wilson >> um attended the Northern Michigan

[25:52] Counties Association. They were talking about new dam safety

[25:58] rules coming down the line for mid to high hazard dams. It's going to become

[26:03] extremely expensive for maintaining dams. At this point, it is

[26:09] for mid to high hazard, but don't be surprised if they throw

[26:15] some rules in there, new rules for low level like we have. Also, they talked

[26:23] about um revenue sharing in the next budget session. Don't expect an increase

[26:29] or a decrease. a lot. When we change governorship, the

[26:34] new governor is going to walk in with about a billion dollar shortage.

[26:41] So, I think down the line something's going to happen.

[26:48] Been working with um Bakus Township on the design of their

[26:54] recycling site, some work into our materials management plan. Um, we met

[27:01] with a contractor. We met with a tree remover yesterday. Um, so that's moving

[27:10] along. We think it's going to come within budget, which is good because at

[27:15] first it was going to be a shortfall there, but they were notified they did

[27:20] get the grant. They haven't got the signed contract yet, but they were

[27:24] notified they have the grant for this project.

[27:30] Um I attended the bid opening for the new boiler systems

[27:34] day. We have interviews with three of the bid. There was I think six biders.

[27:40] Um the three interviews we're having the

[27:43] bids range from $560,424

[27:50] to $690,000. And today we're having interviews with

[27:54] those those were the three lower biders. We're having interviews with them.

[28:00] I guess that's it. >> Thank you.

[28:05] » Public comment. Any public comment?

[28:11] » Yes.

[28:16] So, I know that I have emailed the board um lots of information in the last week

[28:20] and a half in regards to this, but I just wanted to make a statement in a

[28:24] public meeting. Um, we have had a change in our spongy moth surveying practices.

[28:31] Um, with some federal suits, um, some closures at a court of appeals level, at

[28:38] a state level, and then some new lawsuits that have been filed in regards

[28:43] to local government accessing um, private property. Those cases, while not

[28:47] specific to spongy mos surveying, um have really emphasized the court's

[28:54] feelings on Fourth Amendment's right and access to property. We have always

[28:59] operated under the legal opinion that um surveying was a right based on the

[29:06] millillage. Um they always went to the doors and knocked to see if anybody was

[29:11] home. um that will not change. But what will change is that if you're not home

[29:16] um the property will not be surveyed. So, what we are putting into place um is

[29:21] a process where residents can go online and do a quick form online at the Spongy

[29:27] Moth Rascom County Spong website that would authorize for that access um for

[29:33] the spray year. And um therefore, if somebody's not home and we already have

[29:38] that authorization, they can go ahead and and proceed as is. Um additionally,

[29:43] if we knock and somebody answers and they provide that, great. That's exactly

[29:47] what we're looking for. Um, we have had it out on social media already. There

[29:52] are postcards going to 22,000 residents in Roscommen County. Um, that

[29:58] are actually should be mailed tomorrow. The the mailing date is for the 26th.

[30:03] Um, but we will continue the processes. That big change is just going to be

[30:07] whether or not we have that authorization at the time. Um, it's just

[30:11] it's new. Um, Greta has worked very hard to get the information to the townships.

[30:15] We're seeing um some trickles in in the last week, six, seven people um with

[30:20] that online form that comes back to um comes back to Greta and then uh copy to

[30:25] me. But um it's you know kind of that slow upgrade and um some of the areas

[30:31] that are are to me pretty important are those ones that are frequently sprayed.

[30:36] If we don't have the data um we can't spray. So that's going to be um that's

[30:42] going to be the biggest impact of that. So, just continuing to communicate um

[30:47] hanging flyers up at the grocery stores, something with a QR code on it where

[30:51] somebody could stop, scan, and register right then before they grab their 2%

[30:54] milk. So, thank you.

[30:59] Any other public comment?

[31:03] Okay, board comment, Commissioner Moley. >> I know it's really not just a reminder.

[31:11] Um there is that FEMA can help with paying for repairs that were needed

[31:20] make a person's home safe after the damage that we occurred to the flood. So

[31:26] those flyers are out there. I I know our treasurer was also

[31:31] wanting us to continue to spread that word as well. I know our emergency

[31:35] manager as well just to let people know that that's out there. We did qualify

[31:40] for that. So there's a way to to go do that.

[31:44] Then I think it was already mentioned about the collaborative group really

[31:50] wanting to it was the letter that came from Tammy

[31:54] Thompson about collaborative opportunities from the Lake Huron group.

[31:57] So those were the only two things

[32:05] I'll be working with the county controller in regard to the 25th

[32:08] anniversary of 911. Does that mean Thank you, Madam Chair.

[32:15] » Um, I did reach out to Tammy Thompson and I told her that once we kind of got

[32:21] through some budget stuff that we would reach out.

[32:24] » So, that that's been taken care of. Um Marcy did want um us to make everybody

[32:30] aware that um FEMA will be on site at the Ross

[32:35] Common Village Farmers Market this Saturday, August 29th, from 10:00 a.m.

[32:40] to 3:00 p.m. And information is available over on the table by the door

[32:44] for that. Um, I also did forward um this and ask

[32:49] it be dispersed to all the department heads, the consumer energy 2026

[32:54] community impact award application. So, if you didn't get it, there is

[33:00] information about that that I can give to you and that is all I really had.

[33:09] » Commissioner Wilson, >> I'm good.

[33:12] » Okay. With no further board comment, this

[33:16] meeting is adjourned and our next um work session meeting begins at 10

[33:20] o'clock.

[33:25] » What?

[33:31] » Oh, I was just going to leave that for lake level discussion.

[33:34] » You need me there at 3:30 today.

[33:40] » Is what it is. But that's why we have our lake level

[33:43] meetings once a month. We just got the opinion yesterday from Pat on the other.

[33:50] » I'll definitely text you if I can't. I mean, right now

[33:54] » we should be home by then and I can be there, but

[33:57] » or move it to more important take care.

[34:01] » I got a call last night from my brother. He's got stage four cancer and two brain

[34:05] tumors. >> So, he's on he works for the state.

[34:10] Mommy said, "Well, I'm retiring tomorrow." I said, "What do you mean

[34:12] you're retiring?" He said, "I can't drive because you had two brain tumors."

[34:16] » I think we need a meeting with Tom and Eric again in between to discuss what

[34:22] that looks like so that we can explain to the board what that looks like.

[34:29] » No. And >> no, but I don't think that with them per

[34:36] se that I mean that's really >> Yeah. But we have to keep them informed

[34:41] and yes they have to agree but really that's something the lake level. Yeah.

[34:45] But it still is. And I have told Tom in an email and I I CC you on the email

[34:53] that it I highly doubted that we would get and be able to acquire that

[34:58] property. >> So

[35:04] yes, there is there's way too much third party. Do you want to reach out to

[35:12] him? >> Okay.

[35:16] » Yeah.

[35:21] with the caveat that you know we can relook at

[35:31] » uh I think you can offer him the job but before he can actually accept like fully

[35:37] he has to go through all that.

[35:53] Can

[35:57] » do is there a way of getting an address for him so we can mail him a card or

[36:02] something? >> Sure.

[36:03] » Yeah. >> I'll try.

[36:06] » Okay. >> If we can.

[36:08] » I'll make the attempt. We should do that too

[36:11] » just because we didn't get to say goodbye to him. I know. I know.

[36:15] » I heard that the other day.

[36:24] » He should have been sitting in this whole time.

[36:26] » Yes.

[36:29] » Right.

[36:51] My son closer to

[37:18] Yeah.

[37:22] » Doesn't hurt

[37:26] very hard. Is that on our desk? >> Yes.

[37:34] My guess is Kim, they're probably lower than

[37:40] » or the same. >> I guess we go figure it out.

[37:44] » Yeah, I'm not leaving it up to them to do that.

[37:48] » So, I think >> it's divide and conquer.

[37:50] » If you need to call one, you call one and start asking

[37:55] » because I want our surrounding driveable. I get that you're doing what

[38:00] what's considered, but I want

[38:08] you.

[38:11] But for me,

[38:20] Those

[38:33] are the ones.

[38:41] » I think those are much moreistic

[38:47] because

[39:08] I'm going to look them over a little bit.

[39:53] Amen.

[40:18] Thank you.

[40:48] Here's

[40:56] my

[41:12] Thank

[41:34] you.

[41:56] Ross Common County Board of Commissioners work session August 26,

[41:59] 2026 at 10:00 a.m. First we have wage and salary committee recommendations.

[42:05] our HR specialist, Noel Martin. Brought my water.

[42:14] So, nobody wanted to um come up with me, which is okay, but we had a really great

[42:20] um wage and salary committee again this year. Um and so I'm here on behalf of

[42:25] them. Um, and I'm going to give you um the uh basically the overall synopsis of

[42:33] what our committee um found through our annual um wage analysis.

[42:41] I did give you a couple things. Um what I'm going to be reading from mostly is

[42:45] the um little presentation document. Um so

[42:49] just to begin um the wage and salary committee just a kind of a reminder of

[42:54] what it is. We serve as the advisory board for the board of commissioners.

[42:58] We're tasked with the annual review of current classification and compensation

[43:03] policy system that we um use for our wages here. And uh we offer then the

[43:08] recommendation annually uh to the board while we are also considering the budget

[43:13] constraints that um that you guys are faced with. The annual survey of market

[43:18] comparable conditions um with comparable counties um is typically conducted um in

[43:24] June and July um and studied by the committee in July into August and then

[43:29] numbers are put together then to bring to you

[43:33] um this year with the budget starting a little bit earlier um than typical has

[43:39] in the past um our system was kind of already in play and in the works. So, it

[43:45] might seem even though you guys have been doing, you know, budget meetings,

[43:48] um, the last little while, um, we're not necessarily coming in and saying, "Hey,

[43:52] you should do this, you know, now." It just happened to be the timing of

[43:55] everything. So, the good news is is that we're pretty much in, I think, in

[43:58] alignment from for where you guys started um, at the beginning of your

[44:02] budget process. Um the counties that are surveyed annually um include Alpena

[44:08] County, Antrum County, Benzy County, Charavoy County, um Shbboan, Claire,

[44:14] Crawford, Gladwin, Ayasco, Manaste, Msaki, Oceanana, Ogawa, Ayola, Aiggo,

[44:22] and Waxford. Um and this year we had uh all but two. I believe we didn't get a

[44:30] Crawford County or a Masaki County. Um but we were able to get some w some were

[44:34] all wages for um our positions from the rest of the county. So we had a

[44:39] fantastic turnout um of wages which of course always gives us the the bigger

[44:43] picture um than what we could um that we can ask for. So um the counties that are

[44:49] selected um have been selected for market um market size, budget,

[44:55] demographics um in comparable to Roscom County. Um and they've also um been able

[45:00] to help determine um what our comparable job market is. We've also used um some

[45:07] counties in this to um there's an active market for our the same level of talent

[45:12] that we have here. Um and so some of the counties that are in here have been um

[45:17] where we have lost employees to in the past. Um and so we added them in there

[45:22] and it actually kind of gave us a little bit more in the last few years has given

[45:26] us a better picture of what um the market is really like.

[45:32] Um before I continue, um just on behalf of

[45:37] the 2025, uh committee members, um the our current

[45:42] wage and salary committee would really like to thank you guys as a board um for

[45:47] your response and your regard of our recommendation for last year. Um it

[45:53] takes a lot of effort. A lot of time is spent gathering, reviewing the

[45:57] information. Um going through and trying to really pull together a comprehensive

[46:02] recommendation to give to you that um both serves your your need as a board

[46:08] with needing to balance a budget, but also um go along with what the trends

[46:14] are happening and really where the market is at for um the positions that

[46:19] we have here. And so um having this committee has really um been able to

[46:25] create a bridge between better for better um employee employer relations

[46:30] and last year you guys heeding that um that recommendation really went a long

[46:35] way um not just with the committee but with the employees and departments

[46:39] overall. Um, so that was very much appreciated and I wanted to make sure

[46:43] that we mentioned uh a thank you.

[46:48] So to get into the market comparison that

[46:51] we found um overall the uh grades 1 through 10, our entirety of the non-UN

[46:58] wage scale um was behind market average um by a 1 and a half%.

[47:06] Um truly this is actually the lowest that we have seen um in the past several

[47:12] years. I would say that um it has to do with the awesome work that started in

[47:17] 2025 and then also continued in 2026 with um attention to um into the wage

[47:24] scale and making sure that we were trying to be competitive um with the

[47:28] market. Um last year we um kind of discovered that

[47:33] grades one through six kind of fell into some c uh specific category and grades

[47:38] seven through 10 also kind of fell into their own. Um and just to refresh your

[47:42] memory, grades one through six are your typically your hourly employees. Grades

[47:45] seven through 10 are typically your salaried employees. Um, so I also did

[47:50] put in the information um that we found if you're looking at just grades one

[47:54] through six um about two and a half% behind um the market average and then

[47:59] grades 7 through 10 are about 2.76 behind the market average. Um but when

[48:03] you look at the entirety of 1 through 10 all of the positions that's where we

[48:07] come up with the one and a half%.

[48:12] So, um this despite all the the amazing response that um the board gave to our

[48:19] wage scale last year, um we still sit, like I said, about a negative one and a

[48:23] half% behind. Um this probably most likely can be attributed to the fact

[48:28] that when we're doing our market analysis, we're doing it in the middle

[48:32] of a year. Um and everyone's fiscal year is a little bit different. Um, and so

[48:37] when wage increases are going to be happening in the market, they are a

[48:42] little bit everywhere. So we're able to take what the data is at that time and

[48:46] apply that to our scale. Um, and then of course try to use the best guesstimates

[48:51] that we can for the future um in in order to be able to continue our budget

[48:56] process. Um, like I said, we are a much closer than we have been in several

[49:00] years, which is awesome. Um, so being behind is not necessarily I think in

[49:04] this regard a um a bad thing. I think it just has to do with um you know our our

[49:10] guesses and what what the rest of our comparables are doing. A lot of their

[49:15] fiscal years don't start until um they start in October. Um and so they may not

[49:20] be looking at those wage um those wages when we are um and or maybe they're

[49:26] they've already looked at them but they're not utilizing the same data that

[49:30] we are for um for our uh potential increases as well. Um so um the cost of

[49:37] living history um that was a big discussion in the wage and salary group

[49:41] and it always has been. Um but uh this we um when I first started, I started in

[49:48] 2014. Um there had been a tracking since 2009 for the um cost of living increase

[49:54] for the for the wages. Um and so um looking back at that, we also put in um

[50:00] what the social security um cost of living had been since 2009. Um and then

[50:06] also um I also tracked then what it has been since um 2020 when we implemented

[50:13] our wage system. Um and for the most part during both of those um periods uh

[50:19] we have tracked just about at 50% of what social security um cost of living

[50:24] has recommended. And of course we don't necessarily have to meet social security

[50:28] but that's a good benchmark to see where the markets are trending. Um and so that

[50:34] um that came into consideration for us um with what our recommendation is. Um

[50:40] not this last year but trending um we're because we're trending in a positive

[50:45] direction. Um something that we had mentioned last year but we wanted to

[50:49] continue to mention so that way we're not going in a negative direction. Um

[50:53] recent years have shown um uncharacteristic turnover in

[50:56] departments. Um so we're the committee wants to emphasize the benefit of course

[51:01] of longevity and motivating for talent. Um long-term costs associated with

[51:06] productivity. Um obviously um you know they will continue to be utilized uh

[51:11] towards rebuilding of departments instead of being able to invest that

[51:15] into your employees. Um, the other thing that continues to weigh,

[51:21] excuse me, um, continues to weigh with the employees, um, uh, is their

[51:26] healthcare costs, um, as they continue to adapt to finding extra dollars, um,

[51:30] to put towards the building of their HSA accounts, um, to sustain those out-of-

[51:35] pocket costs that the 2025 health insurance change created. Um, of course,

[51:39] that did not exist prior to 2025. So, we are still pretty close um, you know, to

[51:44] that change. So, and it takes a while to build a few thousand dollars, you know,

[51:48] in an HSA account to be able to account for some of those expenses that you no

[51:54] longer had, which of course reset every year.

[51:58] So, the recommendations um that uh that we came up with and the reasons that we

[52:04] would like to um recommend um progress breeds opportunity. Uh we want to

[52:10] continue uh the work initiated with the 2025 and 2026 wage scale adjustments. Um

[52:16] the history of the wage and salary committee um recommendations has stayed

[52:21] pretty much in line um with the comparable job market values and cost of

[52:26] living adjustments even when we the board hasn't had the opportunity uh for

[52:31] our wage scale to do the same. Um, so not so much to like pat back, you know,

[52:36] of the committee, but it it just shows that the committee is looking at the

[52:40] right numbers and trending in the right direction. Um, so there's credibility

[52:44] there for you to be able to depend on. Um, stopping will essentially um, you

[52:49] know, reset progress that the board has continued to invest the last few years.

[52:53] Um, trying to clo and it kind of moves into closing the gap. Um since we um the

[52:59] last six years we've trended about 50% of what the national cost of living

[53:03] adjustments have been. Um but progress in this continuing to bridge the gap um

[53:08] aligns with the past committee recommendations. Like I said, the

[53:11] committee has been pretty much on par um for the most part. Um and uh we have had

[53:18] two major market adjustment periods within those cost of living that have

[53:23] helped get us to where we are today. So we're not, you know, 50% behind of the

[53:27] market. In 2020, we had a major u market adjustment with um implementing the wage

[53:33] and salary uh committee and the wage system that we have today. And then

[53:37] there was a couple rough years. Um 2023 was a really awful budget year. Um there

[53:42] were departments that were closed, there were people laid off. It was really,

[53:46] really hard. So obviously, you're not going to give people a raise when you're

[53:49] having to let people go. Um but that being said, there were several years

[53:53] that the board wasn't able to do any kind of cost of living adjustment. And

[53:57] so in 2025, um that was the year that um there was still a recommendation made

[54:02] from the wage and salary, but a total overhaul of the market um analysis was

[54:07] done to our wage uh system. So that's those two things are can contribute to

[54:12] the fact that um we aren't 50% behind anymore.

[54:17] So the committee would recommend um in totality a 4% cost of living adjustment

[54:23] um for the entirety of the grade scale 1 through 10. This 4% does include the 3%

[54:30] that um the board of commissioners already assumed to tell uh for Jod to

[54:34] put into the budgets for budget preparation. Um so truly the

[54:39] recommendation is hey we agree with you and we think that 1% um in addition to

[54:45] that um will help uh circumvent some of this oh we're finding we're finding

[54:50] we're always trending just a little bit below average. Um and um I'm going to

[54:56] talk to that just in a little bit more. Um, one of the things also that is super

[55:00] um, important to um, remember for the committee is that um, funding for the

[55:07] HSA every year. You guys have spoken a lot to wanting to commit to being able

[55:11] to continue to do that. Um, and that's also super important to the committee.

[55:15] Um, and would like if that ever changed, um, the committee would like to be able

[55:20] to review and have a chance to be able to give a different recommendation for

[55:23] the ratio. Um so again like I said um with

[55:28] consideration for the budget constraints um the the recommended order um is the

[55:33] 3% cost of living like um you guys have already implemented um and told Jod and

[55:38] I to be able to go forward and put into um into the wages and the budgets for

[55:43] department heads to be able to present to you. Um this reflects current market

[55:46] comparisons, the trending cost of living and CPI reports um and concurrent and

[55:50] standing um with uh other uh union contract negotiated increases for the

[55:55] fis next fiscal year. Um we do also of course um recommend the annual step

[56:01] increase. Um this supports longevity and overall morale for the employees. And

[56:06] then uh the next would be that additional 1% cost of living to totality

[56:11] for 4% um for the year of 2027. This just reflects the current market value.

[56:16] Um and without knowing how the market will increase um it helps to combat the

[56:20] trend of falling behind the cost of living average adjustments um on a local

[56:24] and national scale. The financial page um has some numbers

[56:30] about okay sure this is great but what does it actually cost? What does it

[56:34] mean? Um so the first line recommendation that you have there is

[56:39] the one what 1% adjustments of grades 1 through 10. um would do. We have the

[56:46] first line is the 2027 current assumptions with just the 3%. The wages

[56:50] are $4,912 843843.

[56:56] Oh my goodness. Sorry. Let me restart. $4,912.

[56:59] Uh >> we got take a drink. Thank you.

[57:08] 2027 additional 1% scenario increases that to 4,960,746.39.

[57:16] So the difference between what you're currently looking at with the budget at

[57:20] the budget committee and doing a 1% additional um would be $47,932

[57:26] with the FICA total um averaging about $3,664.

[57:32] What does this actually do to the general fund? because that is um all of

[57:35] the wages in totality across the board for all funds. Um the current 2026 wages

[57:43] sit about for general fund sit at $3,54,62.75.

[57:50] The 2027 current budgeted wages with as the 3% is $3,19389

[57:58] I'm doing it again. $3,193,890.7.

[58:04] The 2027 additional 1% scenario makes that 3,232,244.31.

[58:12] So what all that means is the difference between 2026 wages to 2027 with the 3%

[58:19] you're looking at $139,287.32

[58:24] increase um that you're already seeing to the general fund with the budget

[58:28] presentations. um to add in an additional 1% for the general fund would

[58:33] be $38,35424.

[58:37] So your total and then the bottom the $177,64156

[58:43] is the totality of a 4% recommendation for the general fund.

[58:49] Um before I ask for questions, I just

[58:54] wanted to not all of our members could come today, but we have a very good um

[58:59] share of them. I will read. Um, we have Sarah Briggs from Circuit Court, Key

[59:03] Darcel from Probate and Family Court, Kim Kery from the Prosecutor's Office,

[59:08] Ginger Major from the Veterans Office, Will Tarant from Animal Control, Amanda

[59:12] Turner from Central Dispatch, Shannon Shagenoff from the Jail, and then myself

[59:16] as an advisory. Um, and uh, I just wanted to be able to put the names to

[59:20] the work that you see in here. Um, and uh, and if you have any questions, I'd

[59:25] be happy to answer them.

[59:30] Madam Chair, >> yes.

[59:33] » When we look at comparables, we compare benefit packages.

[59:38] » We do not. Um, we can. It's just not uh it is not something that the wage and

[59:44] salary committee is tasked with. Um, we did try that once. It um it's not the

[59:50] wage and salary right now is not built to do that. Um, it's not something that

[59:54] can't be looked at. It's just it's not what it's built for.

[59:58] And we don't look at days off with paying either though.

[1:00:02] » Not in the wage and salary committee. No.

[1:00:10] » And then at the bottom um where it says like the total the 177,64156

[1:00:18] and then next to it is the total FICA. Is that 13,58958

[1:00:23] in addition to the 177 or is that already in there? Uh, no. It would be an

[1:00:27] addition to that would be just want to make sure.

[1:00:29] » Yep. That would be the total FICA. Yep.

[1:00:39] » That's okay. >> Sorry. Do you remember on this

[1:00:42] comparison whatever

[1:00:47] » we were um about 4% behind last year >> in the total grades

[1:00:54] » in total grades. That's about four. Okay.

[1:01:00] » We were more behind in the grades one through six than we were in the seven

[1:01:04] through 10. >> Think that there wasments

[1:01:08] for that one through six. Correct. Coming on category that

[1:01:12] » Yeah, correct. To refresh your I can refresh your memory. So last year um the

[1:01:17] recommendation was um to do a 4% increase to grades 1 through six and

[1:01:23] then a 3% 1 through 10 cost of living

[1:01:34] chair. >> Yes.

[1:01:35] » I'd like to see some care payables on benefits

[1:01:39] and days off of pay because for a long time we said people took this job

[1:01:44] because offered such a good benefit package.

[1:01:48] That's changed over the years. >> I'd like to see

[1:01:53] some information on that.

[1:01:58] » So, we did do last year going into negotiations for the unions. We took all

[1:02:04] of those comparables and I had all of that data like as of October of last

[1:02:09] year. Um, so that's something that you and I can just verify if it's accurate

[1:02:14] or not >> and just update that spreadsheet for.

[1:02:17] So,

[1:02:23] » any other questions for Noel?

[1:02:32] » So, starting off thinking the 3% wanting an

[1:02:37] additional one to help us not be trained. But if we did that,

[1:02:44] the report next year would say we're not below.

[1:02:47] » Hopefully, yes, that is the intent of the additional 1% recommendation

[1:02:55] and we took that 1% from um the fact that we were about one and a half%

[1:03:00] behind. So thinking that trending right now the

[1:03:05] um as of last night the social security right now is trending um around 3% the

[1:03:13] se the consumer price index about the same. So

[1:03:18] » yes >> I'm in favor of 3% of the 1%. Going for

[1:03:23] that. I'm going to listen very closely to the to the county controller and the

[1:03:27] recommendation. Right now we have a 22% fund balance. Important to realize that

[1:03:31] was the folks that worked in the county that put that same time I want to make

[1:03:36] sure the future is healthy. So if it can come if we can get it more of an

[1:03:39] increase I don't want to do this next year that we're two or 3% behind

[1:03:44] this very close to the for your work.

[1:03:47] » Thank you. potential. Sorry, madam chair.

[1:03:54] » Just a question on our two closest were they just not willing to

[1:04:01] » It just depends. I think no, they never responded, which sometimes that can just

[1:04:05] be they were busy. Um, you know, and just weren't able to maybe meet the

[1:04:10] timeline of when we needed the information. Um I do also after I reach

[1:04:15] out I try extensively to do research and see if I can find um the information.

[1:04:22] I'll look through board minutes. I'll look you know look through committee med

[1:04:25] you know minutes and things like that trying to figure out and some places

[1:04:28] will post it and some won't. Um so I don't I don't really think that it has

[1:04:33] anything to do so much. Crawford has responded in the past and Masaki has

[1:04:37] also responded in the past. So, we had some this year, we had some that we've

[1:04:43] never had respond to us and they responded this year. So, um and it's

[1:04:48] been awesome. And in fact, we now that we've done this for this is our well six

[1:04:56] two six. Yeah, this is our technically I

[1:05:00] guess going into our seventh um recommendation. Um,

[1:05:05] counties have uh continued to reach out. I always offer to send it and I'll send

[1:05:12] it to anybody who responds. Um, last year I did have people ask who didn't

[1:05:17] respond and apologize for not being able to, you know, give timely response to

[1:05:21] it, but um, still wanted our information. So, I do think that, um,

[1:05:25] the work that we're doing is not only helpful for us, but has actually been

[1:05:29] helpful for um, our um, our other counties.

[1:05:36] with sitting in on a lot of the different budget meetings and stuff. I

[1:05:41] think that currently with what we have, I think we have to see how that plays

[1:05:46] out with because we're still waiting on some numbers. We're waiting on insurance

[1:05:51] numbers. Those are projected, but we don't have the hard numbers yet. We're

[1:05:56] also waiting on the information from equalization to

[1:06:01] give us that final tax collection and things like that before we can really

[1:06:07] make any final decisions. That would be my thought process on

[1:06:12] that. But >> I do believe that going through we have

[1:06:17] to look at that and we started a little bit early just so we learned and could

[1:06:21] get ahead of the game, right? >> So, um I'm glad this had this

[1:06:24] information finaliz.

[1:06:32] But I really do appreciate looking at all the counties. The ones

[1:06:39] that I would really want to have in there are the ones we didn't

[1:06:43] right next door. But um

[1:06:48] that's a goal. We've got to gauge longevity down the way, not just this

[1:06:52] year's budget, >> right? what can we sustain and still do

[1:06:55] all the other things?

[1:07:00] » Yeah, absolutely. >> And like I kind of said, you know, we're

[1:07:03] the we're here to advise you in making your decisions. So, um that way you have

[1:07:09] the current and most accurate as possible information to be able to make

[1:07:13] your decisions. >> Very very.

[1:07:16] » Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you.

[1:07:25] Okay, next we have Capital Improvements

[1:07:29] Building and Grounds Director of Maintenance Justin Man.

[1:07:41] » Good morning, commissioners. Here to give you an update on the

[1:07:45] project.

[1:07:51] Um, we have had our

[1:07:56] opening

[1:08:00] to

[1:08:07] take now.

[1:08:17] Moving forward after that

[1:08:34] talking

[1:08:48] of the project. We're looking at the total completion

[1:09:04] Don't shut down.

[1:09:17] » Madam Chair, >> yes.

[1:09:18] » I'd like to mention that Justin's done a lot of work on this and done a very good

[1:09:23] job. So, I'd like to say thank you. >> We've been talking about this for a long

[1:09:30] time.

[1:09:37] » Okay, >> nice job. Thank you, Justin.

[1:09:43] » Um, next we have capital improvement it. our Andy couldn't be here today, so

[1:09:51] our controller is going to give us this update. So, I will preface with um we

[1:09:57] did go over this in uh Andy's presentation, budget presentation. So,

[1:10:03] Commissioner Sensor and Commissioner Mley um are also already privy to all of

[1:10:08] this information. So last year we had put into this budget um this budget year

[1:10:16] a new server project. And essentially what this would do is this new server

[1:10:21] would allow for you to log in from anywhere um in the county and your stuff

[1:10:29] is there. So instead of each individual computer

[1:10:36] being assigned to a person, all of your data is is with your login. Um the the

[1:10:43] best way that I can explain why this is better um is just in a common day-to-day

[1:10:48] operation. Um I can take um for instance I can take like a a sergeant sergeant

[1:10:56] desk um that Sergeant Daro could log in and any documents information that he

[1:11:02] has are at whatever computer he's able to access for that point. Um the other

[1:11:08] bonus to that is right now every time we get 25 to 30 new computers um annually

[1:11:15] for our staff to rotate in um each of those computers has to be built for that

[1:11:20] specific individual. We are a one and a half IT department for what should

[1:11:27] probably be a two and a half person IT department. um the amount of time I mean

[1:11:33] months and months once we get those computers in to have those rebuilt and

[1:11:37] specifications for that person by changing to this new server that goes

[1:11:42] away. They log in, their stuff's there. So it's a setup and press the button and

[1:11:47] go. Um so there's zero downtime when the computer goes down as well because we

[1:11:53] can just switch that user to a new computer. Um the other portion of that

[1:11:58] is um it really cuts down the actual cost of procuring their computer. So

[1:12:04] this is a long-term investment as well. Um so you're going to have less

[1:12:10] computers that you have to purchase because you don't need multiple

[1:12:13] computers at a station um assigned to specific users for specific functions.

[1:12:18] those specific users. Again, if you're thinking of it like treasurer front desk

[1:12:23] um for PR, treasurer front desk for you can log in under you and perform all

[1:12:29] those same functions. Um when we initially quoted this for this budget

[1:12:34] year, it was roughly $58,000 that was put in for um it has almost doubled

[1:12:43] already when he went to order it. So, we are at the point now where it was

[1:12:47] roughly $110,000 to get this project done. Um, that being said, um, we will

[1:12:54] have a conversation about allocation of um, capital projects funding during our

[1:13:01] budget presentation. Um, so we are looking to request that that additional

[1:13:06] money be allocated now so that we can get this per project up and running

[1:13:11] because we know as of January 1 that we're anticipated to increase costs

[1:13:15] related to it by about another 25%.

[1:13:22] And if I'm not mistaken, um, when we asked Andy what he believed was the cost

[1:13:28] factor and why it jumped so much, um, he basically referenced the data centers

[1:13:35] and all the parts that are being used and they're in short supply.

[1:13:40] So the quote that I know that he gave us is good through sometime in September.

[1:13:47] So that's why we want to allocate it now from the capital improvement fund versus

[1:13:53] waiting till after the first of the year where you're going to look at another

[1:13:58] substantial jump

[1:14:04] » and it would be nice just for any of our employees you know even the courts to be

[1:14:10] able to log in if a computer goes down they're not without I mean their

[1:14:14] information police department even our controller,

[1:14:18] that information can be accessed from any computer as

[1:14:22] long as they're logging into it.

[1:14:27] And if a hard drive fails, then they don't lose all their data as well.

[1:14:34] » That has happened. >> That has happened.

[1:14:37] As much as I didn't have a lot on my computer, what I did have on my computer

[1:14:41] is gone from here. So >> whatever we can do to improve the

[1:14:47] efficiency

[1:14:51] as good as the price anyway.

[1:14:57] » Any other questions for on this?

[1:15:04] » Okay. With nothing further on the work

[1:15:08] session, then this meeting is adjourned and our budget and finance meeting

[1:15:12] starts at 11 o'clock.

[1:15:37] Watch

[1:15:47] this.

[1:15:56] Praise

[1:16:19] God.

[1:17:53] for but that is just kind of a shows you how things are coming in right now.

[1:17:57] People wanting to pay taxes. Um our state reimbursements for our judicial

[1:18:02] salaries which is roughly 90,000 right now. Um, our core cost and our sting are

[1:18:09] also not yet received as of 73126 and those all had happened last year at

[1:18:14] this point in time. On a positive note, our percent of

[1:18:19] expenses compared to this time last year is 5.34% below our 2025 budget. Um that

[1:18:27] being said, the numbers are the same for uh we have 15 of 26 pay periods in 2026,

[1:18:34] seven of 12 monthly retirement payments and eight of 12 monthly benefit premium

[1:18:38] payments made. And those are actually the same where we were at this time last

[1:18:42] year as well. So it is just a general um general expense

[1:18:50] downturn right now with our departments just doing a fabulous job of managing

[1:18:54] their budgets. So, >> Madam Chair,

[1:18:57] » yes. >> Um, the state not coughing up their

[1:19:01] money, is that of a concern? I mean, is there

[1:19:07] something going on at the state level that

[1:19:10] » it is not um I I often I like to me personally I I do it just as like people

[1:19:17] that don't come and pay their taxes on their house until the very last day,

[1:19:22] they're going to keep all the money they can until they absolutely can't keep it

[1:19:25] anymore. Um, so my thought process is that we will probably see more of this

[1:19:30] come in in October when their new fiscal year starts. Um, once they have to clean

[1:19:35] out those buckets in September. So

[1:19:41] if it was our if it would have been our uh revenue sharing, I might be a little

[1:19:45] bit more concerned, but that is on par. So,

[1:19:54] so I wanted to just start with now that we have all of our audit adjustments um

[1:19:59] and final entries in with those beginning fund balances for 2026 and we

[1:20:04] do have this on for a further discussion once the presentation's done. Um, just

[1:20:09] as a as a rehash, um, our beginning fund balance as of 2025 was $2,167.

[1:20:18] Oh, I'm doing a Noel. 2,167,39.19.

[1:20:25] Um the difference between our collected 202 should say 2026 or 2025 revenues and

[1:20:32] our 2025 expenditures um left us with a fund balance as of

[1:20:37] January 1, 2026 of 2,948,782.119.

[1:20:45] Our 18% funding balance goal, so 18% of our total general fund expenses that

[1:20:51] have been budgeted, um is 2,148,63504

[1:20:58] the fund balance policy that was approved by the board of commissioners

[1:21:03] um that under or over goal would need to be assessed and um reallocated and

[1:21:09] reooked at. Obviously, if we were in the negative, we would be reviewing our

[1:21:12] budget um to look to see how to meet that. And um because we are in the

[1:21:18] positive at 6.7% over the fund balance goal, um this board will have an

[1:21:23] opportunity to make decisions about um allocations to capital improvements, um

[1:21:29] some of the other things that you've talked about, uh healthcare savings

[1:21:32] accounts, set aside funds, those type of things.

[1:21:35] So, it's a it's a great place to be. Um, so for fun and just because I like to

[1:21:43] make you read little print, um, our 2026 beginning fund balances for post audit

[1:21:48] for some of our other funds. Um, I will just hit on some of the ones that I

[1:21:52] think of as highlights. Um, our sheriff road patrol fund is still sitting um,

[1:21:58] above the 25% that we like to see as far as making sure that they have enough to

[1:22:04] to run for an ample amount of time. Um they were at 34.34%

[1:22:09] at the beginning of this year. Um I will caveat that sheriff has asked to be on

[1:22:14] the agenda for a budget adjustment at the next work session. So we will

[1:22:19] probably see that dip at the end of this year again. Um our animal shelter

[1:22:23] donations which are explicitly used for animal care. um the vet bills that come

[1:22:30] in um and routine vets, non-rine vets um those are all paid out of that shelter

[1:22:37] donation program um is is very good. One of the areas that is of concern um and

[1:22:44] this is solely based on that huge project they had to do last year um is

[1:22:50] the animal control program fund itself. So, our actual millillage collections

[1:22:55] that operates both our animal control and our shelter. Um, they ended the year

[1:23:00] with a 5.52% fund balance. Um, so there is work to do

[1:23:05] and our director is um very aware of that and continues to pinch pennies. I

[1:23:10] will be I will be completely honest. 43,000 is about 40,000 more than we

[1:23:16] initially thought we were going to end at when this project came out. So that

[1:23:21] is due to good good management over at the shelter of being able to just cut

[1:23:25] things back a little bit more as we go. Um emergency management is sitting below

[1:23:31] that 25%. They're at 3571248 but it is a new millage. So hopeful with

[1:23:38] this year's budget and next year's budget we will be able to put um

[1:23:42] additional funding set aside for that. Um we have some funds that we

[1:23:47] traditionally do not carry high fund balances in just because um of the

[1:23:52] allocations that come from the general fund to that. We do like to have a

[1:23:56] little bit over um just in case there is some billings at the end. That would be

[1:24:01] friend of the court um is one of those that we like to keep just a little bit

[1:24:05] of money in there in case there's some bills or the state doesn't pay us in a

[1:24:09] timely manner um to be allocated for that. So then we're not sending general

[1:24:13] fund money that way out of the fund balance for the year. Um the other one

[1:24:17] that we do not keep a lot of money in is the indigent defense fund. They actually

[1:24:23] they being the state actually will take any money we have left over at the end

[1:24:28] of each of their fiscal years and count that against what they pay us. So

[1:24:34] keeping money in there does us no good. Um what you save is used against you.

[1:24:38] So, we are also um looking at a pretty healthy E911 central dispatch fund fund

[1:24:46] balance. Um this again, I will add that our director of E911 is ready to proceed

[1:24:53] with the um tower booster program that we've been talking about for a year and

[1:24:58] a half now. Um with the passage of the millillage, uh there's a lot more uh we

[1:25:03] feel a lot better about spending such a large chunk of money on a project. So we

[1:25:07] will see this also drop as well as it moves forward. So

[1:25:13] the child care fund um we have tried to put a little bit of money into that the

[1:25:18] last couple years to create actually a fund balance for the child care fund. As

[1:25:23] a reminder, one child with advanced care needs could

[1:25:31] set us back anywhere from 250 to $500,000

[1:25:37] um in a fiscal year. It has happened. It is scary and that money comes directly

[1:25:42] from the general fund fund balance if it happens. So that being said, as we're

[1:25:48] trying to continue to build this um over time, that fund balance becomes

[1:25:52] important in helping us maintain our general fund balance as well for a long

[1:25:58] term. Spongy Moth is healthy. We didn't spray last year. We have that collection

[1:26:03] um at a higher millage rate now. So that is important. Our Veterans Affair Fund

[1:26:08] remains healthy. They have um been working at a continued spendown um of

[1:26:13] their fund balance to utilize that money in the bank to improve some of the um

[1:26:21] annual events and um some of the relationships that we have. for

[1:26:26] instance, the uh sheriff the sheriff's representative that they assist with to

[1:26:31] to have that direct link between veterans who may be incarcerated or

[1:26:36] arrested and in need of some veterans um legal counsel, housing, um medical,

[1:26:43] those types of things. One of our largest ones for fund balance is the

[1:26:48] animal shelter um special projects fund. And to touch on that, that special

[1:26:53] project fund is money that has been donated um to the animal shelter but has

[1:27:01] strings attached. Um so they have said, "I am donating my estate to the animal

[1:27:08] shelter. However, I only want it to be used for dog adoptions or I only want it

[1:27:14] to be used to improve the environment that felines who are in the animal

[1:27:21] shelter live in. Um, so it's it's very specific about what we can utilize that

[1:27:27] for. Um, so it's as we get those donations and we have some extremely

[1:27:32] generous people with some very strong passions for certain animals. um that is

[1:27:36] that specific fund that it goes into so we can make sure that those are managed

[1:27:40] the way that they're supposed to have been managed to honor those wishes. So

[1:27:45] um some of the other some of the other funds that um we have are

[1:27:51] we don't really have a a lot but just to kind of show you where your fund

[1:27:54] balances are for the SADs as of January 1 for Higgins Hotton and Lake St. Helen

[1:27:59] are listed at the bottom. Um, Higgins was at 2611634.

[1:28:06] Um, that actually includes the $160,000 that we allocated over. So, obviously,

[1:28:13] if that allocation from the general fund fund balance had not been made in 2025,

[1:28:18] um, we would be at a negative, which we're not allowed to be at. So, um, the

[1:28:23] Holton Lake um, one was at 658,51626

[1:28:29] and Lake St. Helen 24959774. So both of those are right on par with

[1:28:35] those projects and the timing of getting into bidding for building those

[1:28:40] structures. So

[1:28:45] 2026 revenues to date for our funds. I divided them into two categories. Um

[1:28:50] funds 101 general fund through 27 272 which is the juvenile justice fund. Um,

[1:28:56] as you can see, still a little low on 101 and we will see that within the next

[1:29:01] few months as those taxes start building up for the advalorum. We will see that

[1:29:06] come come to fruition. Um 207 214. So that are those are special millage funds

[1:29:13] for both the sheriff and emergency management. Um nearly 100% for those

[1:29:20] 274 through 861. 861 is um our last um St. Helen Lake level control structure.

[1:29:29] So again, you see those special funds as they come through that are that are

[1:29:33] really doing a a good job with the collection of the millages 298 um which

[1:29:38] is your veterans affairs as well. So overall um our fund revenues to date are

[1:29:47] comparable to where they always have been. Um there are really few that are

[1:29:52] lower. Um EDC special projects obviously that will remain low because we're not

[1:29:58] doing anything with that. So there's no money coming in. So that is why you're

[1:30:02] going to see revenues low to that area as well. Um we have not received any

[1:30:07] allocations for the CPE training fund yet this year. Uh we'll just say state.

[1:30:13] Um but there are still funds available for that training um as they

[1:30:18] move forward that are actually in the fund balance for that um law library. We

[1:30:23] just haven't allocated all the money yet. Um so that one will will come to be

[1:30:27] 100% by the end of the year with our EDC revolving loan fund. That's

[1:30:34] another one that we just we didn't loan anything so we're not bringing anything

[1:30:40] back in. Um and we won't be doing that this year unless there's some other

[1:30:44] project that comes about and is presented to the board for that money to

[1:30:47] be utilized for. Um we are doing the program income fund which is what we're

[1:30:52] collecting to um divvy back out for those projects, those repairs um in the

[1:30:59] houses has actually exceeded our our expectations. It is been a good year for

[1:31:04] projects and then collecting monies that is owed to us for that. um the county

[1:31:08] housing administrative fund. We have paid out a portion of um what is owed to

[1:31:15] the Crawford County Housing Administration for what they have done

[1:31:19] for us this year so far. Um and that is money that has been allocated through

[1:31:24] our actual program income funds because we exceeded the dollar amount that the

[1:31:29] state says we have to reach. So, Commission on Aging, they are still 100%

[1:31:35] allocated. Um and the only other one is your airport fund, but the portion of

[1:31:41] that is um that 883 347 in revenues that will include the audit adjustments we'll

[1:31:47] do at the end of 2026 for that state and federal money that comes in and out.

[1:31:56] When we're looking at where we're at for expenses to date for all of our funds

[1:32:00] across the board, um we are right on par at the 50% mark across the board. Um we

[1:32:06] have some that are lower. 202 is the um road repair millillage. So those bills

[1:32:13] have not come into us yet to be reimbursed to the road commission um

[1:32:18] because obviously those projects are all done July, August, early September. So

[1:32:23] when those comes in, you'll see those buckets have emptied out, so those

[1:32:26] expenses will even out as well. Um we also are looking at um some of the

[1:32:32] smaller some of the smaller funds 217 um to 222. Those ones are ones that we

[1:32:39] don't normally expend out of anyhow because they're

[1:32:43] 25 cents on every tax or something that goes into a welfare fraud account or um

[1:32:51] something of that nature that we don't really expend out of. So, as far as

[1:32:55] funds 274 through 861, um you'll see again 283 is your

[1:33:01] commission on aging. So, that's an in andout account. Um 292 is childare. So

[1:33:06] that's kind of in a graph format is really nice to look at um that those

[1:33:11] expenses are being managed well. Um so there is some of that caveat in there

[1:33:15] for if if there is an off off chance of something being expended as well.

[1:33:24] Really as far as looking at those different funds with their expenses to

[1:33:29] date. Um, the biggest ones that have jumped out at me while I was while I was

[1:33:33] analyzing um brownfield redevelopment, that is actually simply they hired a

[1:33:38] contractor this year. We will need to eventually do a budget adjustment to

[1:33:42] match out to what they're paying. Um, so that is simply a matter of the budget

[1:33:47] was put in at 1500, then they hired somebody and actually have projects

[1:33:50] going on. So an unanticipated expense, but plenty of money to cover that as

[1:33:56] well. um the EDC special projects that is the

[1:34:01] transfer out to create our um freshwater trails fund. So the allocation already

[1:34:09] happened to create that new fund in there and that's what pushes that a

[1:34:12] little bit higher. Um correction training fund is those uh new new

[1:34:20] officers that are sent to correction training. We have had some turnover. Um

[1:34:24] we have a year to get a new hire as a corrections officer sent to the

[1:34:29] corrections academy. Um so we have had several this year. Um

[1:34:37] again EDC there's no money um being spent. So in the revolving loan funds

[1:34:43] for that um and you can see the positive the same positives for the program

[1:34:47] income fund and um for the materials management plan um which is at

[1:34:56] 100% but almost 100%. So we're doing doing pretty well in those areas as well

[1:35:01] as they come in. Um our Lake St. Helen, Holton Lake, um Higgins Lake, Hotton

[1:35:07] Lake, Lake St. Helen. Um those again are shots in the dark of how much we thought

[1:35:12] we were going to spend. Um but if you look at the total to date, at least it

[1:35:17] can show you where we're at year to date for that as well. So the other portion

[1:35:22] of that um to kind of be considerate and um to draw to your attention is your

[1:35:28] last two which are really important to us 860 and 861. So that is your debit

[1:35:33] service for Holton Lake and Lake St. Helens bonds. So, we want those to be

[1:35:37] fully expended because that means our bond payments have been paid. Um, Lake

[1:35:41] St. Helen was paid in full this year and H Hotton Lake will have one year left to

[1:35:46] pay. So,

[1:35:50] so general fund um all of our major activities our department fund to date

[1:35:55] revenues um 000 was our main collection for the general fund that has your

[1:36:01] adalorm taxes your um revenues your court cost allocations

[1:36:06] um cost allocations from non- primary departments

[1:36:11] so we're we're getting there um slowly but surely we still have about 75% to

[1:36:17] collect, but considering that more than half of that revenue that comes in is

[1:36:22] tax based. Um, and we know that our taxes aren't fully collected, that makes

[1:36:26] sense. For departments 284 through 918,

[1:36:33] um, we are doing actually fairly well across the board for all of those and

[1:36:39] expenses. We don't have anybody traditionally that's really high um or

[1:36:44] really low as far as revenues being collected. Um you can see that that

[1:36:47] primary the 2026 budgeted to the revenues to date. You can see that is

[1:36:52] really where you have that change um in those major collection areas not having

[1:36:58] collected our full um our full allocation for the advalorum tax yet. So

[1:37:04] that's at 18.8%. Board of Commissioners, you don't

[1:37:08] collect a lot of revenues, but I want you to be proud of yourself because

[1:37:12] you're at 64.62%. That is your um those of you that attend

[1:37:17] meetings where there's a pdeium, that is you attending your meetings because the

[1:37:21] county then gets those pdeiums back. So, if a commissioner in years where you

[1:37:25] might go back and see we didn't collect those pdeiums, that's because nobody

[1:37:29] went in person to those meetings. So, therefore, we did not collect a pdeium.

[1:37:33] So, that's kind of like your little report card right there. So, good job.

[1:37:37] Thank you. Um, a jury commission. Um, that is the reimbursement that we get

[1:37:42] from the state based on how much they decide they want to give us.

[1:37:46] They have a bucket of money. Every year they decide how much each county is

[1:37:49] going to get reimbursed up to a certain percentage. Um, so that is what we

[1:37:55] budget for traditionally is 2500 because it can be a shot in the dark as we move

[1:37:59] forward. Um, for me, I just had foyer fees.

[1:38:06] So, anytime there's a big foyer, it makes me happy. Um, some of the other

[1:38:11] areas uh to kind of note on are elections. That is a reimbursement um

[1:38:16] that has come back into us from township for and school districts for special

[1:38:20] elections. Um that offsets the expenses that were incurred for that as well.

[1:38:28] Our courts are actually right where our courts normally are at this at this time

[1:38:32] of year. um central services um is the 50% of our total expenses are reimbursed

[1:38:39] by Okam County. So we're right on par for that. The same is for the district

[1:38:44] services fund 287. That is the reimbursement for expenses that we get

[1:38:50] for our shared district services as well. Um friend of the court, there's a

[1:38:55] certain percentage of money that friend of the court collects that is returned

[1:38:58] to the general fund. um this year those boxes that have to be checked um for us

[1:39:05] to get that money um have all been checked and um it has been a great year

[1:39:09] in that category as well. Our prosecuting attorney's office um has

[1:39:16] received um allocations for certain representations as far as where we sit

[1:39:22] for reimbursements for certain services that are performed. Um so that's one to

[1:39:28] be proud of. They're also going to be one that's going to be lower in their

[1:39:31] expenses because of the turnover we had at the beginning of the year. So, um,

[1:39:35] another area, courthouse security, we have exceeded um, we have exceeded that

[1:39:41] budgeted revenue as well. That is, um, reimbursements for transfer of our

[1:39:46] federal inmates. So, that is a that is a great great

[1:39:51] thing. Um, and while I'm continuing on that, because these are both Lieutenant

[1:39:55] Beck and Sheriff's budget, so they'll go kind of handinhand for me as an attabo,

[1:39:59] our corrections, um, corrections department 351 is already at 76.89%

[1:40:05] of their projected um, again, that is in large part due to those federal inmates

[1:40:11] um, and in a portion to the uh, Oscot County inmates as well. Um but obviously

[1:40:19] for us to be that on par and that over that means that the buildings are

[1:40:22] happening and being um done in a timely manner. So that makes me happy.

[1:40:33] So as we look at our expenses to date for the general fund um you can see that

[1:40:38] 50% of central services have expended which goes with that reimbursement.

[1:40:43] um looking forward. Uh buildings and grounds is a little high. Um Justin's

[1:40:48] been very busy fixing things um around here, but they're within his budget, so

[1:40:54] we will give him that. They just a lot of things happen in the summer around

[1:40:57] here and then slow down again in the winter for that.

[1:41:02] In our departments, um overall, obviously, for the most part, things are

[1:41:07] on par. Um I'm still a little high. we have all of our longevity that's been

[1:41:13] spent. Um, so I apologize for that, but we will even out and not not be over

[1:41:19] budget this year. Um, we're a little high in MIS, but that is all those

[1:41:24] computers that get purchased at the beginning of the year. Um, our and I

[1:41:29] know this sounds really silly. So, the mail room expenses are actually a little

[1:41:32] bit higher. Um, and one of the areas that affects our mail room greatly is

[1:41:36] the amount of jury service notices we have to send out. So the more jury

[1:41:40] trials we have predicted, the more jury trial service forms that the clerk's

[1:41:46] office has to send out, the more postage we spent. So

[1:41:53] it all goes together in the long run. Um we are also um doing really well um in

[1:42:00] in most areas for expenses. Um, as you look across the board, buildings and

[1:42:06] grounds, as I mentioned, is slightly high, um, but still on track to be on

[1:42:10] budget. Oops.

[1:42:15] This is the next, um, 286 through 648. 20 286 is the district court. 287

[1:42:21] district shared services, 648 is the medical examiner. um of all of these the

[1:42:30] ones to kind of look at across the board um looking at the jail and where the

[1:42:37] jail actually lies. So they are currently at 61 um% of their total

[1:42:43] expenses

[1:42:46] percentile wide expenses to revenues they are doing much better than they

[1:42:50] normally do. So I'm still giving them a gold star for now. Um some of the other

[1:42:55] areas um that we've been looking at um OV patrol, some of those come in at the

[1:43:01] beginning of the spring and as we we move forward with that, you'll see the

[1:43:05] rest of that be expended out here um as OV season hits um a little bit harder in

[1:43:11] the fall as well. So that will probably be fully expended by November would be

[1:43:16] my guess. Um the good news with that one is the grant that we have been awarded

[1:43:19] is 100% reimbursement. So, if we go over, we get what we go over back as

[1:43:26] well. So, that's a that's a happy thought. We're a little bit higher on

[1:43:30] our medical examiner um than I would like to be. I mean, just slightly for

[1:43:34] 58% and that is due to having six unclaimed bodies so far this year. So

[1:43:45] just a little 6492990 which is our mental health um that

[1:43:51] includes transports on behalf of mental health and then the appropriation to the

[1:43:57] um Northern Lakes community mental health

[1:44:01] as well for that. So that's right about 50% which sits well. um the employees

[1:44:05] hospital insurance that will actually represent um has a little bit in there

[1:44:10] that is leftover expenses um for retirees that were on the HSA or I'm

[1:44:17] sorry HRA. So that trends up a little bit higher as it does as well.

[1:44:24] In regards to some of the ones I want to point out 992

[1:44:29] which is the unit's worker workers workman insured the work comp that is

[1:44:34] our work comp fund. So we pay the work comp fund in two increments um at the

[1:44:42] beginning of the fiscal year and at the middle of the fiscal year. And as soon

[1:44:45] as I receive our audit back that tells me how much each department and fund

[1:44:51] cost for workers compensation, I go through and I do the allocation through

[1:44:55] the budget. Um, so right now it's at a negative because that allocation's

[1:45:00] already been put in, but I have a bill sitting on my desk to pay. So you will

[1:45:04] actually see that go back up again and it normally just about evens out

[1:45:08] depending on how that audit comes out. So,

[1:45:12] um, we still have transfers out obviously for MIDC and landfills that

[1:45:17] are that are available. Um, looking at our child care fund. We'll

[1:45:22] have additional transfers out for that. Um, and then that transfers out liquor

[1:45:26] tax um is taking money and sending that out to NMRE when they bill us as well.

[1:45:33] So we essentially pay that as they bill us.

[1:45:38] For our payrolls by fund to date, um we are right on right on trend with where

[1:45:45] we always hope to be at this time of year. Um general fund is at 55.62%.

[1:45:52] Um really the only departments that we have

[1:45:55] that are slightly higher than um what we had actually budgeted. juvenile justice

[1:46:01] is um a little bit over, but there were um looking at that, the amount of

[1:46:08] payments we learned when we were um looking at budget versus what was being

[1:46:14] built through for payroll did not line up based on a change. So, we'll have

[1:46:18] that completely corrected for 2027. Um Jake and I spent lots of quality time

[1:46:24] together making sure that the percentages line up with the dollar

[1:46:27] amounts for moving forward. Um, basically it represents one additional

[1:46:31] payroll. So, and then um our our largest overages simply because we had no idea

[1:46:37] what we were looking at with the special assessment districts and a um lake

[1:46:42] manager. Those obviously are above budget for um what we would want at this

[1:46:48] time of year for that as well. So, but again, that was a shot in the dark type

[1:46:53] of budget as we moved forward. So, benefits by fund to date. Um, we

[1:46:59] obviously are are one month ahead in our payments of all of our benefits. Um, and

[1:47:04] your benefits includes not only health care, um, but obviously your dental,

[1:47:09] your vision, um, it also includes payments for short-term disability as

[1:47:14] they come through as well. So, anything that falls into that category is lumped

[1:47:18] up into the benefits for that. Um, it also includes workers compensation

[1:47:24] payments. So, as the departments were build by me for workers compensation,

[1:47:31] that of course increases their benefits by fund to date. Um, so the overall

[1:47:36] overall um the ones that you're going to look at

[1:47:39] and go, "Oh my gosh." So, sheriff road patrol, animal control, emergency

[1:47:44] management, um, specialty courts, opiate settlement funds, anything basically

[1:47:50] that is over budget for benefits by fund is directly related to the amount that

[1:47:56] was charged for workers compensation. Um and that is because when they do the

[1:48:01] audit and they're looking at a historical pattern, um that

[1:48:07] ratio that they use to charge them based on our total payroll gets adjusted up if

[1:48:12] there's more incidents. Uh my sheriff's department and our animal

[1:48:18] um control program have been champions of um small incidents,

[1:48:25] nothing major, nothing big. Um, but a cat bite, a dog bite, a slip and fall,

[1:48:32] um, those type of things, those all go into those workman compensations buckets

[1:48:37] and send us up. Historically, those are our two highest. Anyhow, this year, we

[1:48:41] just have had a couple years of bad luck as it runs through that. So, um,

[1:48:46] emergency management was a new department, so we took a guess at what

[1:48:50] their percentage would be for this. um and they are going to be a higher rate

[1:48:54] comparable to a share stroke patrol. So somebody that could potentially be in a

[1:48:59] direct line as that moves forward. Opi settlements, the same thing. We took a

[1:49:03] direct guess um of what that was going to be at

[1:49:08] and I anticipated that they would rate that position um similar to like an

[1:49:13] administrative position, but because it's housed in the jail and deals

[1:49:16] directly with inmates, it pushed that rate up to more close to uh road patrol

[1:49:21] corrections type of

[1:49:26] just to keep us up um as a slide because I know we talk a lot about our HSA and

[1:49:31] so I thought it would be good for everybody to see um the pretty green

[1:49:36] color is the percentage of our HSA as the total cost to our benefits. So just

[1:49:42] an idea of when we're allocating that money when we're saying that we're

[1:49:47] willing to put forward x amount towards the deductible for our employees. um

[1:49:51] what does that look like out of that total bene benefit cost for us

[1:49:57] and broken down by fund? Um it averages about 16% across the board for all of

[1:50:03] the funds. Um some higher than others just depending on usages. Um we have

[1:50:09] younger people in our sheriff road patrol fund. Um so there are more single

[1:50:14] plans. Um so as those come out you can see but the

[1:50:20] general average is about 16% of what we pay for benefits for our employees is

[1:50:26] HSA

[1:50:31] retirement to date again we are doing really well on where we're trending

[1:50:35] across the board um payments are all up to date in all of our categories um we

[1:50:41] have the back payments um back payments for making that change over for 261. Um

[1:50:49] so there was a jump in between last quarter and this quarter um because we

[1:50:54] had to do catch up as far as um once that new plan, that hybrid plan went

[1:50:59] into play. They did a big billing basically is the best way I can think of

[1:51:02] to explain to it. Um but overall we are doing fairly well with where our

[1:51:08] retirement by fund to date is. Um we do have

[1:51:14] um central dispatch obviously we had that large kind of upfront that had to

[1:51:19] go in so that increased that number um we will eventually um as Jessica moves

[1:51:24] forward um getting some some things settled we're going to go through and we

[1:51:27] will do a a budget adjustment for that retirement the original budget um we

[1:51:32] didn't have those final figures for hybrid to be approved because of all of

[1:51:36] our timing with the contract last year um but her budget is able to sustain

[1:51:42] that change so that will work. Well,

[1:51:47] that is all I have for the actual presentation.

[1:51:52] » Anybody have any questions, >> Madam Chair?

[1:51:54] » Yes. >> Survey and remanumentation.

[1:51:59] Is only spent 3.96%. Is that a seasonal issue or

[1:52:06] » just not going to hit budget this year? >> Nope. They will. Um so that is a um that

[1:52:11] is the grant from the state of Michigan for doing all those corners and what

[1:52:16] they do traditionally is they'll work on it um those contractors for surveying

[1:52:22] will work on that throughout the summer months and then turn in one big bill to

[1:52:26] us for the amount that was allotted to them. So it goes from absolutely nothing

[1:52:31] except for the teeny bit that we pay to the survey remon person um to everything

[1:52:36] being spent all at once. how they're by the end of September because they

[1:52:40] they'll have to have it all spent by then to get reimbursed by the state.

[1:52:49] » Any other questions?

[1:52:55] » Thank you, Jody. That was helpful. Very helpful.

[1:53:02] Next we have the allocation of fund balance overage for 2025.

[1:53:09] You know what might be helpful?

[1:53:17] So, I touched on at the very beginning of this um that uh our fund balance

[1:53:23] policy for the county of Ross Common with the general fund um that if we were

[1:53:28] sitting at that over under the assessment and the decision-making by

[1:53:32] the board of commissioners, um the initial um the initial amount that we

[1:53:37] have is $800,14750.

[1:53:43] 15 cents that the board um has to make a determination of appropriate

[1:53:49] allocations. The policy is that the first priority is allocation to our

[1:53:57] capital projects fund. Um and that is to make sure that we're never in the

[1:54:01] position that we're in now where we had to wait seven years to replace a boiler

[1:54:08] and a boiler system. Um, I'm sure that's probably in the long run cost us more

[1:54:12] money with inefficiency. So me, I'm I'm hopeful um to seeing that

[1:54:20] continue to grow. So based on um based on that figure, so I pull it back up so

[1:54:27] you had it. Um we have had conversations um throughout the meetings um for the

[1:54:35] individual budgets. Um, additionally, there have been conversations um, in

[1:54:39] these board meetings of a few costs that would be looked at as far as

[1:54:47] being expenditures from capital projects in the next two years that have come to

[1:54:51] board. Put it big so you can see that. Um,

[1:54:55] obviously our largest one is that boiler replacement. Um, that is I put 640 in

[1:55:02] Commissioner Wolson. I know that we don't know exactly what the bid is, but

[1:55:06] I believe that was the highest of those three lowest. Um,

[1:55:10] and I know that um the low ones, we also have the cost associated with

[1:55:17] putting everybody on that same system to manage in there as well. So, I know that

[1:55:22] that may be something that gets adjusted um as the committee looks at that um for

[1:55:29] moving forward. Um the very first one which is the BSNA cloud. Um

[1:55:36] we are going to the BSNA cloud. Whether we wanted to go to the BSNA cloud or not

[1:55:41] um that is where we are going to have to go. BSNA is the software company that

[1:55:48] runs um a lot of our major think stuff for day-to-day operations. Um in the

[1:55:55] county administrative side um that is our treasurer's office, that is

[1:56:00] equalization, um that is cash receiving, that is the general ledger activity,

[1:56:07] that is our animal control, um for licensing issuance, um that is the fun

[1:56:13] thing online that everybody can go and look up what everybody else pays for

[1:56:17] their property taxes and who owns what property. um that is our accounts

[1:56:21] payable software and to all of our employees that is our payroll.

[1:56:26] So they are moving uh BSNA is moving to the cloud and um either we have to find

[1:56:32] a different software which I'll be honest neither myself nor um Marcy nor

[1:56:39] our equalization director are um able to find anything comparable that we're

[1:56:44] interested in or that where each module works for the three different offices.

[1:56:50] um they have given us a uh cost breakdown of what that looks like for

[1:56:56] us. The initial cost to put that into play, which would actually need to be

[1:57:03] paid this year in order for us to have the um in order for us to be able to

[1:57:10] have the project set where we could be active

[1:57:16] on the cloud in 2028. um they would need us to pay that by the

[1:57:20] end of September. So that initial down payment is $24,890.

[1:57:27] Um my request would be that we utilize the capital projects to put into that.

[1:57:34] Um that way there is not a change in overages in the general fund budget for

[1:57:40] that. Um we can look at that as a benefit to everybody. um especially when

[1:57:46] you throw payroll in there. Um and it is kind of a drop in the bucket.

[1:57:54] I will say that there are two other payments that will come, but those are

[1:57:58] not something that will need to come out of capital projects. Um there is a

[1:58:03] second payment that will be invoiced um in 2027 or I'm sorry in 2028 once the

[1:58:10] subscription starts, once we're active. Um, but that is actually the new annual

[1:58:16] implementation and we don't need to talk about right now because it gets a little

[1:58:21] scary when you start looking at at how much that costs. Um, but it will be

[1:58:25] something that happens. And then the other one will be in 2028 as well um to

[1:58:29] be invoiced upon completion of training, but we can budget into 2028 for that

[1:58:34] based on what we've been forecasting out so far. Um the second portion of this is

[1:58:40] our airport internet project. Um our airport is not

[1:58:48] manned by our IT department. They are separate. Um they have no connection to

[1:58:55] the county as far as IT and IT support. Um it leaves us in a couple different

[1:59:00] precarious situations. Um we can't hook up any type of camera system over there.

[1:59:06] Um, obviously just being able to have that access um and improved improved

[1:59:13] internet um as well is a benefit to anyone who comes to our airport. Um the

[1:59:19] total cost of that project is 17,500. That timeline is October 26. Um boiler

[1:59:26] replacement is obviously our largest um project and obviously that is something

[1:59:32] that we have already um this board has already made the decision that this will

[1:59:36] will move forward out of capital um capital projects. It is for the most

[1:59:42] part what we have in our fund balance for capital projects covers the actual

[1:59:46] boiler replacement um uh with the estimate of 640. We discussed the server

[1:59:52] replacement um a little earlier looking at about 110,000.

[1:59:57] Um we have hopefully a sidewalk replacement for the rest of the building

[2:00:03] um to be budgeted in for 2027 of roughly 32,000. We we'll be doing

[2:00:09] about double the work that is going to happen um beginning in the next couple

[2:00:12] weeks on the sheriff's side of the building. Um, and then potentially if we

[2:00:17] can't fit it into the budget, the BSNA cloud change over on December 27th.

[2:00:22] So that's just my little head. So that total is 878540.

[2:00:29] Um, with that, >> there was one that I know

[2:00:34] » I missed one. >> Well, you had to leave when we talked

[2:00:39] with Jamie. >> She's getting a quote for equalization.

[2:00:44] » Okay. And I don't

[2:00:48] » we don't have that yet. Okay. >> Is that for the total flyover remapping?

[2:00:53] Is that okay? My guess is that'll be probably anywhere between 10 and 20,000

[2:00:57] just based on when we did it five years ago and what that cost was.

[2:01:01] » Yeah. I don't know because she talked about something about 6 in imaging then

[2:01:06] down to 3 in. And so she was going to get some proposals

[2:01:11] » on what that looked like. >> Yep. She copied me on request for that

[2:01:14] and as soon as they have it, we'll bring that in. So, thank you for that. I will

[2:01:17] add that with question marks to our list. Um, your your fund balance for

[2:01:22] your capital improvement fund as of January 1 was $547,8234.

[2:01:32] If that kind of helps you in your mind um with your total bucket of where you

[2:01:37] go, plus then you've got another 800,000 that you could do. Um so some of the

[2:01:43] other things not talking about capital projects um that have been discussed by

[2:01:49] this board um that I just wanted to bring forward. Um one of them is we have

[2:01:55] had the conversation of doing a set aside for HSA funding. Um there has been

[2:02:02] a very passionate commitment by this board to try to continue to fund that

[2:02:07] for as long as possible for our employees. Um we are looking at roughly

[2:02:13] right now for 2027 270,000. That's without knowing um exactly where we can

[2:02:21] as we get a little closer to open enrollment and we know who has what. Um

[2:02:26] that's based on what people currently have as active benefit types right now.

[2:02:31] Um, we have also additionally discussed continuing to build that child care fund

[2:02:39] um to cover any of those unforeseen costs. Um, we've had the the

[2:02:44] conversation of, hey, if we could even get 250,000 in the bank to cover one one

[2:02:48] bad kid, um, that would be great. We're at 102 right now. Um, I'm not saying or

[2:02:54] suggesting in any way, shape, or form. I'm just saying those are kind of max

[2:02:57] numbers of what we would be looking for for that. Um,

[2:03:02] my thought was that you guys might want to put this on like a work session for

[2:03:06] discussion moving forward. And >> I think we do need a work session. I

[2:03:11] know that during the different budget stuff that we've discussed and stuff

[2:03:15] like that, knowing what capital improvements are,

[2:03:20] one of the things I'll bring up is because especially like the boilers, the

[2:03:24] BSNA, um the server, those and even whatever equalization ends up being too,

[2:03:32] they benefit the county obviously and the employees as a whole. So I think we

[2:03:38] need to add to the capital improvement fund but I also believe that for future

[2:03:44] I believe in 2027 we've kind of figured in the HSA. So this bucket would be for

[2:03:49] maybe a year where the funds aren't available

[2:03:54] based on future county needs. So, I think

[2:03:58] a couple hundred thousand to go into that just to set aside and then maybe

[2:04:03] the rest into the child care fund to still put money in there and not just

[2:04:09] leave it out alto together. But that's just my because the the

[2:04:14] boiler project alone would wipe out what we have in capital improvements.

[2:04:19] » When you look at the new sidewalk, the building was built in 2007. It's 20

[2:04:23] years old, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you said $27,000

[2:04:27] this needed. >> Correct. So, I don't know. I threw round

[2:04:34] numbers of like maybe putting 50,000 into child care fund, 200,000 into HSA,

[2:04:39] and 550,000 into capital improvements. >> One more time, sorry.

[2:04:46] like 50,000 into child care, 200,000 into the HSA

[2:04:53] and five and the rest the remaining because there's some change in there

[2:04:57] into capital improvements. >> It's a good start.

[2:05:01] » But just think about it so that on a work session we can

[2:05:05] » Jody mentioned earlier half a million dollars.

[2:05:12] We might want to be more aggressive than that.

[2:05:21] I think it just kind of depends too on where some of our capital improvements

[2:05:25] come in at because we definitely don't want to be

[2:05:29] bonding for any capital improvements. >> That would not be my

[2:05:34] » cost more money. >> So those are just my thoughts on it.

[2:05:39] Anybody else's thoughts speak up and We were talking about for seven years,

[2:05:46] eight years. >> Yes.

[2:05:47] » Goes way back to talking about that.

[2:05:55] » That is fun.

[2:06:00] » I really loved seeing this power. You know, we kind of wrote down

[2:06:07] » and all the details. You like to take that

[2:06:11] this information, put it on Absolutely. All right. Already said yay to both. I

[2:06:16] mean, there's certain things if we don't say the now it's got to be spent.

[2:06:20] September, October's around the corner. We've got to get those people in line.

[2:06:25] Correct. There's certain things that >> like it's Yeah. It stuff he's on a time

[2:06:31] line. I know. Um BSNA for sure is on a time

[2:06:37] table. >> Almost automatically go, they've got to

[2:06:40] go. Where are they going? And now what do we have left

[2:06:43] » that we can continue to keep funds good you know long longevity and not spending

[2:06:49] it all at once and going now we don't have any fund balance to work with you

[2:06:52] know >> so I think putting those key together

[2:06:56] would help >> in a work session and then I think we

[2:06:58] can give approval quick on the things that

[2:07:02] they

[2:07:05] » not dragging that out too long so that we have a higher bid going forward that

[2:07:12] Yeah, because when did Andy need a because I know his was

[2:07:20] lunchtime. >> I was end of September.

[2:07:22] » September. >> Okay. I just wasn't sure if the second

[2:07:25] work session was going to work for him to approve it or if it was going to have

[2:07:29] to be the first one before the bid was possibly no longer valid.

[2:07:35] » I will double check the date and let you know.

[2:07:40] » I don't like necessarily, but these key things with

[2:07:44] this number one pager, they put it all in one. Here's what we need. And that

[2:07:50] way, if we can look at that in advance, have a one page. We've all heard it,

[2:07:54] seen it, ask questions, and then because I know the boiler needs to come

[2:08:00] up, too. >> Yep. Because they'll meet today, they'll

[2:08:03] make their decision, and then we need to be able to approve that for them to get

[2:08:08] going on it.

[2:08:12] Yeah, I don't want to hold those up. >> And I know BSNA was the same way.

[2:08:18] In order to get on the books, we need >> make sure that those Jody are the ones

[2:08:22] that were pretty much guaranteed or not, >> right? Because the boiler is obviously

[2:08:28] priority. I mean, yeah, >> we have to have hot water and we have to

[2:08:32] have heat, especially coming into the seasons and we definitely can't

[2:08:38] leave the jail without heat and hot water.

[2:08:44] » At that point, we might even get whatever from equalization

[2:08:48] » so that we could prioritize what can we fit in in 27. Go ahead and try to make

[2:08:52] somewhat of a commitment for 28 like, okay,

[2:08:55] » these were still high priority. Where are they going to fit?

[2:08:59] » And at least if it's not whomever is needing that knows that it

[2:09:04] could be there for that next year. >> I don't know if all of it if it all can

[2:09:10] fit and we still got money. I'm good doing it all. Because they're all

[2:09:14] needed. It's just a matter of can >> right.

[2:09:18] » I'm just not quick enough today to put those numbers.

[2:09:22] » Yeah. nor do I expect you to be >> Madam Chair?

[2:09:27] » Yes. >> I know at one point we talked about

[2:09:30] updating our personnel handbook >> and then we also

[2:09:36] transitioned into talking about hiring a company for our policies. How do those

[2:09:42] fit into the budget? So, the hiring of that company, which we are going to get

[2:09:48] back to now because I think they're finally to a point where their numbers

[2:09:50] below what I was budgeted for, we do have $10,000 budgeted into the board of

[2:09:55] commissioners budget this year for that expenditure. So, but um it would be for

[2:10:02] one year and that is one of my my issues is in order to keep that up then I've

[2:10:09] got to budget into 27 28 29 um as well. So that's where I've been working with

[2:10:15] them um to move forward and since all of my conversations now my sheriff's

[2:10:20] department and 911 have chosen not to use that company and move to a different

[2:10:26] company now. So >> well the problem with that is we have a

[2:10:31] need for it this year. >> Yes.

[2:10:33] » Next year we might not have any >> correct

[2:10:36] » need for the service. >> Correct.

[2:10:47] I think let's we can get that onepage summary of all the requests or the money

[2:10:53] where we're at which buckets we have that 800 whatever else

[2:11:00] » where would that put us take you down to this bring it back up

[2:11:07] everybody's is doing good with >> okay

[2:11:11] » and I will get with Marcy and verify the actual cash in the bank with the

[2:11:14] interest that she's accured to date to make sure you've got that total number

[2:11:19] of this is the actual cash in so yep because there have been um there have

[2:11:25] been interest allocations as well >> we do that at that September work

[2:11:29] session or we put it quickly on for a vote

[2:11:34] » seems like it >> we'll have to we'll have to find out

[2:11:38] when they have to. If we have to call a meeting, we'll have to call a meeting.

[2:11:42] » Okay with that. I just don't want to keep them on hold,

[2:11:44] » right? >> Yeah, that was my thoughts. We need a

[2:11:48] special I'm not a big fan of special meetings, but

[2:11:50] » if we need one to get things approved >> so that people can get discussed it, we

[2:11:55] see all those numbers, we can move forward and then we'll not have to just

[2:11:58] do a special to make the motions to approve it

[2:12:03] » because it's easy for that to between a work session and everything on

[2:12:08] the agenda. Sometimes it just pushes it out and I don't want them to be behind

[2:12:13] on getting those bids.

[2:12:17] » Yep. Okay.

[2:12:22] » Any other questions or comments for

[2:12:34] So, we'll have to figure out with that manual. That's all that.

[2:12:44] Okay. Um, next we have motions and

[2:12:48] resolutions, which there are none. Um, public comment. Any public comment?

[2:12:57] Board comment.

[2:13:01] Anybody? Okay, we have no further comment. This meeting is adjourned.

[2:13:06] Thank you. >> Perfect.

[2:13:15] » Yeah, that is a lot.

Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, Work Session, & Budget Meeting for 8/26/2026

Transcript