Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Report

From the Thursday, April 9, 2024 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Meeting

At the April 9 meeting, Calhoun County Commissioners accepted a proclamation for April as National County Government Month, and approved the 2024 Equalization Report, presented by Equalization Director Matt Hansen and Deputy Director Tom Scott. On the consent agenda, the Board approved the appointment of Commissioner Monique French to the Summit Pointe Board, an annual intergovernmental funding agreement for the regional Homeland Security Grant Program, financing for planned and budgeted lease purchases of Road Department plows and a distributor, and a renewal of a land lease with the Battle Creek Balsa Bees. To view the agenda, 2024 Equalization Report, or meeting recording, visit the Agendas page of the website.

In new business, the Board approved:

a law enforcement services agreement between the Sheriff's Office and Sheridan Township
a Road Department pre-qualification award for 2024 pothole patching contractors
the Road Department's 2024 Federal Aid Safety Grant applications for the 2026 funding cycle
a Road Department economic development grant application
August 2024 ballot proposal language for the Countywide Parks Millage renewal

A message from Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott

National County Governments Month

April is designated as National County Government Month by the National Association of Counties (NACo). This month, we are proud to highlight the mandated and essential services that County Government provides to the community, along with other services that improve the quality of life for individuals and businesses. We are doing this on our Facebook page, as well as the upcoming edition of Scene Magazine. The theme for this year’s awareness month is Forward Together, with an emphasis on the commitment to connect, inspire, and lead.

In so many of the initiatives that Calhoun County Government engages in demonstrate this commitment to connection, inspiration, and leadership. Examples of this include:

Our new Opioid Settlement Steering Committee, bringing together service providers across the county to advise the County on how to invest the $11M in dedicated settlement funds to curb opioid deaths and harm in our community;
The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force, which has been working since 2021 toward improving residents' access to reliable internet;
The new Transportation Authority of Calhoun County, addressing the essential need for transportation for everyday needs such as healthcare and getting to jobs; and
County Administration providing support to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribe in their distribution of millions of dollars in funds to the community via the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board and throughout the state via the Native American Heritage Fund Board.

Calhoun County is also a model for exemplary service within the mandated services we provide:

Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds Kimberly Hinkley is collaborating with 19 communities in our County to offer the new required Early In Person Voting at the County Building;
The Calhoun County Public Health Department was recognized last year with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' Directors Award for innovative community health work to combat hepatitis C and HIV in Calhoun County; and
The Road Department was recently recognized by the Michigan County Road Association for its collaborative work with Emmett Township after the voter-approved millage led to successfully repaving 75 miles of local roads.

I’d like to emphasize during National County Government Month and always, that as Administrator/Controller, I am very proud of the dedication of County employees do the best possible work for our residents. We continue to be a leader not only in our community but in the state because of the ways we thoughtfully connect, inspire, and lead.

A Calhoun County Planning Commission meeting took place on Monday, March 25. The Board accepted the 2023 County Planning Commission annual report, and then addressed two zoning text amendments in Emmett and Bedford Townships, a zoning map amendment in Bedford Township, and a PA116 application in Fredonia Township.

On Thursday, March 28 a Calhoun County Opioid Settlement Funds Steering Committee meeting took place. Presentations were given by Summit Pointe, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s Health and Human Services Department, and the State's Opioid Advisory Commission. These presentations continue the learning process for the Calhoun Opioid Settlement Steering Committee to understand what services exist currently and what gaps can be addressed.

The Calhoun County Parks and Recreation Commission met on Thursday, April 4. In new business, the Commission approved 2024 park millage allocations to municipalities in Calhoun County, which will go before the Board of Commissioners in early May. In the Department Report, Manager Doug Ferrall shared information about the upcoming millage renewal effort, upcoming Ott Preserve construction, and parks staffing this summer.

The Calhoun County Senior Millage Allocation Committee (SMAC) met on Friday, April 5. In new business, SMAC approved five applications for mini grants, as well as contract amendments for Meals on Wheels and the Marian Burch Adult Day Care. SMAC also conducted an interview for a new member of the Committee.

The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force met on Tuesday, April 9. At this meeting, County staff provided an update on its efforts related to the State's Broadband Maps Challenge Process, and next steps for applying to the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant process. The group also heard about efforts of the Task Force's Digital Equity Subcommittee.

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