Update from Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott
Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019
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Happy holidays!
Best wishes from all of us within the Calhoun County government for a safe and happy holiday season.
In observance, most County offices are closed for the winter holidays on the following dates:
- Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 24-25, 2019
- Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2019-Jan. 1, 2020
Also please note that the next Board of Commissioners meeting will take place Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 and will be the only meeting in January.
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Some Changes in County Leadership
Last week,
Clerk and Register of Deeds Anne Norlander announced her retirement
, beginning Jan. 31, 2020. Anne is the longest serving elected Clerk and the first woman to serve this role in Calhoun County. She's served 31 years as Clerk and Register of Deeds.
Read the press release
. Information was sent today regarding the process for appointing her replacement to finish out this term.
Learn more.
A
press release
was also sent from Calhoun County Courts about the reappointment of
Judge Michael L Jaconette as Chief Judge
for the county's Circuit, District, and Probate Courts. This appointment is made by the Michigan Supreme Court. Jaconette also appointed Judge John Hallacy as Chief Judge Pro Tempore, as well as Presiding Judge of the 37th Circuit Court, and Judge Paul Beardslee as Presiding Judge of the 10th District Court.
This week, Public Defender David Makled announced the promotion of Karen Kelley to
Deputy Public Defender
. Karen joined the office this summer, and these new responsibilities include some office administration and serving as Public Defender in Makled's absence.
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Here are highlights from recent board and committee meetings:
As chair I convened the
Michigan Municipal Services Authority (MMSA) Executive Committee
meeting on Thursday, Dec. 12 in Lansing. At this meeting, the administrative report from interim CEO Shea Charles included updates about our Financial Management Services contract, the recently issued personal property tax reimbursement checks, which included new payments to county health departments, and the Authority's upcoming visioning process. New business included adjusting a few 2020 meeting dates, discussing office space, and a financial report.
Monday, Dec. 16, the
Marshall Community Credit Union Board
met and approved the 2020 budget and other items related to our CEO, Heather Luciani’s, performance review and compensation, as well as year-end staffing compensation and 2020 credit union goals. We also heard updates on Information Technology security reviews and plans.
The
FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board
met Thursday, Dec. 19 and received a presentation from Jim Robey from the Upjohn Institute on a draft of a recently completed Casino Impact Study. This study considered socioeconomic indicators and an economic impact analysis of the FireKeepers Casino and Hotel on Calhoun County, and was the first update since the 2008 baseline study also conducted by Upjohn. We expect a final report within the next month and will share the study’s results at that time. This year’s FLRSB chair is Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury , and Commissioner Derek King serves as the County’s representative on the Board. The next meeting will be scheduled for sometime within the first quarter of 2020, when the FLRSB will elect new officers and begin the process to allocate the February 2020 payment of 2% of the casino’s net win from electronic gaming devices.
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Calhoun County Board of Commissioners
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At the Dec. 19 Board of Commissioners Meeting, Calhoun County's District Director for MSU Extension Julie Pioch provided its annual presentation for commissioners, who then approved an agreement with MSU Extension for 2020.
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In new business, the Board,
- Approved the application for net year’s annual Survey and Remonumentation Grant, which County GIS manages each year
- Approved the Calhoun County Public Health Department's request to increase staffing within the School Wellness Program, which will be paid for by Lakeview Schools and Health department funds
- Approved supplemental funding for Dental Assistance services as recommended by the Senior Millage Allocation Committee
- Approved a bridge design bid award for S Drive S in Athens Township, to be cost shared with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
- Approved a workers compensation contract with Comprehensive Risk Services LLC
- Approved 2020 Blue Care Blue Shield renewal agreements
- Approved the County's 2020 pharmacy benefit management agreement with Express Scripts through the AON Pharmacy Coalition
- Approved collective bargaining agreements with three unions to begin 1/1/20: UAW-Road Department covering certain technical and supervisory staff; APAA which includes attorneys in the Prosecutor’s Office; and POAM Sheriff’s non-supervisory employees
- Approved a contract with NeoGov to provide HR recruiting and applicant tracking software
- Approved updates to the County Road Department’s mailbox replacement policy
- Supported a refugee reception and replacement program resolution
- Approved the 2020 contract for the County’s Equalization Director
- Approved final 2019 budget amendments
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Update from the Road Department
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Today, Dec. 19,
D Drive N in Emmett Township
was reopened to traffic after a culvert failed in 2018. The 29-foot three-sided culvert was installed this season by Grand River Construction. The reconstruction of D Drive N is part of the 2020 construction season, and this project will be resurfaced at that time.
In operations:
- Gravel road maintenance continues as weather allows
- A new guardrail system is being installed on V Dr N in Lee Township over Indian Creek
- Tree trimming and removal is taking place on 13 Mile/Bellevue Road in Convis Township; this is for federal aid work that will take place next year
- Tree trimming is also taking place on 27 Mile Rd in Sheridan Township
- Boom mowing is complete in Burlington, Eckford, and Newton Townships
- Sign maintenance and pothole patching is ongoing as weather allows
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Did you know!?
In 2019, the Calhoun County Road Department accomplished,
- 30 miles of primary paving
- 66 miles of primary chip sealing
- 20 miles of local road work
- 8.7 miles of federal aid road work
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