Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Report

From the Thursday, March 16, 2023 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Meeting

At tonight's Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioners approved the Consent Agenda, which included Road Department financing for mowing equipment, the Road Department's Act 51 road mileage certification, and the Act 51 added and decertified roads resolution. Additionally, there were appointments and reappointments to numerous boards including the Board of Public Health, the Senior Millage Allocation Committee, the Summit Pointe Board and the Solid Waste Management Planning Advisory Committee.

To view the agenda or meeting recording, visit the Agendas page of the website.

In new business, the Board approved,

a contract amendment for inmate phone and commissary services
a contract amendment for the Clerk's Office records management software
a Road Department bid award for road salt
a Road Department bid award for hot mix asphalt
a resolution for the Treasurer's Office to authorize delinquent tax anticipation notes
a staffing pattern revision for the Calhoun County Public Health Department
a parking lot lease with Millhaven of Marshall

A message from Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott

On March 2 the County Board appropriated our sixth round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) project funding, bringing the total allocated to $25M of the $26M that the County received in 2021. This appropriation goes to two County efforts—road funding and broadband.

The justification for road funding, other than the obvious priority needs, was that Road Departments and Road Commissions in Michigan have not received a dime from the federal government or state to reimburse for lost revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, like counties, townships, cities and villages did in our ARPA funding. Nevertheless, Calhoun County government is one of very few counties that has appropriated ARPA funding to their road agencies.

The benefit will be very impactful this year for the Calhoun County Road Department in being able to carry out local road projects in partnership with townships that have requested them and offered to provide match funding. The $1 million in ARPA appropriations to the Road Department essentially doubles the budgeted amount for 2023 local road projects, meaning over 20 segments of local roads will be improved this year.

The County updated its local road improvement funding policy (Policy 509) again this year to be more strategic in the local road project selection process, and to allow for townships of all sizes and funding abilities to be equally considered. There is a new ranking system for prioritizing these projects that takes into account public safety impact, the long-term return on investment of funds, and alignment with 5-year local road improvement plans. Projects also get points based on the township’s prioritization of their roads that should be improved with available funding.

The 2023 local road improvement projects will be finalized within the next month as the County Road Department works with the Township boards to reach agreement on the scope of work and costs for each.

Another $1M in ARPA funds was allocated for the Countywide broadband internet expansion efforts, potentially to offer local match funds for federal broadband grants or to provide resources for right-of-way permit coordination to expedite expansion projects. There are two major federal grant programs announced so far for expanding internet in unserved and underserved areas across the country, and Calhoun County will continue to deploy ARPS funds to be best positioned to partner with private internet service providers (ISPs) to secure these grant dollars. The Calhoun County Broadband Task Force has been working diligently for nearly two years on strategies for expanding fiber internet services, with affordable plans and better speed and reliability, to all County residents. This additional ARPA allocation adds resources that should make an impactful difference to our community.

The County’s remaining ARPA funds are likely to be used for continued lost revenue replacement and one-time capital projects for 2024, when all of the funding is required by the U.S. Department of Treasury to be obligated. Each phase of County ARPA allocations are explained on the County website at calhouncountymi.gov/arpa.

A Calhoun County Senior Millage Allocation Committee (SMAC) was held on Friday, March 3. The Committee interviewed Chuck Asher for an open position on the Committee, which was approved by SMAC and approved by the Board of Commissioners tonight. A presentation was given by Rod Auton from Albion Health Care Alliance about transportation needs and food insecurity among older adults in the greater Albion area. In new business, SMAC tabled by-law revisions; approved reappointments to the Committee of current members; approved 2023 Joanne Konkle Lifetime Achievement in Senior Service Awards, which is accepting nominations now; and approved three mini-grant requests for Commodity Delivery in Albion and Homer, a Saturday Breakfast Program at St. Thomas, and plumbing repairs.

On Wednesday, March 8, a Calhoun County Veterans Affairs Committee Meeting was held. The Committee discussed new practices for the Veterans Relief Fund, supplemental funds for the FY2022 County Veterans Service Fund (CVSF), and intent for FY2023 CVSF grants. Five Veterans Relief Fund applications were discussed, and four were approved.

The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board (FLRSB) met on Friday, March 10. New officers were elected—Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Chairperson Jamie Stuck is the 2023 FLRSB Chairperson, Greg Moore, representing Athens Township is Vice Chair, Commissioner Derek King is Treasurer, and Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury is Secretary. The Local Revenue Sharing Board also approved the timeline for 2023 fund distribution and the engagement of the audit firm for the 2022 year-end. Also, the Board voted to increase the payment from $30,000 to $40,000 within the Administrative Services Agreement with the County.

On Tuesday, March 14, a Calhoun County Broadband Task Force meeting was held. County staff gave updates on County support of two Realizing Opportunity with Broadband Infrastructure Networks (ROBIN) Grant applications in Calhoun County, submitted this week by respondents to the County's Request for Proposal on Broadband Access. If successful, these grant applications would lead to fiber to the premise connectivity in areas that are unserved or underserved currently.

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