From the Thursday, July 21 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Meeting
At this meeting of the Board of Commissioners, there were two presentations. The first was the Office of the Medical Examiner's 2021 Annual Report by Dr. Joyce deJong, Calhoun County's Medical Examiner. There was also a presentation of the 2021 Audited Financial Statements by Nathan Balderman, CPA, from Rehmann Robson. On the consent agenda, Commissioners approved financial statements for June 2022, MERS service credit purchases for two employees, the Calhoun County Road Department's annual 2021 Act 51 report, the Public Defender’s FY23 MIDC Grant, a resolution regarding Michigan’s No-Fault Auto Insurance Reform Act, and appointments to the Senior Millage Allocation Committee and the Summit Pointe Board. Click here for the meeting agenda and video
|
|
In new business, the Board approved,
- mid-year budget adjustments
- an amendment to the County Planning Commission Ordinance
- Senior Millage Supplemental Funding contract amendments for the Home Heating and Minor Home Repair programs
- Senior Millage Supplemental Funding contract amendments for Hearing and Personal Emergency Response Systems
- five Senior Millage Strategic Projects, as previously approved by the Senior Millage Allocation Committee
- a contract amendment for the County’s Medical Director contract with Western Michigan University's Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
|
|
A message from Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott
The County’s 2021 independent audit highlighted a continued strong financial position, despite continued negative effects of COVID-19, including reduced revenues within our General Fund. Last year’s federal and state relief dollars, including the American Rescue Plan Act allocation, definitely played a key role in helping to deliver essential services to the public while maintaining our targeted level of fund balance reserves. The auditors issued an unmodified or “clean” opinion on the County’s 2021 financial statements, including the Road Department Funds and approximately 40 other funds within our responsibility. Though the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) document is more than 200 pages long, readers can get summary information by reading about 10 pages near the beginning, in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section. From a very high level, our 2021 results included an overall increase in net position, most of which represents capital investments including road infrastructure. Our General Fund, the chief operating fund of the County, had a balance of $5.1 million at Dec. 31, 2021, representing approximately 11% of annual expenditures.
The Road Department’s finances are more easily summarized as well as detailed within the required Act 51 Annual Financial Report submitted to MDOT in parallel with the County’s audit. This report represents an account of all revenues and expenditures of the Road Department, with over half of the funds coming from the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF). The Road Department’s general operating fund had $12.6 million in assets, $6 million in liabilities, and $6 million in fund balance reserves (approx.. 17% of annual expenditures) at the end of 2021. In addition, the Road Department manages Capital Assets totaling $117 million in infrastructure throughout the County . Of the $34 million in expenditures in 2021, 50% went toward preservation and structural improvements (resurfacing, etc.), while 28% was spent on maintenance such as snow plowing and pothole patching. Only 2% of the Road Department’s funding went toward administrative expenses. The Act 51 Report also summarizes the year’s progress on improving Calhoun County’s roads. During 2021, the Road Department resurfaced or reconstructed 125 miles, or 15%, of the 821 miles of local roads within its jurisdiction. Similarly, we resurfaced or reconstructed 72 miles, or 15% of the 493 miles of primary roads within its jurisdiction. Thirteen bridges were also repaired or replaced, and there were 47 safety-related projects such as traffic signal upgrades. While there is much work left to do, last year’s Act 51 Report, when compared to the annual reports from even ten years ago clearly indicates tremendous efforts to partner with our townships, and to seek out all available sources of funding and invest it responsibly in long-term solutions.
|
|
Highlights from a few boards, committees, and events:
The Native American Heritage Fund Board met on Friday, June 17. It approved six of the 11 grant applications received this year, allocating the $500,000 in funding received from the State of Michigan as a portion of the FireKeepers Casino Net Win from electronic gaming. Read the press release about the 2022 grant awardees on the Native American Heritage Fund’s website, nahfund.com .
A Board of Health meeting was held Monday, June 27. At that meeting, Health Department staff gave a presentation about tuberculosis education and testing services. Health Officer Eric Pessell and Deputy Health Officer Brigette Reichenbaugh also gave operational and strategic updates, and County Administration discussed plans for the upcoming annual performance evaluation of our Health Officer, using a 360 degree review model facilitated by the County’s HR Director.
Also on June 27, a Calhoun County Planning Commission meeting was held. The Commission supported changes to the Planning Commission Ordinance, which were forwarded to the Board of Commissioners agenda for July 21. It also discussed a zoning map amendment for Bedford Charter Township and three zoning map amendments for Emmett Township.
At the Senior Millage Allocation Meeting (SMAC) on Friday, July 1, presentations were given about the three countywide millage proposals that will be on the August 2 ballot. In new business, SMAC approved the winner of the Joanne Konkle Leadership Awards, which will be announced at an August Board of Commissioners meeting; approved supplemental funding to minor home repair and the PERS and Hearing programs; approved mini-grant requests for Eckford and Bedford Townships, St. Thomas Breakfast Program in Battle Creek, and Neighborhoods, Inc. for a homelessness study among older adults.
On July 6, the Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation met. In addition to updates by economic development organizations from Albion, Battle Creek, and Marshall, the County EDC discussed a new planned Local Government Leader Forum series, where leaders from all municipalities can network and learn more about ongoing projects. The first Forum is being scheduled for August.
A Calhoun County Broadband Task Force meeting was held Thursday, July 7. The Task Force received an update on the progress by consultants from CTC to conduct feasibility and cost benefit analyses. Calhoun County Communications Director Lucy Blair, who assists the task force, also shared information about a phone survey CTC began on Monday, July 11 (and have since wrapped up).
The internal Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee met Thursday, July 14. The Committee reviewed upcoming training opportunities in the community and then discussed survey results from an online employee educational training series on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics.
The Centenarian Stories Open House was held by the County’s Senior Services Office on Friday, July 15 at Marshall United Methodist Church. At this year’s event, which is the second storytelling event for Calhoun County Centenarians, 15 new centenarians were featured, in addition to the stories of 12 who participated last year. Thirteen of the Centenarians were in attendance of the Open House on July 15 when the stories were revealed. Learn more about the event in the press release.
|
|
From Calhoun County Probate Court
On Thursday, June 30, Maureen Vire was recognized by Chief Probate Court Judge Michael L. Jaconette for over 20 years of volunteer service with records retention. When she began, in partnership with the Calhoun County Genealogical Society, she transferred decades of probate court files to microfilm that had been left behind in the courts’ move from the County Building to the Justice Center. The arrangement included copies of microfilmed files being donated to and available at Willard Library’s Helen Warner Branch. When that task was completed and after a couple years off, Maureen returned to the Probate Court to volunteer to scan paper files into a digital system. With Maureen and other volunteers’ help, all files are now digitized for Calhoun County’s Probate Court.
Maureen was recognized with a certificate from Chief Judge Jaconette and a short speech by Probate Court Register/Manager Cindy Rude about the impact of Maureen’s service. She recognized fellow volunteer Gloria Huff, who died in 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
