BOC Seeking Options Wrought by MDOT Billing Oversight

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The March 19 meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners saw an agenda packed with motions [see motions listing]. General Public Comment yielded questions regarding the Board’s inaction to fill the manager position at the Clare County Airport, as there was precedent for funding items not in the budget such as the time-pressing purchase of a marine boat for the sheriff’s department. With the airport having been dropped from the budget (defunded) last fall, when a bill for work done years ago by MDOT [an oversight on the part of MDOT] showed up in February, the balance of existing airport funds was expended to pay it. That depleted the airport manager’s pay, thus the position became vacant, leaving the concern that the recently awarded $250,000-plus in MDOT airport grants might not be realized, because MDOT will not award to an airport without a certified manager in place.

George Gilmore, BOC chair, assured that the county administrator was taking on the manager’s duties, and an appointment was awaited with a person from the Aeronautics Association to learn what the county’s options are.

“So, there’s no threat right now of the airport being closed immediately,” Gilmore said. “We have to find out what our options really are; it hasn’t even been discussed as a board yet.”

A further question about a previous BOC meeting’s closed session regarding the lawsuit proposed to seek recovery of court costs from the former prosecutor. The response from Gilmore was, “We’re not proceeding with that.”

Addressing the Board was Steve Currie, executive director of the Michigan Association of Counties. Currie provided an update on MAC’s activities in Lansing on behalf of counties. In addition to reiterating MAC’s advocacy role as the voice of Michigan counties at the state and federal level, he noted that it also provides educational opportunities to county commissioners to ensure they can do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Curries also spoke of the goal of making services available that counties can take advantage of to save their staff time and money. The MAC Board is comprised of 16 members are elected by commissioners at the annual MAC conference.

MAC Legislative accomplishments included: a $30 million increase in county revenue sharing; Trial Court Funding fee authority extended to Dec. 31, 2026; $17 million for grants to 15 county prosecutor offices with the highest rates of violent crime per 1,000 residents; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services working on a 1115 re-entry waiver proposal, MAC priority for Michigan to pursue Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy reforms; Public Acts 174-175 provide methodology and reimbursement mechanism to reimburse locals for their losses associated with expended Personal Property Tax exemptions, caring out $75 million annually for reimbursement; and Senate Bill 662 (PA 112 of 2024) which allows for variation of lake level without going to circuit court in every case and also allows the lake level district to seek interim financing.

Currie further noted MAC actions taken in the lame duck session against what it deemed harmful legislation: minimum staffing as a mandatory subject of bargaining; statewide sanitary code; and publicly funded health insurance increases for counties. Priorities cited for 2025 included: creating a fair revenue sharing system for counties (revenue sharing trust fund); reforming the Earned Sick Time Act; compensating local governments for funds diverted by the Veterans Property Tax Exemption; adopting a permanent state solution to funding Michigan’s courts; and increasing road funding to address Michigan’s infrastructure crisis. Also touched on was House Bill 4071/Senate Bill 81 which deals with the expansion fo the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission.

Administrator Lori Phelps reported having opened the 2025-2026 budget and entering expenses. She noted that the County Budget at this time is usually at 46% expensed and is currently at 38% expensed. Phelps also advised that a $200,000 increase in expenses is expected next year due to retirements, thus it would be a good idea to hold that 8% underspend against next year’s projected increase. She also informed that Clare County would be hosting the next Heartland Materials Management meeting at 10:30 a.m. April 25. Another positive mentioned was the long-awaited sound system for the BOC Room, and its being expected that day with installation to follow shortly thereafter.

Clerk/Register Lori Mott reported that testing of the May ballots was beginning that week, which then would they be sent on to clerks for mailing to absentee voters. Mott said the ballots had been ordered pre-folded, which she expected could take some of the pressure off township clerks. She also indicated she wanted to schedule dedicated time to seniors and veterans when she could answer questions regarding property fraud, vital records, pistol licenses, elections and notary services. Mott said other departments and elected officials who might have pertinent information could join in. She also noted that Veterans Affairs might be a good place to start with the community.

“I can talk about filing DD214s [Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty] with my office as well,” she said. “Just trying to reach out to the community and be a little more accessible and helpful to them.”

When Commissioner Rickie Fancon inquired whether she is seeing an increase in the elderly getting hit with property fraud, Mott said not in Clare County particularly. Mott did note that at a Register of Deeds Conference she learned that real estate fraud is rampant in the state, but said when her office has seen it in Clare County the perpetrator is usually a family member.

“So, the Property Fraud Alert helps notify them if something was done,” she said.

Treasurer Jenny Beemer-Fritzinger handed out a report on the current Cash on Hand, Adjustments and Fund Balances and encouraged commissioners to visit her office with any questions they might have. She also informed her office was in the middle of tax settlement of 2024 taxes for all millages and special assessments, which totaled around $57 million.

“We’re still at our 90% collection rate, which means only 10% are delinquent,” she said, adding that is the typical status quo. “Delinquency-wise, I will be buying back $5.5 million worth of taxes, and then we begin collecting those. Countywide millage bought in $6.8 million. We still have two townships we’re wrapping up to push them into our system, but all the others have been settled thus far.”

Beemer-Fritzinger also noted the Drain Board had motioned to do an internal loan from the $9 million Little Tobacco Drain bond to support the drain work that will be done countywide. That would be at a 1% interest payback. She said there had not been an exact amount, so she had requested an estimate which is in the neighborhood of $500,000.

“So, I’m going to be taking money from a fund and giving it to another fund,” she said.

Administrator Phelps explained that it amounts to a transparent internal loan, and the money stays with the Little Tobacco. And the treasurer added that instead of going out and getting big interest fees, it would stay at 1%. When asked it was similar to the internal loan approved earlier for Senior Services, Beemer-Fritzinger said it was, but that it would be paid back quicker because all of it would be assessed on the winter taxes for each drainage district, thus all be paid off with the delinquent tax settlement the following year. She said she would bring more information to an upcoming meeting.

© Clare County Cleaver