Bay County, Michigan Board of Commissioners Meetings, 4 May 2021

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From YouTube: Bay County Ways & Means Committee Meeting (5/4/21)

Description

0:20 - Call to Order
0:26 - Roll Call
0:40 - Minutes
1:09 - Public Input
8:59 - Petitions and Communications
9:05 - A. Friends of Pinconning Community Center - Request for $25,000 for Renovation Project
19:38 - B1. Bay County Prosecutor - Crime Victim Rights Grant
20:18 - B2. Bay County Prosecutor - Victims of Crimes Act Grant
20:53 - C. Bay County Sheriff - Blue Cross/Blue Shield Inmate Services Contract
21:24 - D. Friend of the Court - Consulting Services Agreement w/ MGT of America Consulting
22:00 - E. Department of Aging - Letter of Intent to Region VIII AAA
22:36 - F1. Personnel Director - Utilization of Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana Payment
38:02 - F2. Personnel Director - Tuition Reimbursement
38:31 - G. Payables
39:00 - H1. Finance Officer - General Fund Equity 2021
39:29 - H2. Finance Officer - Executive Directive #2007-11
39:55 - H3. Finance Officer - Air Advantage Internet Fiber Agreement
40:23 - I. Drain Commissioner - Temporary, On Call Drain Maintenance Heavy Equipment Operator
41:15 - J. Renewal of the Bay Future Contract
1:03:33 - Referrals
1:03:39 - Unfinished Business
1:03:55 - New Business
1:06:07 - Closed Session
1:06:14 - Miscellaneous
1:06:18 - Announcements
1:06:42 - Adjournment

A

I'd like to call the meeting of the ways and needs committee of tuesday may 4th to order. We have roll calls.

A

Is there a motion for approval of the minutes of april 6, 2021. I'll.

B

Move it support.

A

Or begin move johnson support begin any discussion, roll.

C

A

Okay, moving on to public input for those wishing to speak to the committee, please go to the podium state, your name and address.

D

Thank you. My name is mike duranchak, 710, bermuda street pink, counting michigan.

D

Also with me today is alan schallebosh she's, the board member of the pink counting community center renovation, friends of the community center. Just here to in case you have any uh questions or anything like that. We hope that you know you can see it through the budget and everything else that you can approve this 25 000 that we're asking for it'll put us uh pretty near the the 255 000.

D

That's uh already been, you know what we need to get this thing done over there. The inside now is pretty much done uh as far as the floor and the walls and the ceiling and that but we're the biggest costumes like in a home or anything, is going to be the kitchen and the bathrooms they haven't. I think them go back to about 1940, so once completed, we'll be able to host uh for not just a city, a pink counting but outlying area to be able to do things for seniors and veterans.

D

Is you know in the plan and stuff like that? So at this time, I'd like to introduce uh ellen to the board- and she has some comments, I'm sure and thank you so much for uh taking the time to hear us.

E

Thank you for the time. Yes, I appreciate it very much. um The friends of the county community center is a group of individuals that got together. We aren't building and hoping that they come. We are actually renovating, because people are already there and using the community center extensively.

E

We do have hopes to increase some usage in particular for seniors. The department of aging feels that this would be a great location to hold a monthly or bi-monthly event. Perhaps a lunch. We aren't able to do that until we renovate the kitchens.

E

We also hope to bring more entertainment into that building with tuesdays in the park, which is currently a free concert series that takes place during the summer and we used the community center as a rain venue, but actually we had a sweet, adeline singer pass out from the heat the last time we did that, so it needs ventilation. It needs air conditioning, along with all the use that we have from the different athletic groups.

E

We are very pleased with how much the building is used. The renovation will include two new ada bathrooms, a new ramp, an entrance right now. There is a ramp out there, it's very difficult to get over a little hump from 1937, so it's going to take some extensive work and I just appreciate very much that you're considering it it's an important part of bay county and gets a lot of use. I grew up here in bay city out on donahue beach, and I was accustomed to being able to go to a gym.

E

Go to a movie catch catch, some different things happening in the community very easily. When you're in counting it's a 30-minute drive, it isn't a lot for younger people for seniors. It's a long ways to come for people with young children that work down here in the day and they get home to get back in the car and drive them in for ball practice or a soccer meeting it's a long ways, so it makes a difference. Thank you very much. Any questions.

F

Is there any asbestos in the building? As far as you know,.

E

No not, as far as I know, we have quotes coming in right now, so we've had experts in there and we haven't had any asbestos come up so knock on wood. If there is, we will certainly deal with it in the right way.

E

A

You alan, what is the nearest location for seniors in northern bay county to go to a luncheon or an uh event sponsored by the department.

E

Of any aging, I believe it is call colin yeah, and that would be- and you may know that better than I do. I.

A

Thought that was the closest, but I wasn't sure yeah. I think it's called.

D

Shaking her head, yes, so again,.

E

Okay, yeah yeah. Okay, so that's it's for me! I'm used to coming into bay city. My dentist is here. My account is here: family is here, but um when you're a senior getting out on m13 can be a challenge so you're about 25 minutes away from collin.

A

Any other questions.

E

Thank you. Thank you.

A

Anyone else wishing to speak.

A

You're muted, the phrase of 2021, mr basha wants to speak first and then now: okay, okay, jim you're, muted,.

G

All right there we go yeah. Thank you.

G

I just wanted to very briefly say that you know over the last four years with commissioner drancheck and other county-wide elected officials visiting northern bay county, I can say that the community center is the hub of many many activities for the community and not just pin county township in the city, but the northern region of bay, county with chambers of commerce and economic development summits and numerous community events being held there and the community has really raised the the bulk of the funds to make some significant improvements to that facility, which will, I think, makes ensure that it will continue to to fulfill its role for generations to come.

G

uh The improvements are going to be significant, they're a little bit short, but this is a vital need and if the commissioners could see fit to, uh you know here in committee and at the full board meeting approve it. I know that commissioner duran check ellen and numerous individuals throughout northern bay county would be very appreciative of the improvements when the project is complete.

A

H

Hi, I'm michael hart, the county rain, commissioner, and I do have a resolution in front of board this.

I

Afternoon to hire a temporary.

H

Operator, one of those reasons is because of coven everything got backlogged last year it still hasn't gotten caught up yet and.

I

One of our guys, with over 42 years of service is retiring friday, so we're going to need some extra help for a little bit just to catch up.

H

Is there any questions.

E

Thank you good.

A

Okay, anyone else.

A

Okay, moving on to conditions and communication, then.

A

There's a request for support of the friends of pin counting community center for 25 000 for the renovation project.

B

I'd like to make a motion if we could to perhaps refer this back simply because number one they've done an excellent job with everything the way it's written up, all the fundraising everything else, all amazing stuff is something I wouldn't have any problem getting behind.

B

The only thing that I I'll support that just for the sake of discussion.

A

He's sure by kim kunin go ahead.

B

The the thing is at this point, with streams of revenue that are coming in, that are fairly new situations like this may come up more frequently, and definitely I would hope that communities would use the work that they've done as some sort of a blueprint for for coming to the county with possible.

B

You know improvements for sure, but I would like to be able to have some sort of a plan in place moving forward with how we would deal with these types of um these types of proposals when they come through uh in a more organized way as far as we're concerned.

B

So so, basically, I would like an opportunity to be able to discuss how we would set up a policy and put a plan in place for when we get proposals such as this.

A

Can anyone, mr redmond or well james here and find us speak to what we've done in the past, with other requests and or approvals? Do we have a fund set up for donation for this type of job.

J

No, it's fun for donations. I think what jamie's saying is you need a policy. That's correct.

B

I would say so, especially in situations like this. This is a great proposal and you know other people may try to piggyback on this or mimic it in some way, and I think there really needs to be some sort of a policy put in place for how we would go through these proposals and and and what we distribute.

A

Mr conan, I.

K

I do agree with commissioner johnson it's a great proposal. uh It needs to be done. I know we've contributed in the past but as as commissioner johnson has said, you know there's streams of revenue coming in and what we need to do is to put together a policy where- and I don't know, I read the information. I don't know if the city of penn county gave any money, but let's just say next year, monitor wants something and they request 25 000.

K

We need to make sure that you know that that particular entity, whether it's the township or whatever, contributes money as well, and I didn't see if the city I'm still gonna support it, but we still need to put politics together that the city of penn county put anyone into this.

K

No I'm not talking about the city. So that's where we're going to go with. uh I I think, but that's not to say that this wouldn't pass, but if, if it's in the city, if it's in the township or wherever it is they want money, they need to have some spin on your team as well. So I think that's what we will look towards putting this policy together, so everybody's dealt with in the same manner.

K

So I think that between now next week we can do something here and put together a policy or if it's got a hold of a month, we'll hold it up a month, but just so that uh everybody can be treated same going into the future.

F

Mr harrington hands up tom.

A

Oh I'm sorry, mr herrick.

L

Hey thanks, I I'm kind of far away. I realize you didn't see me uh so you know it sounds like everybody says boy, I'm in favor of this, but just not now, so we can still pass it and put the policy in place after this. If, if everybody saw gung-ho behind it, then pass the doggone thing and then move on and bring up the policy later it's if this is not going to change your mind, what difference? Does it make? That's my that's going to be my point.

L

You know, so I I'm still I'm voting no on on the to to table it no way because everybody said that my thought I thought about it, but once everybody said no, I really think this is a good idea, except uh if it's a good idea vote for the doggone thing and then we'll get the policy in place after this for anybody else who comes forward. That's my thought on it.

A

This particular proposal does not um seek to use dispensary funds right. It would be a donation from general fund correct. Is that correct.

C

B

Think I think, that's that I think that's part of the issue because there's no, where where would it be coming from and just like? I said it is a really good. It's a nice proposal. um It's just I. I would feel more comfortable knowing that there's a policy in place that organizationally we. We know how we deal with things like this when they come in and where the, where the money is supposed to be coming from.

B

So just as someone who likes to budget in my in my own life and understand where a plan is put in place to how we proceed with things, that's part of where I kind of feel that this this can, if we could, if we can just wait and put a policy in place.

F

The other point would be with the american rescue plan. I don't know how much pin counting or ping county country is getting and what the guidelines are going to be they're supposed to be out next week, so there may be money coming available for the, but I don't know if this would be covered under that plan. The treasury department supposed to come out with with the plan and what can be used for so it might be that they could get money out of that too. That's another possibility.

F

You know just to stay on.

A

K

Thank you. So this is to bob. I know next week is just around the corner, so I don't know how much time you would need to work with us to develop policy so that when these issues do come up from our other local municipalities that that we've got something in place, that's going to be uniform.

J

You would think they need.

J

Different parts.

K

Of that policy.

J

One dealing with contributing to other governmental units and one contributing.

K

To other problems, so what kind of timetable are we looking at.

J

Well, I don't know how, if you want this week or two I'll run it and spend a little more time, we'll try and see what I can come up with and take a look at it. But I don't know what the deadline is for getting the funds to complete the project either because they're in the middle of the project.

J

A

If or mike do you know.

E

We're really working in phases as funds become available. So, of course, yesterday is my fault, but tomorrow.

K

So I guess my question is if it would be tough to have it for the full board, but it's possible that we could have something together going into personnel and, if need be, deanne, you could always post a full board meeting after personnel.

M

On the calendar already.

K

Okay, so we could bring this up and still deal with it in the month of may. If there's ample time.

A

Mr herrick also has his hand raised. Thank.

K

You I'm done. Okay,.

A

L

Thank you uh I heard mention of. uh Was there any mention of the adult use marijuana fund being used for this? They the payment we get, so there really shouldn't be because if we didn't use it for that that money goes. I I believe that money goes right to the general fund anyway. So it's just all you're doing is cycling it through. So it really need it really wouldn't need to be addressed as money from that fund. It could just be it's going to end up being money from the general fund anyways.

L

I just want to make that. I think I clarify that. I think this, and as the way I understand it that money we get, we just go in the general fund and we use it as we as we need it, and we don't have to identify it as being from this specific fund if it goes into the general fund. That's all I have thank you.

A

Anybody else so there's been a motion and supported to refer this to committee, to work toward a policy for donation requests from our municipalities and that's what we would be voting on correct. Is there any other discussion relative to the motion.

C

Okay, roll call, please a gift.

F

C

L

B

Johnson, yes,.

N

C

Yes, red key, yes fox, no.

C

We may support yes.

M

A

Okay, so who will be on that policy, mr crater or that committee to develop that policy.

K

uh Well, of course, bob revin will be involved. I would hope, commissioner johnson myself casey if you'd like to be involved. That would be.

C

K

C

A

And the goal would be to have something put forward two weeks.

K

Correct for a special board meeting after personnel.

A

Get on it folks.

A

Okay, um moving on to item b, um there's been a request for renewal of our crime victims rights grant from the day county prosecutor.

A

Supported by mr kooning or moved.

M

A

Mr kunin I'll support it supported by mr krager.

A

Any discussion.

A

Roll call please.

A

There's a request for support of the victims, right rights, victim of crimes act grant by the bay county prosecutor.

N

F

A

Mr krieger and mr beekick any discussion, roll call please eric.

O

C

Johnson, yes, gregor.

N

C

Yes? Yes, yes, yes, yes,.

A

There is a request for support by the bay county sheriff of the health insurance blue cross blue shield, inmate services, contract shelter. Mr cronin support supported by mr johnson. Any discussion.

A

Roll call please johnson, yes,.

N

C

Yes? Yes, yes, yes, yes,.

A

There's a request for support by the friend of the court consulting service agreement with mgt of american consulting.

B

I'll move it.

A

Moved by mr johnson support support by mr big any discussion wrong call. Please.

N

C

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes class! Yes, I'm also here.

A

um I demid request for support by the director of the department of aging their letter of intent with region, seven area aging and aging, but I can't speak.

K

I'll move it.

A

Removed by mr crater, supported by mr cronin discussion, roll call please rocky.

C

C

O

C

A

There's a request for support and utilization of a partial payment of the adult use recreational marijuana payment to offset the depleting balance in the health care fund.

A

Supported by mr kunin is their discussion.

P

I'd actually like to make a motion to refer it back to administration.

P

There's a few lines in there that I would like to further discuss about where the money would be coming from.

A

With emotional.

K

O

A

L

I just want to who made the motion.

N

A

Already had two motions.

L

We've had two motions: casey made the first one to refer.

A

Casey becky made a motion to refer it to committee to adjust the language.

O

A

And that was supported by mr krager.

A

Is there any discussion relative to.

A

That are you going. Do you want to talk about what you'd like removed.

P

So the county received 420 000. with 300 000 of that in this resolution. That would be 70 of the money.

P

I believe that otherwise the money would be coming from the general fund, which is written in the resolution, but there are two lines that I would like to discuss to see if it could be adjusted or removed with where the money is received.

A

K

Kunin between now and next tuesday, commissioner radke, can get some information from someone to ease her concerns and that's what this is all about here. You know, if you have a question, you get ask it. If you want to refer a particular item, you refer, you get. Your question answered it's going to be on the agenda next tuesday, and then we address it then so you know if anybody has anything to that they're, not quite sure about refer, get the information and we'll go from there. Mr cricket yep. Thank you.

K

I would hope that um commissioner radke and tiffany and possibly amber, will be able to sit down and and look at the verbiage and make what changes you feel are necessary and we should be able to do that before next next week's meeting.

K

A

Along those lines, go ahead, jamie.

B

All I was gonna say is much like the previous situation.

B

um This revenue is is going to be a yearly thing and chances are with uh what the formula supposedly is uh for how it's dispensed that that number may be coming up.

B

I really think it would be a good idea to be thinking in a forward way about how we're going to utilize that that that stream and plan for it, as opposed to just simply dumping it into the general phone and then removing pieces and parts as it comes up um again, I'm someone that likes to plan, and so if, if we know this is going to happen every year, then there should be a plan for how it's going to be used just just my opinion.

B

So I just wanted to share that.

A

K

And you know that's a good problem, because I've been on this board 20 years and we've been cutting, we've been looking at uh revenue, streams being eliminated and and expenditures being increased. Now it's kind of turned a little bit specifically in this situation. You've got revenues being increased without any increase in in expenditure. So I don't have a problem with uh thinking about. uh You know it's going to go on the general fund regardless, but what we can do with that money.

K

If there's uh and that'll come through the budgetary process because we're you know, won't be long and we'll be, you know, looking at the budget for 2022 and knowing that we got 400 000 chances next year, we might get more. We can keep that in the backs of our mind and I'm sure administration will be as well as they present the budget to us. And then we look at the budget and uh you know make any changes that we think should be made. But it's not a bad problem.

K

It's a it's actually a good problem, you're uh like the good old days when they said they used to argue or who got the money. The last 20 years, what we were going to take different money was: how do we cut? So I think it's a good idea to uh take some time and see exactly if it goes in a general point. That's a good thing. If there's other places for it to go, that's something else that we maybe haven't been able to do for a number of years. Well,.

B

And, for example, in in the resolution, if I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off, it says something about it being an annual thing with the 300 000. and yet the costs from what it looked like and what I've read have been increasing.

B

So if you were to do something and change some of the verbage where, rather than it being a straight 300 000, if it was some sort of a percentage of what you're taking in each year from this particular fund that comes in, you may actually be able to almost keep up in some ways, because I would imagine just guessing that the amount that you might be getting next year might be larger.

B

So if you dealt with it as rather than just a dollar amount, rather rather do a percentage amount of what it is you come what's coming in, you might end up better off in some ways, but that's just just again thinking out loud. That's.

A

Why the conversation's necessary mr herrick.

L

A

M

L

I didn't have my hand up, but I could make a comment. I mean you know: you're gonna, you're gonna always have the same old thing. I said before the money is gonna come in from that marijuana fund and you can you can just stick it in the general fund or you can uh say wow.

L

We got this from the marijuana fund and broadcast it on everything we do, and so it looks like uh so it looks like we're just uh using money to you know to pay for projects you know or things that within the county, you know like I'm, going to say, personnel things that that would come out of general funds anyways, you know when we should uh use it, just put it all in one pot and just move it out of there. You know, just I'm saying you don't need we don't need to.

L

We can say we got the money and put it in the pot, the general fund and then take it out of there, but I don't think we need to reference everything we're doing with it. Specifically, you know I don't. I don't think I don't think it's a good idea. That's part of the that might be part of the problem with this.

A

F

B, yeah yeah, I think, looks like the bigger issue is the healthcare fund which we're gonna have to deal with because of the rising costs there and maybe having a raised.

F

That's a bigger issue, but this is another another issue here.

A

Mr redmond, that's right: you're covered.

F

Jamie sort of covered it too, can you.

A

In in the county government funds, can you designate the dispensary money into its separate fund or it's it's separate.

P

A

To be used in certain ways not covered the dispensary, the dispensary money marijuana, the pot money, yeah.

J

There are some restrictions, but off the top of my head. I don't know what the details.

A

Are yeah I can well because I, along with jamie one of my struggles, is that we have this opportunity, but we have no plan and we have no plan for use of dollars or no plan where we want to be, and I've had multiple people ask me: what are you doing? What is your plan for that money? I've had other people request, you know even employees. Well, we could use a new roof or we could use this because, apparently my understanding is our maintenance plan is very reactive and my comments have always been.

A

We as a commission have not talked about that money or how we think it can best benefit the residents of our county.

A

So it would be very nice in my mind, along with jamie, to have some sort of plan, whether we designate x, percentage for maintenance and x percentage for recreation on our townships or matching grants or whatever it looks like.

J

We don't have the final regulations yet to come, and my experience with federal government is to wait till they give you the fight.

A

This is state, though not.

J

A

They're, just all bad.

J

And we should know shortly uh the finance director and I met on this this morning, and so when we get the final, which is coming very soon so.

J

To have a plan, and then you find out, they changed some of the rules and you got to redo the plan and I don't think we're going to have any trouble spending. It.

A

No, but the plan is good because it helps us know.

J

Yeah, especially with that much money.

A

So all right, so the motion on the table is to refer. You've got.

K

Jim barsha, oh.

A

I'm sorry jim tom you're lit up again, but jim is talking.

G

Oh, I just wanted to weigh in and say maybe tiffany could explain the purpose. I don't have an issue at all with you know the concerns about putting a plan in place, and I know commissioner redmond's concerns are legitimate in the past.

G

However, this statute was passed to be helpful to counties and also the townships by 15 of the sales tax of recreational marijuana, and I I know we've got lots of needs out there and I'm just wondering if uh tiffany jerry could kind of weigh in on the cost of our health care uh going up about seven percent a year about one. I think in the past few years about a million dollars a year and uh tiffany.

G

I don't know if you'd want to weigh in on what precipitated this resolution, but whatever the feeling of the board is, if you want to split it up or take it year by year, it should be a revenue stream. We can count on and it should grow, especially if pinchana gets into recreational marijuana, which they currently only do medical marijuana. But they are such a huge wholesaler growing up wholesale growing operation that it should that revenue should only grow in the future.

G

But we have no assurance of that and I think everyone's concerns are legitimate um and that's I'm I'm wondering if tiffany would want to explain what the rationale was on the resolution on why this year, I know that some of the townships have felt that since they passed the, uh you know the ordinances to jump to allow these businesses businesses to be located in bay county. But they were looking at the county share and felt it should go back to their townships.

G

But we have, you know very pressing needs and I think the legislative intent of course was to you know, allow counties to receive some revenue, especially in the fact that revenue sharing is has decreased so much in the in the past couple of decades.

G

But I just thought I'd share my thoughts and I'm not sure if tiffany would want to weigh in on what her thoughts are.

Q

Did she hear me, I don't, I can hear you.

G

Q

um To the question of what precipitated the memo as we work through the closing of 2020, and we evaluate what transpires in the health care fund, we can see that we um have higher expenses than we have revenues it to the tune of probably about 350 000 we're not completely done with that reconciliation.

Q

Just yet, and then an analysis of the first quarter of 2021 shows again that we're um we're high on expenses and low on revenues in the health care fund, which is going to equate to us utilizing more of the healthcare fund, which has depleted the tune of a couple of million dollars over the last few years. The combination of the reporting that we now receive regarding coven 19 claims, has also increased those expenses. So it's just a matter of the timing of looking over those things and, of course, the timing.

Q

You know ties to a lot of the conversation about this additional revenue stream. That is a newer revenue.

M

A

Any other, oh mr burning.

K

We all know health care costs are increasing and yeah. I don't have a problem with going there, but you know if a commissioner has a question, has some something that needs to be answered. We don't. This is what reaffirmed it is refer to next week. Get our questions answered. Then we address it. Then.

K

A

And shall we vote on the motion to refer.

A

C

A

C

Them no, we haven't voted yet we need to no.

B

C

B

Yes, can we vote.

C

On it, I'm sorry, I can't see this over.

C

O

C

Yes trigger yes, yes again! Yes, yes,.

A

A

Moved and supported any discussion, roll.

O

Call yes, johnson, yes,.

C

F

C

A

For support of the payables.

B

I'll move it before.

A

Mr johnson, supported by mr conan, any discussion broken. Please.

C

A

Ocean compared item aged receipt of the gender fund, equity of 2021.

B

Above it support.

A

Discussion roll call please.

C

N

C

O

C

O

C

Yes, yes, motion care.

A

Receipt of executive directive 2007-11 motor.

K

Received support.

A

Moved and supported any discussion role call please.

C

Yes, yes, yes, yes, here.

O

C

N

C

A

Notion here a request for support to approve the renewal agreement with air advantage. Internet fiber.

C

B

A

Any discussion roll call please.

C

A

C

O

C

Yes, yes, yes, yes,.

A

Okay and then request for support of a temporary on-call maintenance heavy-duty equipment operator with the drain commissioner's office I'll.

B

Move it support.

A

Any discussion.

A

Yes, oh, am I missing one a feature. I have an old agenda.

A

Did we hit that we didn't hit that one? Yet I do stay future.

A

Okay, we have um requests for support of a renewal of the day future contract I'll.

K

Move uh that resolution support, but the resolution, the resolution that I want to approve- and maybe have I don't even know if this is a this- is just information, and I just got it today- I'd like to make a motion to approve a three-year contract of 50 000 a year, because this particular information is two-part. It would be. The second part would be dealing with the stimulus money which we I haven't seen what we can even do with it.

K

So uh I would like to my motion would be to and um the three-year contract extend the three-year contract with bay future at 50 000 a year, and then we need, as a body, to get more information on the stimulus money, what we can do with it, whether it goes to businesses or where it goes wherever it goes.

K

I have no idea so uh and that's not to say once we get more information on this, that we can't collaborate with may future on if it's going back to businesses or if it's going for economic development or wherever it's going. But this uh this particular item is too. uh I think we got the cart ahead of the wagon here, so my motion would be uh to agree or to to approve a three-year contract fifty thousand each year and then we'll address this as we as a body get more information regarding the skidmost month.

K

F

Wasn't a resolution, but there's one here I mean they.

K

As I said to agree to a three-year contract, fifty thousand dollars a year with pay futures and when we understand what the stimulus dollars what it can be used for, then, if we at that time, we can go back into an agreement if it's. If it's. If we have to we've made futures, I'm not sure what we can even use the money for so.

A

Are you withdrawing yeah? I will draw my support for.

F

A

Most conversation right so is there support for the motion to have the conversation.

G

I could could I be recognized.

A

G

Yeah, I guess I'd like to explain why we introduced this resolution and I would not be in favor of tying our hands on economic development to fifty thousand dollars for the next three years. We spend less than one one 100th of our general fund on economic development.

G

We have a pitiful effort in bay county in terms of our commitment compared even other counties in the upper peninsula or across the lower peninsula. Typically, a county will have four or five employees working on attracting industry or entrepreneurs or development to create jobs for their population. But what I'd like to do is just explain the rationale on why we would like to remove the cap so that the future could be the recipient.

G

I guess of some of these federal revenues which, as you know, the whole intent of the rescue plan wasn't about broadband, wasn't about oh recreation or anything else. It was about saving the economy and the jobs of so many millions of people across the country and and thousands of people here in bay county that lost their jobs through the pandemic.

G

So bay county is estimated to receive approximately 20 million dollars from the american rescue plan over the next four years, 10 million this year, 10 million next year. Anything that won't be spent must be returned to the federal government. We know that one of the pillars of this plan is to support small businesses and hard-hit industries to ensure our citizens stay employed.

G

I have submitted a request to you that recommends bay county enter into a new agreement with bay future for the purpose of helping our business sector survive the disastrous consequences of the pandemic from the executive order, shutdowns to business, to many other people being reluctant, even when it was legal to go out to dine. We have a lot of 4 200 businesses in bay county, and I hope, when we see this pandemic in the rear view, mirror that we hopefully will still have our 4 200 businesses employing bay county residents, as described in the memo.

G

Our expired agreement with bay future has been, I believe, expired for seven years has language that caps our annual investment in their service at fifty thousand dollars. This cap language needs to be removed in a future agreement in order to utilize their expertise with the american rescue plan dollars.

G

Should the board decide to appropriate some of the american rescue plan to support and maintain a healthy business community in bay county? The future has the expertise, experience and internal infrastructure to carry out this task. Bay future has awarded grants to our local businesses through the keras act and, I believe, two and a half million dollars a city received was distributed to grants in bay city to small businesses that could show the dramatic decline in revenue that they experienced with the community development block grant funds.

G

They have the knowledge, skills and abilities just to distribute money to our businesses in a fair and efficient manner. Within the guidelines set both set forth by the federal government and the board, if they so choose to go this route, it is my recommendation that the board renew an agreement with a future that allows them to be a partner with us and the bay county business community for the next three years. There is no immediate financial obligation to the county by renewing this agreement.

G

It is a first step in a continued partnership with bay future and gives the board more autonomy and discretion for future contributions to support our businesses, keep our citizens employed and maintain a strong local economy.

G

However, if the board would like more time or whatever to deliberate, I think it's an important issue and- and we we still haven't gotten all the definitive information from the u.s treasury department and secretary yellen, but that will be forthcoming. But again, the whole intent of the of the rescue plan was to shore up our businesses, not only here in bay county and in the state of michigan, but literally in all 50 states of our nation. So that was just the explanation. I wanted to provide the board on what precipitated the resolution.

A

We have a motion.

F

So we have a motion to not support, so that's what we're waiting for right now.

N

Correct I support the emotion.

K

I believe I believe my motion. If I made the motion would be to address part of this resolution and we contribute to bay futures for three years until we see exactly what we can do with this money, that's not to say that we would not collaborate with bay futures in the future. I don't I don't like open-ended uh uh contracts where there is maybe a lack of control of dollars.

K

So what I'd like to do is is participate with bay futures and as we get more information, then we can decide what we're going to do with that money who we need to bring in so my motion was to was was part, because this is two parts right here and uh we don't even know the second. We don't even have all the information on the second part. I.

H

K

I don't like agreeing to things that we don't have that we don't have all the information on.

F

Bob, what does it make about, but.

J

So what your bottom line is you want to approve your agreement uh for three years and fifty thousand dollars right and then the future date. If somebody wants to raise it, you can rate it later. Is that where you were one of the companies.

K

That's it and we, I don't know, has anybody here sat down with administration to to get a general idea or any kind of idea as to what we can use that money for I haven't.

A

K

So that's what I'm saying. Maybe we should have the opportunity to sit down and see what that money can be used for and then make a plan from. We want to make a plan for 300 000. We got 10 million or 20 million and we haven't even seen what the plan is.

G

Well, the plan would be to distribute the funds if it could. Madam chair to the businesses that are, you know, facing bankruptcy if they don't get help financial help. That's why it was rushed through on a partisan vote in the congress, and there is a lot of information about uh how it's used to sustain our business community and, more importantly, than that, the employees who depend on their their employment for their livelihoods and and their sustainability of their families. So that was the intent of the legislation.

G

That's been covered widely in the media and there is a lot of a lot of information available and we will just have to if you don't feel comfortable acting today. We can try to get that information out, we're looking for specific stuff, but to be uh in terms of broadband and uh the four pillars of the the legislation.

G

But the reason the legislation was passed was to recover economic recovery after the damage of the you know, the pandemic that has taken a toll on families, individuals, small businesses, medium businesses and corporations, large corporations so but we'd be happy to share that. You know, I guess, concern the and of course we could either if we don't negotiate with bay future to help them implement. This, we'll have, to, I assume, add a philanthropy new county employees that have that expertise to distribute the money ourselves if we don't go with the future.

G

But I understand the kunan amendment is to cap the the cost of economic development in its entirety in bay county from bay county government at fifty thousand dollars a year, and all I can tell you is I have in the past- that's an embarrassingly small of money to uh to allocate.

G

Basically, you know a couple of health care packages for our 500 and or 770 employees in county government to to create jobs, to keep our young people here and and to help people stay here and not be forced to leave the county due to due to the high tax rates and the fact that they cannot earn enough income to uh to sustain themselves here. But housing is pretty affordable, low crime rates.

G

We have a lot of things to be proud of in bay county, but you know we're we're losing a lot of our younger generation to greener pastors because many of them at some point would like to be able to afford to buy a home and perhaps get married and maybe have children and working in minimum wage jobs doesn't really allow for that. Most of the lenders will not, if you don't have job security and a decent income, they will not make a 25 or 30-year loan.

G

We continue to see jobs, exiting the city and our population declining, and so I think it's time that we ramp up our our efforts at promoting and marketing bay county and and reaching out to investors that might create employment and tax base. Here, that's just my thoughts.

A

F

I just wanted a motion. The motions for more information will be in order. Is our parliamentarians. This is emotion out of florida. This is that referred noise. In our suggestion, okay,.

J

I just first saw this this morning: okay, because it came, I think, late monday, so what I would recommend now because it's expired and they need funding that we uh renew the agreement for three years and fifty thousand dollars, and so the next couple weeks or whatever we can discuss, increasing it, because the board can increase that any type of watch.

J

I'm sure they won't turn it down.

B

Jamie, so just so I'm clear because there's a lot of a lot of things going on. um So if the amendment was passed, it would go much in the vein that you just spoke of that this. The current agreement has expired, and this would immediately um put us back into um partnership with bay futures right.

B

Okay and the possible uses and the possible um uses of the you know, art fonts that are that are coming through to be able to add into.

J

Or, and have a different.

B

Source for them, yeah, okay, so so either way. This might be something where you could. You could immediately enter back into an agreement which we've let labs um and renew that at least even even as uh executive barcelona stated, even if, if it's a low level at this time at least you'd be entering back in immediately and then be able to discuss the possibility of upping and even like how much you might be willing to do.

A

Well, they've continued right with the 50 000 a year, even in an expired agreement. Okay.

B

A

Have continued.

B

So that so that that lapsed, but it was still being paid, correct, correct.

A

And it has never been raised. I mean, as far as I'm concerned, that 50 000 a year is woefully small and it should not be tied. An increase to them should not be tied to the rescue funds. I mean that 50 000 we're lower than everybody we're lower than the city of bay city significantly lower than our adjacent counties.

A

We want to bring jobs and people here and that doesn't even pay for a person who has any knowledge in that industry to do so, so I feel like it that is woefully low to begin with, so to renew for what was our original investment that doesn't keep up with inflation, that's actually numbers that have gone backwards.

A

In my view, mr herrick.

L

Thank you, uh as I understand this, this pro this uh resolution that it's just to remove caps, it's not giving them anything that would go beyond the 50 000. We would have to vote on anyways. I mean it's not that we're not giving them anything more, but- and just so I understand that better. I think the person who probably wrote this and I'm not sure is uh miss johnson and uh she probably could.

L

I would like to hear her opinion on what's taking place so far, and maybe she could give us a little more insight on what exactly we heard. I've heard a lot about what's in there, but I'm not really, I and I'm not really sure so, I'm going to find out now because I'm going to ask her what this whole thing exactly says.

R

um Thank you it. I just want to clarify something in in terms of the contract and part of the reason why administration was requesting that that 50 000 cap language be removed is because this agreement is actually a service agreement, we're paying bay future for services that they provide, um and it's written very strangely, because what we have done is basically just upper cap on how much we're going to pay them. I I I don't know why it was written. The way that it was.

R

This is not just a yearly amount that we give a future. They provide services, they invoice us and we.

F

Oh rose, gloucester.

L

Oh she's frozen.

R

I feel like I don't have the memo in front of me, but um it just said we're going to cap it at this, so we could technically pay them less. We've chosen every single year to pay them that fifty thousand dollars for the services that are provided there is a provision in the expired contract that states that they future may choose to continue providing services even after the expiration of the contract, and we will reimburse them for those services.

R

So it's not necessary to re-enter into oh.

M

R

A new contact today in order to get them paid. It is not a good business practice to do so so by extending the agreement uh for three years with a three-year renewable period, basic.

M

N

F

We need people brought that forever.

A

We missed much of what you said toward the end, because you went away and you're gone again again: okay,.

K

So, what's the.

N

R

It's not stating that you are going to give them more than fifty thousand dollars. It's stating that you're going to pay them for sir.

B

There won't be a cap on it, anymore, don't be a cap.

C

The motion is to approve the agreement extension for three years or for the three years.

C

K

My motion and removing.

C

The extension options.

K

Right and then the the motion I had was to approve the three-year and then, as we go forward, we get more information, then we'll contract with bay futures. If we decide we're going to use a portion of that, 10 million dollars for business applications.

L

A

M

F

Madam chair, yes, I still would like to make. I think we have questions and, as we've talked about before, if we have any questions, we should get the answers next week. I would point out that the result number two says the cap in the agreement be removed to allow the board of discretion.

F

It does say, board discretion in any future contribution, so that I think, is our out right there that we're going to have discretion if we're going to do more than than the 50 000. So, but I still.

B

You know the executive comments and your comments. You know in some ways similar to my thoughts, but I just I didn't get a chance to see this until I came in today. So if I had the opportunity to be deal with a little bit, more information that'd be great. Okay,.

C

B

If anybody could hear that, because there's a lot of ways away from microphone is.

C

Emotional on the floor now to refer the resolution, as is to tuesday's.

M

A

Okay, that's been moved and supported. Is there any other discussion new points relative to that promotion? All right? Well, um let's vote on the motion to refer abs is, as is.

C

um Johnson, yes,.

F

C

Yes, yes, yes, here.

C

B

H

A

Okay, referrals.

A

Bring down seeing none any important, unfinished business, mr herrick, do you want to talk again.

L

No, no, I talked enough, but thank you.

F

E

F

uh Let's have a quick point, I think the county exec addressed this already. I got a call from a citizen who received a complaint from a resident of pine ridge that they're not happy with the demolition or whatever they're doing remodeling over there. So apparently some of the residents aren't happy with that, but I think he called the county exec's office about that.

F

They are getting remodeled, so apparently they're being displaced and they're not happy with it. I don't know if he has any jim russia has any comments.

G

On that yeah there there will either be housed in a hotel, motel complex or they can opt to stay in a unit that is reserved for people who are having their units remodeled at a cost of 45 000 per unit, and many many sessions were held with the residents and I don't recall any of them expressing any concern or opposition to it. Whenever you have a construction project of this magnitude, you know people are going to be displaced to get their new.

G

You can't really remodel something while, while someone's sleeping in their bed so they've got to move out. I think the typical time time for the complete renovation is about 48 hours, but we do have a couple of residents out there who are awaiting eviction and I believe that's who these complaints are coming from. They've been evicted by the courts, but the governor's executive order, no evictions being allowed, has allowed them to remain.

G

Even though the courts have determined as soon as the governor's executive order expires, they will be removed from the complex due to their behavior and other other issues that the courts determined they were not suitable. For that public housing.

G

Unit out there on pine road center ridge, arms.

A

A

Is there a reason to go into closed session, miss johnson.

R

A

Okay, miscellaneous.

P

F

Just a quick one every week for the next three weeks memorial day is coming up on the 31st. We'll have ceremonies out front about nine o'clock, there'll be ceremonies at the helicopter over by the river and also about the epson they'll be scheduled to come out in the paper. Thank you, 31st thank.

K

You move to adjourn.

O

C

Yes, all right, thank you. Everybody.