Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Report

From the Thursday, March 7, 2024 Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Meeting

On the consent agenda for the March 7 meeting, Calhoun County Commissioners approved the Road Department's Act 51 Road Certification reports, reappointments to the Summit Pointe Board, and the appointment of a new deputy medical examiner.

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

In new business, the Board approved:

a resolution from Calhoun County Treasurer Brian Wensauer to authorize delinquent tax anticipation notes
a Road Department contract award for bridge replacement designs for 25 1/2 Mile Road and L Drive South, both over the South Branch of the Kalamazoo River; these projects are slated for construction in 2026
a Road Department bid award for countywide Hot Mix Asphalt paving this year
a Parks Department bid award for Ott Preserve Park Improvements
a staffing allocation request for a Friend of the Court Investigator in the Establishment Unit

A message from Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott

Last week, Calhoun County experienced tornado events in Marengo and Marshall Townships near 16 1/2 Mile Rd and to the northeast near 21 1/2 Mile Rd and L Drive N. Reports from the National Weather Service determined that the tornado was an EF-1 with max winds at 110 MPH and the path length was approximately 5.5 miles.

When these severe weather events happen, it's a good time to recognize and appreciate the efforts of our first responders, including employees of the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority, the Calhoun County Road Department, and the Sheriff's Office Emergency Management and Law Enforcement, as well as Michigan State Police and Marengo Township Firefighters, who in this case pulled an all-nighter and continued efforts into the next day to clean up the damage and maintain public safety. Additionally volunteer group Team Rubicon came to the area to assist nine homeowners with the massive task of debris cleanup on private property. Thankfully there were no fatalities from this tornado and one minor injury.

These events help us examine our processes for notifying the public, and I know that Dispatch and Emergency Management are working on a coordinated education campaign for this month's Severe Weather Awareness Week, to help explain the multi-layered alerting that we have in Calhoun County. Visit the Sheriff's Office or Dispatch Facebook pages for that information between March 17-24.

A Calhoun County Board of Public Health meeting took place on Monday, Feb. 26. At this meeting, Finance Director Megan Banning gave a financial update and Community Public Health Director Lauren Lewandowski gave a presentation about the department’s Wear One campaign, targeted at combatting high levels of sexually transmitted diseases in Calhoun County. The Board also heard updates on the Public Health Department’s strategic plan, as well as the 2022 annual report.

On Thursday, Feb. 29, Calhoun County’s Opioid Settlement Funds Steering Committee met. At this meeting, presentations were given by the Opioid Fatality Review team and Bronson Battle Creek’s Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) services. The committee also reviewed statewide and local data on opioid-related emergency room visits and deaths, as part of the ongoing process to develop spending plans for our estimated $11.4 million in settlement funds to be received over the next two decades. Those meeting materials can be found on the County's Opioid Settlement Funds website at calhouncountymi.gov/opioidfunds.

A Calhoun County Senior Millage Allocation Committee meeting was held on Friday, March 1. At this meeting, presentations were given about 211 and Gryphon Place, as well data on unsheltered adults in Calhoun County age 60+. Committee members discussed a change to bylaws to address how new members of the Committee are appointed.

A Calhoun County Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was held on Thursday, March 7. At this meeting a new chair, vice chair, and secretary were appointed. The Commission discussed the 2024 parks millage renewal ballot proposal, as well as special requests and DNR grant requests.

Inside Calhoun County Podcast

In the latest episode of Calhoun County Government's podcast, Executive Director of the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (CCCDA) shares information about the technology involved in the 911 system and the future of CCCDA related to radio and tower technology, especially with the passage of the 911 millage in 2022. Download the podcast on your favorite podcast app or listen to all episodes of the podcast at calhouncountymi.gov/podcast

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