The Annual Board Meeting for the Oceana County Board of Commissioners took place Sept. 25, with the 2025 Tax Millage Rate being approved unanimously and without any debate.
Likewise, there was no public comment at either the regular meeting or department meetings, which was remarkable to the members in attendance, who quipped that the unprecedented response (or lack thereof) should be noted in the meeting minutes.
It was, likewise, smooth sailing for other items on the agenda. Bids for the snowplow service of county buildings and grounds were opened, and the combined quotes of Beckman Brothers Inc. and Hallack Contracting covered all needed properties with no overlap. Of this lack of competing bids, Chairman Robert Walker said, “It appears it’s not going to be difficult to make a decision.” A decision that was approved unanimously.
For the planned excavation work on the Transfer Station, Ken Adams & Sons Excavating’s bid of $10,810 was approved unanimously. The removal of the Transfer Station’s gate was also added to this quote, with the not-to-exceed amount of $5,000 extra. It was determined after the initial quote that the gate would also need excavation work, and the addition was made in the interest to “keep it [the project] moving… otherwise, it’s just going to delay stuff.”
The board also formally adopted their previous policy revision regarding the seeking of county counsel by department employees into the county’s Board Rules and Policy Handbook made Aug. 14. This is to ensure that current and future commissioners and employees will be able to reference this policy and will not need to rely on others remembering it exists. Said Commissioner Tim Beggs, “The tricky thing with policy is it’s only as good as your memory that it exists.”
During commissioner reports, Commissioner Paul Erickson discussed the recent Michigan Township Association meeting in Colfax, where all 16 Oceana County townships were in attendance. “There was an exchange of a lot of good ideas… but I think the most important part was that all 16 townships were all in that room at the same time.”
There was much discussion from other commissioners about other boards they served on and what was being done ahead of the State of Michigan budget deadline, which was set for Oct. 1. Of some departments’ own budget decisions, Commissioner Tim Beggs said that they, “only spend money that they have in hand,” regardless of what possible funding may come from the state level. Walker reported his belief that the District 10 Health Department, which includes Oceana County, will be prepared in case of a state government shutdown. “I think we are prepared very well should there be something that comes from the State… I don’t think we’re gonna see a big slow-down [of essential services].”
The State of Michigan avoided shutdown late Sept. 30 by passing a temporary spending bill, which would allow negotiations on a final budget decision to go on for another week. The final budget was passed and signed Tuesday, Oct. 7.
