The Oceana County Board of Commissioners also received a presentation from West Shore Community College President Scott Ward on the newest addition to downtown Hart, the WSCC Community Center and Satellite Facility, at their Dec. 4 meeting.
With construction expected to start in January next year and opening as early as the 2026 academic year, it already boasts nonprofit partners such as Michigan Works!, Mid Michigan Community Action, and Ludington Food Club, with local Hart business Stella’s planning to open a walk-in and drive-thru location. Portions of the 25,000-square-foot facility housed in the old Gale’s IGA grocery store will be dedicated to a community food bank, office suite, community space, and two classrooms, which will be utilized by WSCC.
The construction of the facility is estimated to cost $6 million and is funded through a $1 million grant awarded by the State of Michigan, $2.5 million from outside funding sources, with the remaining half covered by the college. The WSCC classrooms will have flexible lab capabilities to allow a variety of hands-on classes to be held in the space, as well as computer stations. Some courses are already considered for the space include EMS and EMT training.
Ward describes the main barriers for the success of students attending community college as food, housing and transportation. With the collaboration of Ludington Food Club for a community food bank and the addition of flexible classrooms to alleviate some travel to Mason County, Ward believes that two of those three concerns are addressed by the new facility. Another hope for the facility is that it will attract developers to further improve the plaza, a hope echoed by the commissioners, with Chairman Robert Walker saying, “I can’t think of a better neighbor to develop around than a community college.”
Following the WSCC presentation, the commissioners approved of the bid from Hallack Contracting for snow removal, as they were the only one to submit a quote. Awarding a contract for lawn maintenance will be tabled until a new maintenance coordinator for county facilities has been hired. The bid for Hallack’s snow removal was decided by a unanimous vote of all four present commissioners, with Craig Hardy’s absence excused by the chair.
Also approved unanimously was the decision to close the courthouse on Dec. 26, the Friday following this year’s Christmas. This item was brought to the board by Joel McCormick as a “gesture of our gratitude for the exceptional dedication and hard work shown by our employees.” This decision would give staff a four-day weekend holiday, which Administrator Tracy Byard assured the board her office would greatly appreciate, especially as other departments in the courthouse have the day off anyway. Walker noted that due to governmental restrictions, the board cannot award staff with holiday bonuses, so this is the least they can do. Notice will be given in print that the courthouse will be closed on December 26, 2025.
