The Oceana County Board of Commissioners heard three 2025 annual reports at its most recent meeting, April 9, first from MSU Extension, then the District #10 Health Department and finally the Oceana County Council on Aging.
MSU Extension District Director James Kelly began his report by humorously announcing that he and the other organization presenters had formed “a quiet wager in the back [of the audience] about the three annual reports today and who can speak the longest. So, someone, start the clock…”
The report was heavily statistics-based, with numbers such as 2,325 Oceana County participants throughout 297 national programs, 64 locally hosted programs, and 718 consultations, with an overall 6,317 community members reached through the work done by MSU Extension. Of these statistics, Kelly was particularly impressed with the communication (204,703 contacts through various sources, both online and physical) and youth programming, which boasts 1,514 participants. “Oceana County certainly is thriving under the leadership of Jennifer Payne, there was about a 60% increase in overall youth participation,” explained Kelly. "That includes not just the traditional [4-H] club members, but [also] just other one-time events.”
Where numbers have performed less favorably is the community health and nutrition programming, with the loss of their community nutrition specialist due to SNAP funding cuts. “It’s always tough to stop and reflect…there was important work being done in terms of nutrition education and how to get more from your SNAP dollars, [and] how to be active and live healthy, working with schools and early childhood centers," said Kelly. ”The numbers are still in the positives, with 276 program participants and 131 policy, systemic and environmental changes implemented in the county intended to benefit Oceana's overall health and nutrition. Following these budget cuts, MSU Extension is looking at other avenues for supplementary funding.
In discussing MSU’s impact on the 2025 growing season, Kelly highlighted an incident in which the organization provided a follow-up inspection and education after a grower was at risk of losing their $420,000 carrot crop, with the report highlighting how “MSU Extension helps ensure that compliance conversations are accurate, fair, and supportive of Michigan’s agricultural economy.”
Other recent and notable expansions to the organization in the past year include their Conservation Stewardship program, steelhead fishing sustainability, and local governance and zoning board of appeals certification courses.
“I encourage you to continue to keep us…as your resource that you might think of when you come up against a challenge in your world. Regardless of what that is, Extension is the window to your local resources, regional resources and then the university itself,” said Kelly, concluding his 14-minute presentation before taking questions.
Questions from commissioners included solar field development and loss of farmland, as well as thanks for MSU Extension participation in 4-H and the County Fair.
The second presentation came from Kevin Hughes, health officer with the District #10 Health Department, which oversees 10 Michigan counties, including Oceana.
Hughes deemed the “theme for this year’s report…was adapting through challenges, and 2025 was a challenging year for the local health department,” as the budget reverted to its pre-pandemic state and 41 positions were eliminated. Because there was no increase in annual funding, fees associated with services, particularly in environmental health, increased. Despite this, the services provided by the health department have grown, with over 11,000 cases across the district.
In 2025, the health department introduced Hepatitis C treatment to their family planning clinics and offered telehealth for those clinics and their school services. The adolescent health center, operating in Shelby Public Schools with behavioral health wellness centers at Hart and Pentwater public schools, has seen a greater number of students utilizing the system. So far, in the 2025-2026 school year, 218 individual clients have received services through the Shelby adolescent health center, with 37 in Hart and 29 in Pentwater. In total, the three schools saw 969 incidents of service in total.
Hughes also shared some highlights from the Community Health Improvement Plan for Oceana County. Priorities based on participant feedback and data include access to healthcare, mental health and substance use disorders, chronic disease and healthy weight maintenance, and economic stability. Following his presentation (running 7 minutes) Hughes answered questions related to Oceana County’s specific needs, programming, opiate settlement funds, health and safety misinformation and measles (so far there are no confirmed cases in District #10).
The Oceana County Council on Aging’s presentation began with Development and Community Engagement Manager Gwen Adams, who guided commissioners through the council’s annual report.
Some of the programming highlighted in the annual report included case support in navigating the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), with the help of Senior Care Service Director Jaccie Smith, who has received certification through the program. This program service is utilized by 75 clients in Oceana County.
Adams also discussed Our Friends House Adult Day Services and Community Living Support, addressing the needs of dependent seniors, which provided 4,672 and 7,341 service hours, respectively, in 2025.
She noted that transportation is one of the most important services provided by OCCOA with funding through a county-wide millage, where seniors are provided transportation anywhere in the county for a suggested donation fee of $2-$5 per ride. Outside of Oceana County, volunteer drivers are provided to take seniors to medical appointments and treatments. There were 92,428 miles logged between both programs in 2025, even during government shutdowns late last year.
Following Adams, Executive Director Stephanie Moore presented a summary of the council’s 2025 budget and plans for the future, including growth and outreach throughout different locations and demographics in the county. Moore also explained how, through tapping various sources of funding both statewide and nationally, OCCOA’s millage now only accounts for 58.5% of the annual budget, rather than 80%, as it has been previously.
There was also discussion of partnering with MDOT to receive $1.7 million in funding for a bus garage to accommodate the growing number of vehicles OCCOA utilizes. While construction is underway, there has been concern, raised by Commissioner Paul Erickson, that the grant will not allow the garage to be constructed on OCCOA’s current property. Moore explained that the matter has been in discussion between the council and several state agencies as they try to get a clear answer on their allowance.
Regarding the outcome of Kelly’s bid, OCCOA edged out MSU Extension as the longest presentation at nearly 16 minutes.
At the regular meeting, all Commissioners (save for Joel McCormick, whose absence was excused by the chair) approved a motion to increase part-time hours for the Circuit Court collection clerk to 35 bi-weekly hours, which would cost the county $153.11 per pay period. This would be for a 90-day trial basis at first, subject to change later.
Commissioners also voted to appoint six individuals to the County Advisory Tax Limitation Committee, all of whom are involved in county financials and required by MCL laws. These appointments are for one-year terms for the purpose of assisting the millage alternation process for the election year.
Finally, commissioners approved the Mason-Oceana 911 and Oceana County Emergency Ambulance's submission of operating millages to the August 4 ballot this year. Both millages are for six years and amount to 0.14 of 1 and 1 mill, respectively. Of the organizations these millages fund, Chairman Robert Walker spoke of their efficiency and importance to the community. Commissioner Tim Beggs put it more simply, “When I make the phone call [to 911], I want flashing lights headed my way.”
