The Oceana County Board of Commissioners accepted and approved a grant from the DNR for funds to purchase a Polaris Ranger XD 1500 utility vehicle for the county sheriff’s office at their May 14 meeting. The vehicle would be used at Silver Lake State Park to patrol, enforce and respond to emergencies, especially in the highly-trafficked ORV area. This vehicle would join a 2020 Polaris Ranger and replace a 2005 Club Car Carry-All, which Undersheriff Ryan Schiller described essentially as a golf cart with extra storage.
The grant comes on short notice, with the sheriff’s office learning about the opportunity following submission of other DNR grants earlier this year. While Schiller admits the office would’ve preferred commissioners’ approval prior to applying for the grant, the opportunity was too good to pass up, and the grant was awarded in full, for $48,280. As the equipment is needed and the purchase will not impact county funds, the commissioners saw no issue in accepting and approving the purchase. Said Chairman Robert Walker, “I don’t think it makes any sense at all not to approve this - almost $50,000 worth of equipment on a state grant with no copay.
Also accepted was a letter of understanding between the Police Officers Association of Michigan and Oceana County allowing lateral transfer opportunities for new-hire officers. This is an item that has been accepted before in contract negotiations with POAM, but was missed in recent negotiations by both parties. It is, likewise, an item which, as Schiller explained, makes the sheriff’s office an attractive employer for many prospective employees. “From an employment perspective, we would love to see it added back into the contract… It was just an omission during the [negotiation] process,” he explained.
Later in the meeting, Sheriff Craig Mast gave a department head update, informing commissioners that the forfeited truck acquired in March had sold for a bid of $28,200. Mast also took the opportunity to inform commissioners that this $28,200 “windfall” is earmarked to go towards new handguns with optics and to expect the purchase as a future agenda item.
Oceana County Emergency Manager Troy Maloney also reported to commissioners a recent visit from FEMA and their inspection and corroboration of damage following flooding in Hesperia last month. Only one site was reported with major damage, and they are hoping to see a presidential emergency declaration reimburse both homeowners for property damage and emergency responders for services.
Commissioners also awarded a bid for the replacement of three community service building HVAC systems to Tanner Plumbing & Heating in the amount of $38,187 from the building's improvement fund.
During commissioner reports, Commissioner Paul Erickson brought up the topic of Charles Mears’ Red Barn, asking commissioners to consider conserving the property and building while a permanent steward is acquired. “My hope is that my fellow commissioners would be the custodian of this project, and then hopefully we’ll be able to pass that barn on to the proper entity that would be able to manage and take care of that barn,” he said.
He also reminded the board that $13,000 remains with the Oceana Community Foundation for the purpose of weathering the Red Barn, which is threatened by poor structural integrity and trespassing, and that there is strong support in Pentwater and Weare Township for the preservation of the over 150-year-old building. Walker mentioned the possibility of discussing the topic at the next regular meeting. Meanwhile, the Crystal Valley Dam remains a site of major concern for commissioners to rectify as they consider its future.
At public comment before the meeting’s adjournment, Susan Cerka, a retired RN and former volunteer at the Oceana County Council on Aging’s (OCCOA) adult day service Our Friends House, spoke to commissioners of her negative experiences as a volunteer with the organization’s management and a perceived lack of transparency. Cerka is just one of several members of the group Oceana Grassroots Residents Advocating for Community Elders (Oceana GRACE), who have come before the board of commissioners to voice their concerns. Said Cerka, "We are not trying to close OCCOA. We want this vital community service strengthened and made available to all Oceana County seniors. What we do seek is genuine oversight and accountability.”
