Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on May 12, 2026, covering a wide range of topics including animal control staffing, emergency management updates, capital improvement projects, and procurement decisions. Key procurement-related actions included approval of a purchase of secure VPN licenses from Dell for first responders at a cost not to exceed $57,262, funded by the sheriff's office, EMS, and central dispatch budgets with partial reimbursement from local fire agencies. The board also approved the purchase of a "radio in a box" emergency communications system from Grand Traverse Mobile Communications for up to $400,000 as part of the capital improvement plan, enhancing dispatch redundancy and emergency response capabilities. Additionally, the board authorized an amendment to the Stellar Services agreement for inmate phone and visitation services to switch to a new vendor offering reduced costs and improved services. A contract with Crystal Surveying for remonumentation work was approved for $19,600. The board discussed animal control staffing needs, approving the establishment of an additional animal control officer position to improve enforcement and shelter operations, noting that funding would come from the general fund as the animal control millage had expired. Other discussions included updates on opioid settlement funding, recycling program compliance, and economic development grant co-sponsorship with the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce. Several departmental reports highlighted ongoing efforts in emergency management, 911 dispatch staffing and technology upgrades, and animal shelter improvements. The meeting included multiple votes on budget allocations and contract approvals relevant to county operations and public safety infrastructure.