Finance, Ways & Means Committee Meeting 09/08/2026

The Alpena County Finance, Ways & Means Committee meeting on September 8, 2026, included several procurement and budget-related discussions. The committee approved payment of bills and discussed federal grant reimbursements, noting a shortfall in federal grant revenue, particularly from the Stone Garden grant. They approved the purchase of two snow plows funded partly by grants and PFC funds. A personnel matter was addressed involving a reduction in work hours for a conservator program employee, with union approval pending. The committee authorized a $20,000 budget allocation from the ambulance millage fund to support a sealed bid process for purchasing radios and pagers for local fire departments, continuing a successful multi-year program. Budget adjustments were approved to address deficiencies and reallocations in various departments, including road patrol and prisoner board expenses. The committee also approved a grant-funded purchase of a fingerprint machine for the district court to improve processing efficiency. Additionally, the board authorized the Optimist Club to proceed with playground repairs, clarified policy on unpaid PTO, and passed a resolution requesting the city to reconsider allowing a goose hunt at the fairgrounds. A motion was passed to notify local units and the state tax commission about discrepancies in property assessments due to unreported improvements, aiming to address tax base accuracy issues.