2026-10-1 BOC Meeting

Antrim County Board of Commissioners meeting, October 1, 2026 (the title gives October 1; metadata is timestamped October 2). The main discussion concerned Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader cameras installed through township agreements. Residents raised privacy, data-security, misuse, and oversight concerns, while the sheriff’s representative cited investigations in which the cameras assisted law enforcement. Commissioners noted that a $15,000 grant from the Grand Traverse Band was supporting the cameras, with about $9,000 spent and roughly $6,000 remaining; officials said county tax dollars had not been used. Some commissioners expressed reservations and said they did not want camera contracts renewed, while others cautioned against overriding township decisions. The board took no action on the cameras; commissioners requested information about what the cameras capture and asked about plans for future-year costs.

The board approved claims and accounts totaling $90,487.24. It also authorized an agreement providing access across private property to county forest land (a $6,000 figure was discussed) and approved a timber-removal agreement with Fall Horse Products for work at county airport property; the project covers about 35 acres. Other financial matters included a reported 7.9% increase in employee health-insurance rates, adding about $144,000 to next year’s cost, and approval of a Commission on Aging fundraising payment-processing arrangement subject to legal review. The county administrator reported that the jail/public-safety-center design remained on schedule, though the original parking-lot contractors could not meet the paving timeline and staff were seeking another local excavator.