Board of Commissioners Meeting | October 6, 2026

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners’ Committee of the Whole and Board meeting was held October 6, 2026. Procurement discussion included a proposed one-year, $24,000 subscription to Marketplace.city, a purchasing research tool intended to compare municipal contracts and identify potential savings. Administration described it as a pilot under the strategic planning budget, with savings to be assessed before any renewal; no vote on the subscription was recorded. Accounts payable claims were presented for review, including $9,738,614.62 for board approval, and payroll disbursements of $4,753,340.71; the transcript does not capture a vote on these payments. The board also discussed the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including $536,900 available for funding requests and $165,000 for a proposed step increase and 1% wage-scale adjustment. The budget public hearing was adjourned to a subsequent meeting for further review.

The board discussed possible use of any remaining ARPA funds for the Pathways for Peace gun-violence-prevention endowment, while commissioners sought additional information and consideration of directing some funds to capital improvement projects; administration said it would return with options and a recommendation. A major discussion concerned the Road Commission’s $25 million federal Safe Streets for All grant and proposed roadside tree removals. The county board voted to formally request that the Road Commission pause tree removal under the program until the board receives a legal opinion and discusses the matter at its October 20 meeting; the request’s authority is not established in the transcript. No contract award or bid approval was identified.