Midland County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Midland County agendas: 2027 budget hearing, pay proposals and grants — but no vote results yet

Midland County's Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on the 2027 Administrator/Controller Recommended Budget at its Oct. 6 meeting, and county committees spent the following week on pay proposals and grant agreements. As of Oct. 19, minutes for all seven meetings listed between Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 had not been published, so no outcomes — votes, amendments or final figures — are confirmed in the public record. Everything below comes from the agendas themselves.

Budget hearing and 2027 pay

The Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9:00 AM in the County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland. The agenda listed a public hearing on the 2027 Administrator/Controller Recommended Budget, plus Finance Committee recommendations 92-9-26F (a 3% wage increase for Elected Officials in 2027) and 93-9-26F (approval of form 614 (L-4029) 2026 Tax Rate Request).

The Finance Committee's Oct. 13 agenda carried a proposed 3% pay increase or $500 lump-sum bonus for non-bargained employees for 2027, and proposed 2027 compensation for Parks & Recreation and Mosquito Control seasonal workers.

Grants: K-9 vehicle, deputy uniforms, court representation

The Administration & Operations Committee's Oct. 13 agenda listed three grant agreements: one from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for legal representation of parents in Circuit Family & Probate Court; a $33,000 grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation for 27 reserve deputy uniforms; and a $106,577 grant from the Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation for a new K-9 Unit vehicle and equipment. The Finance Committee's same-day agenda also listed the $33,000 Gerstacker item.

The Oct. 20 Board of Commissioners agenda lists the Gerstacker grant at $33,500. The two agendas give different figures, and the supplied documents do not explain the difference.

The Oct. 6 Board agenda also listed grant agreement 90-9-26AO with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning for a speed radar trailer and speed enforcement campaigns, and agreement 94-9-26AO with Level-Up Fitness and Training for training, mentoring and physical education services for youth in the Monarch Academy program. The Prosecuting Attorney's 2024-25 annual report was listed as received.

Staffing: prosecutor and emergency management

The Human Services Committee met Oct. 5 at 11:15 AM in the First Floor Conference Room of the County Services Building. Its only action item was 96-10-26HS, a request from the Emergency Management Coordinator to discuss salary and benefits for the incoming Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. On Oct. 13 the committee was scheduled to take up 100-10-26HS, salary and benefits for an incoming Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.

Both agendas offered public comment twice, limited to three minutes per speaker, with name and address encouraged for the record. The Oct. 5 notice states the Chairperson may cancel the meeting or may not take up all items, without advance notice.

Parks

The Parks and Recreation Commission met Oct. 7 to receive park and project updates, with a tour of South Park property on the agenda.

Also on the agendas

The Executive Committee of the Whole met Oct. 13 to receive the Administrator/Controller Staff Report and Civil Counsel Report; the rest of that agenda was procedural.

Coming up

The Board of Commissioners meets Oct. 20. Agenda items include the proposed 3% pay increase or $500 lump-sum bonus for 2027 non-bargained employees; the $106,577 Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation grant for a K-9 Unit vehicle and equipment; the $33,500 Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation grant for 27 reserve deputy uniforms; proposed 2027 wage increases for seasonal workers in Parks & Recreation and Mosquito Control; approval of hiring an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney I at salary grade step 7; and the annual update from Community Mental Health for Central Michigan.

Midland County agendas: 2027 budget, elected official pay, and sheriff grants; no minutes published yet

Midland County committees and the Board of Commissioners were scheduled over the past two weeks to take up the 2027 recommended budget, a proposed 3% pay increase for elected officials, the 2026 tax rate request, and several grant agreements, according to the published agendas. Minutes for these meetings have not been published, so the records available do not establish what was decided, amended, or tabled. The agendas themselves note that the Chairperson may cancel a meeting or may not take up all items without advance notice.

2027 budget and elected official pay

The Finance Committee met Tuesday, September 29 at 1:30 PM in the First Floor Conference Room of the County Services Building. Its agenda listed a presentation of the 2027 Administrator/Controller's Recommended Budget, followed by a Commissioner Forum on that budget. Also listed were a request by the Administrator/Controller to set 2027 compensation for Elected Officials, and the 2026 Tax Rate Request (Michigan Department of Treasury form 614, also called L-4029), submitted by the Equalization Director.

The Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, October 6 at 9:00 AM in the County Services Building. Its agenda included a public hearing on the 2027 Administrator/Controller Recommended Budget and votes on committee-recommended items: item 92-9-26F, a Finance Committee recommendation of a 3% wage increase for Elected Officials in 2027, and item 93-9-26F, a Finance Committee recommendation to approve the form 614 (L-4029) 2026 Tax Rate Request. The Board was also scheduled to consider grant agreements and to receive the Prosecuting Attorney's 2024-25 annual report (item 86-9-26AO).

Sheriff and emergency management grants

The Administration & Operations Committee met Tuesday, September 29 at 2:30 PM. Its agenda listed a sheriff's grant award of $31,908.79 from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning for a speed radar trailer and speed enforcement campaigns (item 90-9-26AO), and a $10,000.00 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation, accepted by the Emergency Management Coordinator, for emergency shelter carts (item 91-9-26AO). The same $10,000.00 shelter cart grant also appeared on the Finance Committee agenda that day.

Youth training agreement

The Administration & Operations Committee agenda also listed an agreement submitted by the JCC Director with Level-Up Fitness and Training for training, mentoring and physical education services for eligible youth in the Monarch Academy program (item 94-9-26AO). The same agreement appeared on the Board of Commissioners' October 6 agenda.

Deputy emergency management coordinator pay

The Human Services Committee met Monday, October 5 at 11:15 AM. Its only action item was a request from the Emergency Management Coordinator to discuss salary and benefits for the incoming Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator (item 96-10-26HS). Public comment was offered twice, limited to three minutes per speaker, with name and address encouraged for the record.

Parks

The Parks and Recreation Commission met to receive park and project updates. Its agenda included a tour of South Park property.

Coming up

Four meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, October 13:

• **Human Services Committee** — discussion of salary and benefits for an incoming Assistant Prosecuting Attorney (100-10-26HS).
• **Administration & Operations Committee** — a grant agreement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for legal representation of parents in Circuit Family & Probate Court; a $33,000 grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation for 27 reserve deputy uniforms; and a $106,577 grant from the Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation for a new K-9 Unit vehicle and equipment.
• **Finance Committee** — a proposed 3% pay increase or $500 lump-sum bonus for non-bargained employees for 2027; proposed 2027 compensation for Parks & Recreation and Mosquito Control seasonal workers; and the $33,000 Gerstacker Foundation grant for 27 reserve deputy uniforms.
• **Executive Committee of the Whole** — an agenda of procedural items, plus the Administrator/Controller Staff Report and Civil Counsel Report.

Midland County boards weigh 2027 millage rates, $400K park grant

Over the past two weeks, Midland County's Finance Committee, Administration & Operations Committee, Executive Committee of the Whole, and Board of Commissioners met to consider items for the 2027 budget year, including multiple millage levies and a $400,000 state grant for park renovations. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so all items remain proposals under consideration rather than final decisions.

Finance Committee (Aug. 11)

The Finance Committee considered approving the 2025 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and audit findings. It also reviewed several millage levy requests for the 2027 budget year:

• 0.9804 mills for each of two 1-mill road millages
• 0.85 mills for Senior Services
• 0.6862 mills for Central Dispatch and the public safety radio system
• 0.42 mills for Mosquito Control
• 0.25 mills for School Resource Officers

The committee also reviewed an amendment to the FY2026 Community Corrections Grant Agreement.

Administration & Operations Committee (Aug. 11)

This committee considered accepting several grants and agreements, including:

• A $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for Sanford Lake Park renovations
• A $4,991.94 Midland Rotary Foundation grant for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for county fire departments
• An $8,796 Midland Area Community Foundation grant for AEDs for county fire departments
• An agreement with Above Pete's Garage (APG) Audio Visual Mentoring, Inc. for music therapy for detained youth
• A 2027 Interlocal Agreement with Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!

Executive Committee of the Whole (Aug. 18)

The Executive Committee of the Whole held a routine session with no specific action items on the agenda. The agenda included staff and counsel reports, commissioner updates, and public comment periods. Public comment was limited to 3 minutes per speaker, and ADA accommodations were available with 5 days' notice.

Board of Commissioners (Aug. 18)

The Board of Commissioners considered multiple millage levies for 2027, including:

• 1.9608 mills for the Midland County Road Commission
• 0.4901 mills for Pinecrest Farms
• 0.2450 mills for public transportation
• 0.85 mills for Senior Services

The board also considered the $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for Sanford Lake Park renovations, heard the 2025 annual audit presentation, and approved minutes and claims.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Check the county's official website for any newly scheduled sessions.

Midland County committees weighed siren system, early voting lease, and parcel transfer

Midland County's advisory committees and Board of Commissioners met the week of July 7–14, 2026, with agendas covering a new emergency siren system, an early voting space lease, a land parcel transfer in Edenville Township, and personnel classifications for three county positions. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes and vote tallies are not available. The items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not what was decided.

Emergency siren system and hazmat grant

The Administration & Operations Committee on July 7 and the Board of Commissioners on July 14 both had agendas listing an agreement with West Shore Services, Inc. for a new siren system. The same two agendas also included a FY 25-26 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant agreement with the State of Michigan Department of State Police. No dollar amounts for the siren agreement or the grant were listed on the available agendas.

Early voting space lease

A lease agreement between the County Clerk and the Greater Midland Community Center for early voting space appeared on three agendas: the Finance Committee and Administration & Operations Committee on July 7, and the Board of Commissioners on July 14. The Finance Committee agenda noted opportunities for public comment on its action items. No lease terms or dollar figures were included in the available agenda materials.

Edenville Township parcel transfer

The Finance Committee on July 7 and the Board of Commissioners on July 14 both listed a request to transfer parcel 56-010-002-400-600-00 in Edenville Township from the County Treasurer to Midland County. No additional details about the parcel's size, value, or purpose were provided in the agenda summaries.

County Services Building security and personnel

The Human Services Committee on July 7 was scheduled to review a request from the Prosecuting Attorney regarding security measures at the County Services Building. The same committee agenda included classification analyses and job descriptions for three positions: Community Corrections Manager, Payroll Accountant, and Benefits Coordinator. The Board of Commissioners on July 14 also listed personnel job descriptions among its items.

Joint Building Authority appointments

The Board of Commissioners agenda for July 14 included reappointments to the City and County of Midland Joint Building Authority. No names of appointees were listed in the available materials.

Executive Committee of the Whole

The Executive Committee of the Whole met July 14 with a procedural agenda consisting of reports from the Administrator/Controller and Civil Counsel staff. No specific action items were listed.

What residents should know

Because minutes have not been published for any of these meetings, it is not yet possible to confirm which items were approved, tabled, or amended. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for posted minutes from the Board of Commissioners and the three advisory committees. The early voting lease and parcel transfer, if approved, could affect where residents vote and how county-owned land is used. The siren system agreement relates to county emergency alerting infrastructure.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days (through July 20, 2026). Check the Midland County website for any meetings scheduled after that date.