County approves new employee health care plan

MECOSTA COUNTY -- Here are the top items discussed at the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners' regular meeting, held at 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Employee health care

During the meeting the board heard a presentation from Jeff Nielson with Gallager Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting, regarding moving the county employee health insurance plan from Blue Care to the West Michigan Health Insurance pool.

Gallager told the board that when comparing the costs to the county, and to the employee, the rates for the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool would save both the county and the employee on health insurance costs.

"The Blue Care renewal was not favorable, with about a 22% increase in rates from what the county is paying for insurance in 2025 compared to what you have to pay for the plan in 2026, resulting in significant increases to your employees for what they have to pay for healthcare," Gallager said. "You would be changing from your Blue Care Network plans to three new Priority Health PPO plans. The end result will be that we are delivering about a 6% premium increase, rather than the 22% increase with Blue Care Network."

The board voted to approve the recommendation to go with the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool for county employee health insurance.

Kirk statute proposal

During the public comment portion of the meeting a resident stated that he saw that the board was considering using public funds to erect a statute to Charlie Kirk, and that he would hope the board would get input from the public before deciding on the use of public funds for something like that.

He added that spending money and time on a media personality when budgets are already tight is not the best use of public funds.

Zimmerman responded that Ferris State University has declined the county's offer to erect the statute of Kirk on the FSU campus.

Intergovernmental Agreement

During the meeting, the board approved Resolution 2025-13 Intergovernmental Agreement between Mecosta County, the city of Big Rapids and Ferris State University setting the county contribution amount to the multi-jurisdictional contract for a member of the Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that serves all three departments at $32,500.

"At the last meeting, you approved the two-year contract with them," County Administrator Mindy Taylor said. "This resolution establishes the 'do not exceed' number per our attorney's recommendation."

She explained that $32,500 is the amount the county will pay for the employee, and if they need to exceed that number, they will have to come back to the board for additional approval.

Courthouse renovations

During the meeting, commissioner Greg Adams updated the board on the work being planned and implemented at the Mecosta County Building to improve security.

Adams said the plans are to expand the front entrance of the building, reroute the doors, add new walkways with ramps coming up to the new entrance, and enclose the existing porch with glass to create a reception area.

"This will create more room inside for the implementation of the security checks," Adams said.

The board approved a bid of $78,700 for the concrete work in the front area, the ramps and the railings.

Adams said that the additional work will be put out for bids soon so that the security of the building can be completed as soon as possible.

Road patrol grievance

The board voted 4-2 to deny road patrol officers' request for additional pay for overtime over the July 4 weekend, with Board Chair Chris Zimmerman and Commissioner Gary Lambrix voting no.

A grievance was filed by road patrol officers working over the July 4 holiday weekend, requesting additional pay for their overtime hours of $187.

Taylor told the board that the attorney recommended denying the extra pay because it goes outside of the union contract approved by the county and the union.

She said the contract dictates that holiday pay is triple time for eight hours and straight time for any hours after that.

"They are wanting time and a half for those (extra) hours," Taylor said. "The attorney told us that the grievance must be denied."

Zimmerman suggested that it was worth the $187 to keep the officers that protect the citizens happy, but Adams and Commissioner Jeff Jackson said that if you start going outside the terms of the negotiated contract, you are opening up the county to further grievances.

Adams said that anytime you violate a contract that becomes a slippery slope, and suggested they put a clause in the contract regarding overtime pay for emergencies.

"When you do things like this -- open a contract -- you have to open it to the whole county," Jackson said. "You can't just do one and done. That is the position we are in. I would love to pay these guys, absolutely, but we have rules and contracts we have to follow."

He added that the only promise the county can make is that when they open the contracts for re-negotiation, they add the clause regarding emergency overtime pay.

LEMP work contract

During the meeting, the board approved the annual Local Emergency Management Program work agreement for 2026.

Emergency Management Director Patrick Maddox told the board the agreement is an annual contract stating that the EMD agrees to maintain a set of standards that are outlined by the state of Michigan and federal requirements, and by doing so they are entitled to grant funding.

"With this, we are saying, yes we are going to maintain these standards, and at the end of the performance period, we will be issued a sum of money," Maddox said. "Around November, we will receive the grant agreement notifying us what the amount is. With the government shutdown, as far as if it is going to be funded, that's unknown, but we are going to maintain these standards anyway."

Workers Comp refund

Taylor informed the board that the county would receive a refund of $85,138 from the 2024 premiums for the Michigan Counties Workers Compensation Fund, which equals nearly 35% of the annual premium back to the county.

"In the past when we have gotten a refund, we have given a refund to those departments that pay the county," Taylor said. "I would like to put $49,484 into the General Fund, and return $27,811 to EMS, $495 to the building department and $7,348 to the Parks Department."

The board approved the allocations as presented.

Michigan Milk Producers

During the meeting the board agreed to decline a request from the Michigan Milk Producers for a resolution of support for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption under Public Act 198 for redevelopment of the former Leprino Foods facility in Remus.

"They are asking that the county recognize the importance of the redevelopment effort and support the developer's pursuit of approval for the Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption," Taylor said. "They are asking that we put it on (the county) letterhead. I'd really like to take this to the finance committee meeting and take time to think it over."

Adams agreed saying, "We clearly did not have enough information to start spending taxpayer money that we don't know where it is going to go. This needs some time to digest."

Other business

During the meeting the board also approved the following:

The MET Funds contract with the Mecosta County Sheriff's Posse for $3,000 for hands-free lights;

The MET funds contract with Eagle Village for $20,000 for youth day center supplies;

A request to fill a vacancy at the Commission on Aging;

A request to fill a vacancy in the Friend of the Court office;

A request to hire a candidate to fill a position in the Prosecutor's Office at the year two wage and salary scale;

Acceptance of a Veterans Affairs grant of $75,254, contingent on state budget approval; and

A request from the sheriff's office to provide tablets for inmates for the purpose of communications, research and educational opportunities.

The next board of commissioners' meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Mecosta County Services Building, 14485 Northland Drive, Big Rapids. The meetings are also accessible via Zoom.

For more information visit mecostacounty.org or call 231-592-0783.