Shiawassee County board sends senior services millage renewal to Nov. 3 ballot

The Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 on July 15 to place a senior citizen services millage renewal on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot, according to the final minutes signed by County Clerk Caroline D. Wilson.

Resolution #26-07-13 was moved by Commissioner Cindy Garber and seconded by Commissioner Gary Holzhausen. The roll call recorded yes votes from Commissioners Brad Howard, Josh Haley, Holzhausen, Bill Johnson, Garber and Chairman Gregory Brodeur, with 0 nays. Commissioner Matthew Shepard was excused from the meeting, the minutes state.

The ballot question asks voters whether an expired 0.5000-mill levy, reduced to 0.4942 mills by required millage rollbacks, should be renewed at up to 0.4942 mills ($0.4942 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for five years, 2026 through 2030, to fund senior citizen services in the county. The resolution states that if approved and levied in full, the millage would raise an estimated $1,370,677 in the first calendar year based on taxable value.

The resolution language also notes that a portion of the millage may be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the cities of Corunna, Durand, Laingsburg and Owosso; the DDAs of the villages of Bancroft, Byron, Lennon, Morrice, New Lothrop and Vernon; the DDA of Perry Township; and the Brownfield Authorities of Shiawassee County, Owosso Township, the city of Owosso and the city of Durand, as well as other or fewer local units as required by law. The resolution certifies the question to the county clerk and directs the clerk to have it placed on the ballot.

Bills, audit and contracts

On a 6-0 roll call, the board approved invoice edit reports dated June 18 through July 10, payroll batches dated June 19 and July 3, and wire transfers, ACH and EFTs for a grand total of $7,164,958.46, and authorized warrants to be drawn from the treasury. Garber moved and Howard seconded.

Ken Talsma of Anderson, Tackman & Company, PLC presented the 2025 county audit. The board then voted 6-0 to adopt the 2025 audit and place it on file on a motion by Garber, seconded by Johnson.

Commissioners also approved, 6-0, a two-year technology support contract with SRESD at $122,055 and authorized the board chair to execute it, and separately approved 6-0 a contract between the county for the Health Department and SRESD for technology services from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028. A contract with FLB Collective for third-party administrator services for the county housing rehab program passed 6-0. The board approved a contract with Father Flanagan's Boys' Home (Boystown) for youth treatment, 6-0.

Staffing and appointments

The board appointed Adam Lawrence to the Zoning Board of Appeals on a motion by Howard, seconded by Haley. Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve refilling an animal control officer position; to authorize MERS to allow Deputy Ryan Hall to purchase 12 months of service credit as requested; to approve replacement of the Deputy Probate Register at a grade 5 and the part-time Guardian Ad Litem at a grade 3; and to approve replacement of the Family Court Financial Advisor at a grade 5 and Register at a grade 4.

The board also adopted proposed CDBG policies for conflict of interest, complaint, fraud prevention and fair housing, limited to the use and administration of the CDBG Infrastructure Grant for Creek Pointe. Paula Brooks of Durand addressed the board about the historic courthouse courtroom sound system, the minutes state.

Chairman Brodeur reported on SCAO Morrice ownership and the SCAO Owosso building, said the Landbank was "doing terrific" and handed out packets from the Law Offices of Jerome & McLean to all board members. County Administrator Dr. Boggs reported on Landbank grants, said the Mowinski building in Owosso would come down at the end of the month or early August, and reported on a county infrastructure grant. The meeting, called to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Commissioner Chambers of the Surbeck Building in Corunna, adjourned at 5:52 p.m.

What happens next

The senior citizen services millage renewal question goes before Shiawassee County voters at the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The resolution directs the county clerk to prepare and distribute the ballot language in the manner required by law.