The Barry County Commission’s committee of the whole Tuesday addressed several issues critical to the operation of the county government. The panel recommended approval of several items at next week’s regular board meeting, including:
* renewal of the Barry County Administrative Services Contract with Blue Cross-Blue Shield that lets the county have discounted rates the company negotiates with doctors, hospitals and pharmacies for medical costs for inmates that are in the care, custody and control of the county, from July 2018 to July 2019 with an administrative fee of 11 percent per month,
* renewal of a Consulting Services, LLC agreement for three years to provide indirect cost accounting services incurred by the county with federal and state programs to assure recovery of the costs through underlying grants when possible, for $9,500 for each of the three years,
* renewal of the liability, vehicle, physical damage and property and crime insurance though the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority from July 2018 through July 2019 for $381,067,
* an amendment to the the Municipal Employees Retirement System Hybrid Plan Agreement to change the county’s maximum contribution to 2.2 percent effective Jan. 1, 2018, based on MERS annual valuation of the employer contribution rate to the defined benefit part of the hybrid plan of 7.8 percent. The county’s maximum contribution to the hybrid plan is 10 percent,
* the 2018 L-4029 form for Barry County to collect summer taxes,
* the transfer of a 2001 Chevrolet panel van from the sheriff’s office to the animal shelter. The sheriff’s office does not use the van much since they got a newer vehicle and the animal shelter can use it to carry more animals than the current van,
* the purchase of 12 ballistic resistant vests to replace 12 vests that expire in September from CMP Distributors for $10,260, with a grant of $4,494 from the United States Justice Department to offset part of the cost,
* entry into the Michigan Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (PA116) for Jason and Jordan Scamlin in Section 35 of Barry Township,
* a budget amendment to the Child Care Fund increasing the budget summary from $1,034,001.14 to $1,234,001.14 and increase the residential line item in the county’s budget from $250,000 to $450,000,
* an amendment to MERS hybrid plan adoption agreement to include the non-union Central Dispatch administrative assistant position to the hybrid plan effective June 1.
