A Barry County Commissions committee of the whole special meeting Tuesday was held to hear appeals of the amounts in the proposed 2018 draft budget by Administrator Michael Brown.
The Barry Eaton District Health Department, Charlton Park, Barry Conservation District, Drain Commission, Parks & Recreation Board and Agricultural Preservation Board all sought increases in their budgets.
When reviewing the proposed the health department budget appropriation of $449,580, the commissioners heard a letter from Eaton County Board of Commission Chair Blake Mulder saying they have to cut their appropriation, and asked Barry County to leave the its budget level were it is for now.
Mulder asked to give them time to work their way out of a financial crisis. When Barry County had economic downturns in the past, Eaton County kept their funding where is was when Barry County cut theirs, he said.
There was a difference of opinion on the amount of reduction and number of years it occurred by Barry County, based mostly on the difference in the counties differing fiscal years.
However, after discussion, with BEDHD Health Officer Collette Scrimger answering questions, they agreed by consensus that it was the right thing to do, and left the budget recommendation where it is.
Charlton Park asked for a one time appropriation of $139,350 from the county to fund sewer pumps and roofs on park buildings. Commissioners agreed the park is owned by the county, and so the buildings are county property and they are obligated to maintain them,but would not commit funding until they get bids on replacing four roofs, with bids for doing one roof at a time and bids do all in the same time frame.
What follows are the department making the appeal, its budget proposed for 2018, the increase requested and the recommendation by the commissioners.
* Parks & Recreation: proposed, $34,175; increase requested $58,140, increase recommended, $15,000. The funds requested would pay a professional to write a five year recreation plan necessary to apply for grants from the MDOT and DNR, and general maintenance, according to member Patricia Johns.
* Barry Conservation District: proposed, $15,500; increase requested, $45,000, increase recommended, $15,500. Director Sarah Nelson said they need a full time staff member who can write and administer grant requests to make up for no state funding, which would benefit the residents of Barry County.
* Ag Preservation Board: proposed, $2,950, increase requested $7,200, increase recommended, $2,953 that would go to general expenses.
* Drain Commission: proposed, $184,261, increase requested $12,096, increase recommended, $12,096. Commissioner Jim Dull wants a part-time employee to work for $10 to $12 dollars an hour for eight to 18 hours a week to help maintain drains. The arrangement is cost neutral to the county; the wages will be reimbursed to the county from the drain department.
* Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf withdrew an appeal, pending the outcome of ongoing negotiations with police unions.
