Repairing the leaking roof on the Commission on Aging building for $25,750 by True Colors Industrial with payment from the Building Rehabilitation Fund was approved by Barry County Commissioners on a 4-2 vote Tuesday. The board voted for the emergency fix despite objections of Commissioners Jon Smelker and Howard “Hoot” Gibson, who both voted no.
Commissioner Vivian Conner, who submitted the agenda request for payment, was absent but sent a statement supporting the payment from county funds, noting that it was the board’s responsibility to get the new jail and COA building, “underway before we have major issues…it is appropriate for the county to pay for it because we have not moved forward yet…this board needs to move on these two buildings…”
When it was brought up at the committee of the whole last week, COA Executive Director Tammy Pennington said it was essential to repair the 18-year-old roof that leaks almost the entire length of the building.
Smelker said that the COA has voted millage and its own general fund as well as a building fund and asked if the county paid for the COA roof repairs, would they have to pay back other county agencies that had made repairs to their buildings from their general funds if they ask.
“We put roofs on Charlton Park, now the COA…(county entities) that get millage are not taking care of their buildings, not repairing roofs when they have a fund balance,” Smelker said.
He also questioned if COA had spent money on roof repairs in the past. Tuesday, Pennington said they looked up the figures and over the past 10 years, they had spent a total of $25,645 on roof repairs and clearing of snow off the roof.
The commission also addressed several recommendations from the committee of the whole meeting and approved:
*buying a 2020 Lund Model 1800 Alaskan with a 90 h.p. Mercury outboard motor and Trailmaster trailer for the Barry County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division for $25,128 to be paid from the Vehicle Fund.
*changes and additions to the Barry County Information Technology Security Policy, last updated in 2017.
*new office furniture for the Specialty Courts Office and office dividers for the Family Division clerical staff for $17,766.46 to come from the Capital Replacement Fund 2019 budget.
*the purchase of a 2019 GMC Terrain to replace a 2019 GVC Terrain totaled in an accident on June 20 through MiDeal purchasing program.
Also, the commission named Conner to attend the 73rd Michigan Employees Retirement System Conference as Officer Delegate and Commissioner Heather Wing as Officer Alternate.
