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MANISTEE COUNTY — The Manistee County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday for its regular meeting.
The public can attend board of commissioners meetings virtually on Zoom or in person at the Manistee County Courthouse and Government Center, located at 415 Third St. in Manistee. The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 18.
Here are key takeaways from the July meeting:
Health care changes approved
Amid rising costs, county commissioners approved moving forward with self-insured health care coverage for county government employees and declined to purchase aggregate stop-loss insurance, an additional layer of protection that covers unusually high health care claims.
Health policy information organization Kieser Family Foundation defines self-funded insurance as, "where the employer pays enrollees’ medical claims directly, as opposed to traditional health insurance, known as fully-insured, where the employer buys coverage from a state-regulated insurance company."
Previous News Advocate reporting states that the change is projected to save the county $85,000 annually while avoiding an 8% renewal increase that employees otherwise would face under its current health insurance plan.
Budget discussions
County officials discussed an overview of the county's proposed 2026-27 budget as they prepare for an upcoming public budget study session.
County Administrator Lisa Sagala said an initial budget gap of nearly $2 million has been reduced to $537,737 through budget revisions, with staff expecting to reduce that number further before presenting a tentative budget.
Budget discussions will continue during a public budget study session at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Manistee County Courthouse and Government Center.
Employee wage decisions and ongoing union negotiations are expected to help shape the final 2026-27 budget.
Appointments
Sally Trisch, of Brethren, was appointed to serve on the Manistee County Recreation Commission. The partial term will expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
Larry Bielski, of Bear Lake, will continue to serve on the Department of Health and Human Services Board. The term will expire on Oct. 31, 2028.
Jail floor replacement
Commissioners approved $73,700 to replace deteriorating flooring in three jail holding cells and a garage access area.
Funding will come from state public safety revenue sharing and the county’s capital improvement fund.
Zoning contracts renewed
The county approved renewed zoning agreements with Onekama and Arcadia townships and Bear Lake and Eastlake villages.
