Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting (5/5/2026): Budgets, Camgrounds, Financial, Pathways

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Delta County Board of Commissioners Meeting Summary - May 5, 2026

• Meeting Opening and Roll Call: The meeting was called to order by Nancy Prisic, Delta County Clerk. All five commissioners—Mellner, Johnson, Williams, Vanhoven, and Jensen—were present.

• Approval of Minutes and Agenda: The board approved the minutes from the April 21 meeting with corrections to commissioner names and a typo regarding the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The agenda was amended to include the resignation and replacement of T. Bell under item number 10.

• Public Comment on Campground Policies: Residents Rory Mattson and Bob Barron raised concerns about the Parks and Recreation Commission’s policies. They questioned the validity of previous firearms bans and criticized the lack of experience on the current board, urging the commissioners to ensure transparency and legal compliance.

• Administrator’s Report:

  • State Budget: Michigan’s 2027 budget proposals include an increase in county revenue sharing ($19.8 million) and public safety grants, though prosecutor grants may be cut.

  • DAV Volunteers: The Veteran Service Board is seeking new volunteers for the DAV program following the implementation of new background check requirements.

  • Digital Accessibility: The county has until April 2028 to comply with new ADA Title 2 requirements for web and mobile applications.

  • Park Openings: Delta County parks are scheduled to open May 8, featuring new grant-funded playground equipment and upgrades at Pioneer Trail Park.

• Committee Reports: The board reviewed and filed minutes from the Finance, Personnel, and IT committees. Notable updates included a restructuring of airport job descriptions (Airport Manager, Airfield Operations Manager, and Airport Business Coordinator) and the relocation of the county server room.

• Unfinished Business:

  • Campground Policies: The board voted to defer the campground policy and regulation discussion indefinitely while a newly formed subcommittee and legal counsel review the documents.

  • Township Agreements: Equalization service agreements have been sent to all townships, and several signed contracts have already been returned.

• Financial Approvals: The commissioners approved the payment of county bills totaling $281,586.

• Pathways Community Mental Health Annual Update:

  • Service Growth: CEO Matt Maskard reported a 5% year-over-year increase in individuals served across Delta, Alger, Luce, and Marquette counties.

  • Staffing Challenges: While the organization received awards for its workplace culture, there is a noted concern regarding the average experience level of clinical staff (4 years).

  • Rural Advocacy: Maskard advocated for a specific legal definition of "rural" in state legislation to prevent metropolitan areas like Wayne County from accessing funds intended for isolated communities. He requested a resolution of support to ensure the Upper Peninsula receives appropriate healthcare transformation funding.