Kalamazoo County - Committee of the Whole - October 6, 2026 Kalamazoo County Committee of the Whole

Updated about 2 hours ago

Concerns from the public were raised about the removal of roadside trees, urging the board to adopt a resolution for transparency in the Road Commission's plans. The board reviewed budget allocations, including a potential increase in employee stipends and how to manage ARPA funds effectively. Additionally, a new language equity stipend pilot program was proposed to recognize the multilingual skills of county employees, aiming to improve services for residents with limited English proficiency.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:00:25)
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners meeting is called to order.

The meeting is officially started by the chair of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. Apologies for the delay were given due to conferring with council.
Roll Call (00:00:40)
Roll call is conducted to confirm attendance of commissioners.

The clerk calls the roll for the meeting, confirming which commissioners are present. Commissioner Morales is noted as absent due to a conflict.
Public Comments (00:01:17)
Residents are given the opportunity to address the board on any topic for up to three minutes.

The board opens the floor to public comments. A resident speaks about concerns regarding the removal of roadside trees by the Road Commission and requests a resolution for transparency and a pause on tree removal.
Accounts Payable and Payroll Disbursements Review (00:03:54)
Review of the accounts payable and payroll disbursements is presented by Finance Director Ryan Post.

Ryan Post, the Finance Director, presents the accounts payable claims list. Commissioners ask questions about specific expenses, including a subscription to Marketplace City and pooled cash expenditures.
ARPA Awards Status Update (00:06:06)
Discussion on the status of spending down the ARPA funds and potential allocation plans.

Interim Administrator Cole provides an update on the status of ARPA funds and discusses a proposal to transfer leftover funds to the Pathways for Peace endowment. Commissioners discuss the potential for reallocating funds and the logistics of doing so.
Fiscal Update (00:13:03)
Interim Administrator Cole provides a fiscal update with key changes in revenue and expenditures.

An update on the fiscal status of the county is provided, highlighting changes in revenue and expenditures. The presentation includes discussions on strategic initiatives, investment revenue, and potential cost-saving measures.
Budget and Financial Discussions (00:33:15)
The meeting focused on financial recommendations, budget allocations, and discussions on expenditures and stipends for employees.

The meeting included detailed discussions on budget recommendations, focusing on smart growth versus spending, maintaining employment services, and long-term stability. The finance and administration committee reviewed expenditures and policies, with specific attention to budget exceptions and new funding requests. Discussions also covered employee stipends and compensation strategies to address inflation and ensure employee financial well-being.
Discussion on Voting Leave Benefit (01:01:18)
The board discussed creating a new paid leave benefit for employees to vote on election day, considering operational impacts and notice requirements.

The human resources director presented options for a new paid leave benefit allowing employees up to two hours to vote on general election day. The board considered whether the benefit should be available only on election day or during the early voting period, and discussed the operational impact of requiring notice from employees. Concerns included ensuring employees could vote without disrupting operations and the practicality of providing notice.
Discussion on Options for Notice and Early Voting (01:02:36)
The meeting discussed options for notice and early voting, recommending both options with a lower notice time, to be revisited in two years.

The board discussed various options for notice and early voting, considering original plus two or one and two options. The recommendation was to choose both options but to lower the notice time. This topic will be revisited in two years and placed on the consent agenda for the next meeting if agreed upon.
Discussion on Language Equity Stipend Pilot Program (01:03:45)
A new pilot program for a language equity stipend was proposed, aiming to recognize multilingual skills and improve service to residents with limited English proficiency.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director presented a proposal for a language equity stipend pilot program. This initiative aims to strengthen the county's ability to serve residents with limited English proficiency while recognizing the multilingual skills of employees. The program will be monitored for participation, utilization, expenditures, and outcomes. A one-year and three-year proposal were outlined, with a recommendation for the three-year option to allow adequate time for implementation and assessment. Discussions included compensation for multilingual skills, tuition reimbursement for learning new languages, and the administrative aspects of the program.
Opportunity for Closed Session (01:32:21)
There was an opportunity for a closed session, but one was not scheduled for this evening.

The agenda provided an opportunity for a closed session, but it was noted that there was no closed session scheduled for this meeting.