Grand Traverse County commissioners will tackle a busy agenda Wednesday that includes approving pursuing a new 911 system, updating a Health Department agreement to keep the Community Connections program going despite eliminated state funding, voting on a new ethics policy, and approving a resolution of support for Antrim County’s planned withdrawal from 86th District Court.

911 System
Commissioners will vote Wednesday to terminate an intergovernmental agreement for the county’s 911 system, which will allow Grand Traverse to upgrade to a more modernized system for managing emergency calls. According to a memo from Central Dispatch Deputy Director Corey LeCureux, the current system is “defective and poorly supported” and needs to be phased out.

Grand Traverse County entered an agreement in 2018 to maintain a shared 911 system with other regional centers. That agreement requires a one-year termination notice to the other partners. Those partners are also all moving away from the “problem-plagued system” except for Petoskey’s 911 center, LeCureux said, adding that Petoskey “can easily proceed independently.” Going to a new system won’t affect Central Dispatch’s backup, since Grand Traverse County is part of a statewide network that allows 911 centers to back up any other center “no matter the technological differences between 911 systems,” said LeCureux. Grand Traverse County, for example, is currently backed by Leelanau – an arrangement that won’t be affected by equipment upgrades.

The termination notice will give Grand Traverse County a year to find a replacement system. Central Dispatch plans to use a request-for-proposals (RFP) process to find a new 911 system. “During the year of notice, Central Dispatch will start installing and testing the replacement system,” LeCureux wrote. “The aim is to switch from the antiquated system to the new with as little disruption as possible.” More big changes are on the horizon for Central Dispatch: The county is currently in the design phase of a planned expansion of its LaFranier Road campus – called Project Alpha – which will create a new combined emergency operations and 911/Central Dispatch center on the property.

Community Connections
Commissioners will vote to approve an interlocal agreement between the Grand Traverse County Health Department (GTCHD) and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department (BLDHD) that will keep the Community Connections program going for county residents. The free program helps adults, children, and families “gain access to essential services related to medical care, transportation, food, utilities, housing, and more” with support from a community health worker, nurse, or social worker, according to Deputy Health Officer Mike Lahey. The Grand Traverse regional hub – which covers Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Benzie counties – was established in 2016 through Michigan Department of Health and Human Services funding. The program has been financially supported since then by a combination of that funding plus fees from health and insurance plans.

However, the elimination of state funding last year created a shortfall of $220,000, which health officials managed to offset with several other smaller grants and a BLDHD allocation. “Unfortunately, this funding shortfall will continue into fiscal year 2025 and beyond,” Lahey wrote. With a program budget of $726,000 and projected revenues (including other grants, fees, and local appropriations) of $588,000, the projected 2025 shortfall is $138,000. While continuing to advocate in Lansing for state funding and pursuing other long-term grant opportunities, GTCHC and BLDHD are proposing an interlocal agreement that will see Grand Traverse County contribute up to $95,500 annually for services based on county residents served. Grand Traverse County represents about 76 percent of the clients served in the regional hub, or 1,112 out of 1,471 total referrals in 2024. Referrals to the program have grown every year since 2021.

“Establishment of this annual contract with an option to renew each year will ensure that GTCHD may financially support the Grand Traverse HUB of Community Connections while both local health departments continue to work with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and others to ensure sustainable funding is identified and attained,” Lahey wrote.

Ethics Policy
After several rounds of revision and debate, county commissioners could approve a new ethics policy Wednesday. The document outlines standards for expected behavior and handling conflicts of interest for all county representatives – from employees to elected officials – and would replace an existing ethics policy several commissioners feel is insufficient and lacks a proper enforcement mechanism.

The new policy has expanded sections for reporting and investigating ethics violations. Complaints would initially go to the county administrator or HR director, who could investigate and resolve or dismiss them internally. Those decisions can be appealed to the county commission if the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome and potentially referred to an ethics panel for review. The administrator or HR director can also send complaints to an ethics panel if there’s a perceived conflict of interest in reviewing them.

One major part of the new policy commissioners still need to flesh out Wednesday is whether they want to create a standing ethics panel at the beginning of each year or appoint a panel as needed when complaints arise. The panel would include either the commission chair or vice chair and two additional appointed members, which could include county employees or community members. The new policy details the process by which a panel would review complaints and decide the outcome. Ethics violations could be punished by “censure from the board of commissioners for an elected official, removal for an appointed official subject to MCL 46.11(n), or disciplinary action up to and including discharge or termination for an employee,” according to the proposed policy language.

Court Resolution
Commissioners Wednesday will vote to approve a resolution of support for Antrim County’s planned withdrawal from 86th District Court. Commissioners heard a presentation last month from court officials on the separation, which still needs approval from the state legislature and governor and would create a new 99th District Court for Antrim County and leave just Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties in 86th District Court. The separation, which will have staffing and cost ramifications for all three counties, is planned to go into effect starting in 2026 pending state approval.