Grand Traverse County commissioners have approved a contract to provide expanded 24/7 nursing coverage at the county jail and new rules that will allow off-road vehicles to travel alongside Garfield Road between Mayfield Road and Kingsley’s northern limits. In other county news, commissioners this week will hear presentations on Cherry Capital Airport’s terminal expansion and recommendations from the county’s opioid epidemic taskforce.

Jail Nursing Coverage
Commissioners have agreed to significantly expand medical services at the Grand Traverse County Jail by paying for 24-hour nursing coverage. The board voted unanimously to expand the county’s contract with jail provider Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH) by nearly $300,000 for the remainder of 2025, with the jail’s budget anticipating the increase this year. Medical staff are currently on duty at the jail from 6am to 10pm, but under the expanded contract a registered nurse will be available all day and night.

In a memo, Captain Jimmy Argyle noted that 43 percent of suicide attempts since 2017 have occurred when medical staff weren’t present. The jail sees the highest number of arrests between 3pm and 11pm, but new arrestees “are often not seen by medical staff before 10pm. Expanding nursing hours ensures timely medical assessments,” Argyle wrote. Alcohol-related arrests – which require medical blood alcohol content (BAC) draws – also occur more frequently overnight, with an on-site nurse allowing for timely BAC testing so deputies don’t have to wait at Munson. Argyle said the contract expansion will reduce nursing overtime costs and provide “expert triage and support during medical crises, thus reducing the county’s liability and enhancing the overall safety of inmates and staff.”

Commissioners approved the expanded contract unanimously, though some worried that continually rising healthcare costs are not a “sustainable” trend long-term, in the words of Vice Chair TJ Andrews. Sheriff Mike Shea said that “nationally the cost of inmate healthcare is going up, there’s no question about it.” He said his department continues to evaluate ways to reduce costs while ensuring adequate care at the jail. Having 24/7 nursing “looks like it’s costing us money, but in the long run, hopefully it will save us money,” he said.

ORV Ordinance
County commissioners unanimously approved a request from Paradise Township to amend the county’s off-road vehicle (ORV) ordinance to allow ORVs to travel along Garfield Road from Mayfield Road south to Kingsley’s northern village limits. Township Supervisor Rob Lajko said in an email that allowing ORVs in that half-mile stretch will prevent them from having to take a 13-mile detour loop or travel illegally down Garfield. Making the Garfield route legal will provide easier trail access for ORV enthusiasts, Lajko said, who patronize local establishments. Charles William of the Northwest ORV Association said he spoke to homeowners along the stretch who support the ordinance change, noting there are plans to have a staging area by the fairgrounds so ORV riders can park and access the region’s vast trail system.

Shea said he didn’t have any issues with changing the ORV rules. However, he noted ORV use has expanded as the “predominant recreational vehicle traffic, surpassing snowmobiles.” The Sheriff’s Office currently lacks an ORV patrol. Shea said he’d be returning to commissioners in the future with a funding request to purchase an ORV so the department can patrol the “thousands of miles” of two-tracks and trails in Grand Traverse County.

Study Session
Commissioners will hold a 9am study session Wednesday to discuss bonding plans for Cherry Capital Airport’s upcoming terminal expansion and taskforce recommendations for spending the county’s opioid settlement funds.

TVC is planning a major expansion that will add up to 5 new gates, a relocated and expanded security checkpoint area, expanded outbound baggage area, more restrooms and amenities, and new concession areas. Approximately 68,000 square feet of new terminal space and 35,000 square yards of apron would be added. The expansion is in the design phase, with construction planned from 2026 to 2028. The latest project estimate is $112.8 million, including $85.6 million for design and construction of the terminal addition and $27.2 million for design and construction of the apron expansion.

The project is expected to be funded by a combination of grant dollars ($51.7 million), matching funds ($1.375 million), and bonding ($59.7 million). TVC has requested Grand Traverse County pledge its full faith and credit to the bonds, which would save the airport nearly $18 million over the life of the bond financings. In a letter of support, Traverse Connect Board Chair Rachel Johnson noted the TVC terminal was designed to accommodate 250,000-300,000 passengers annually but saw 787,114 passengers come through in 2024. Pointing out that TVC is “entirely self-sustaining and will repay the bonds through airport revenue,” Johnson wrote: “Grand Traverse County’s commitment would bring significant benefits to our community without imposing additional taxes on residents. Furthermore, the bond covenants ensure Grand Traverse County will be protected from any risk of default.”

Commissioners Wednesday will also dive into a strategic plan from a community taskforce that spent months working to create recommendations on how to locally spend opioid settlement funds, which total approximately $1.65 million currently and are expected to reach $5.8 million over several years. Commissioners previously approved using approximately $72,000 in opioids funds to pay for a consulting firm to work with the taskforce and voted last summer to allocate another $39,500 to 86th District Court for enhanced drug treatment services. But the board rejected other immediate spending suggestions from the taskforce, such as dedicating $300,000 to the Sheriff’s Office to expand the local Quick Response Team.

Commissioners have since continued to hold off spending more opioid dollars, saying they want a process in place and to hear the taskforce’s full plan first. That means only $111,500 of the county's $1.65 million in opioid funding has been spent to date. The taskforce has not yet had the opportunity to present its recommendations, a delay some taskforce members publicly questioned – with commissioners acknowledging in January that a presentation was overdue and setting a March target to review the plan.