Grand Traverse County commissioners voted Wednesday to have staff bring them information on potentially expanding the county’s LaFranier Road campus – a first step toward implementing a new facilities master plan that could include a new emergency operations center and home for Grand Traverse County 911 Central Dispatch and facilities management.

Commissioner Brad Jewett said moving those three departments out of the city to LaFranier Road was a “no brainer” starting point to begin putting the new facilities master plan into action. That plan, created by consulting firm TowerPinkster for the county and City of Traverse City, calls for a three-campus approach to consolidate county and city services on LaFranier Road, Boardman Avenue, and Woodmere Avenue (pictured, map). It describes several major new construction and renovation projects recommended for the county over the next decade totaling almost $172 million on the low end and nearly $214 million on the high end. City projects total another $40 million to $51.5 million, approximately.

Jewett said a new 911 center is “badly needed” and could be funded in part by a $2.50 monthly surcharge for 911 services approved by voters in 2020. When seeking the increase, Central Dispatch publicly listed a move to new offices among the services the surcharge would potentially support. Jewett said the facilities management building at the Civic Center is also “dated very badly,” while a new emergency operations center would free up much-needed space for the health department.

Some commissioners questioned prioritizing a new home for those three departments as the first action step before holding a series of upcoming study sessions the board previously agreed to, in which they intend to delve in more detail into the nearly 500-page facilities master plan. “I feel like we're leap-frogging over our own process that we set up at our last meeting in order to fast track this one aspect of it without a fully vetted discussion,” said Commissioner Ashlea Walter. Commissioner TJ Andrews noted that according to estimates in the plan, tackling new facilities and infrastructure for the three departments singled out by Jewett would be a “thirty million proposition.” She pointed to a lack of restrooms on the first floor of the Governmental Center and security concerns in that building as projects that potentially deserved higher priority. “I don't think we're in a position today to decide that this is the number one priority in this whole plan and make a decision to move forward with it,” Andrews said.

But other commissioners – though also cautious – said they were at least willing to look at funding estimates and other details from staff and decided how to proceed. Commissioner Brian McAllister thought the department upgrades were “needed” and “important,” while Commissioner Penny Morris said there's “nothing wrong with being provided information.” Commissioner Scott Sieffert agreed. “Every dance starts with the first step,” he said. Commissioners voted 8-1 – with Commissioner Lauren Flynn opposed – to direct staff to bring back information by April 17 on potentially constructing a new center for the three departments on the LaFranier campus. County Administrator Nate Alger said he would do his best by that deadline to provide an analysis of the 911 surcharge and relocating the departments, as well feedback from the county’s building authority on potential bond options for construction.

Also at Wednesday’s commission meeting...
> Commissioners heard an update on a proposed settlement agreement to separate PACE North and the Grand Traverse Pavilions, which if approved would resolve months of legal disputes between the entities and see PACE North lease its building on Garfield Road directly from the county instead of the Pavilions. The proposed agreement seeks to maintain PACE North’s existing lease rate and outlines a path in which the organization could purchase the building outright from the county’s building authority as soon as 2025. County commissioners tabled approving the agreement until they could review it in more detail with their legal counsel at a future meeting. PACE North Executive Director Nicole Farkas expressed hope the agreement would be approved soon, noting that the organization is eyeing an expansion in Wexford County and needs a stable path forward to maintain operations in Grand Traverse County. “We plan to be here for a long time serving our counties,” she told commissioners.

> Commissioners approved issuing bonds on behalf of Blair Township that would cover an estimated $5 million in upgrades to the township’s drinking water system. Blair Township plans to build a 500-gallon-per-minute supply well at the township hall property and add a new iron removal facility with new pressure filters and disinfection equipment. The upgrades are expected to help the township meet growing water supply demand caused by increased development. Commissioners also approved an agreement to use $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward a collaborative water service project in Garfield and Long Lake townships. The project will extend a water main along Cedar Run Road, providing for the consolidation of water supply systems and services for the “residential users in the neighboring Long Lake Township, specifically Black Bear Farms,” according to the ARPA application.

> Commissioners voted to provide $25,000 annually for the next five years to Green Lake Township to support parks improvements. The $125,000 total commitment was lower than the township’s request for a $381,595 county loan, of which township officials wanted the county to forgive $375,000 – or $25,000 annually over 15 years. Commissioners felt a five-year commitment of $25,000 was more in line with county contributions to other townships for parks funding, such as an identical commitment they made in September to Peninsula Township.

> Finally, commissioners appointed an ad hoc committee to study and bring back a proposal for using a new process to conduct Alger’s review as administrator this year. Commissioners McCallister, Flynn, and Darryl Nelson will serve on the ad hoc committee, with Nelson to chair. Commissioners also agreed to seek out HR expertise on the new review process. The ad hoc committee will bring a recommendation back to the full board at the commission’s April 3 meeting.