April 20, 2010 County Board Meeting Update...

I'm back!

Our County Board will be meeting Tuesday, April 20 at 9am for what could be a long meeting!

First, we will be electing a county board chairman, vice chairman and members of the highway committee. This process can be lengthy - or it could be over quickly. Then, we'll move on to the business of governing...

- AHNAPEE TRAIL: Grant funding is being sought to maintain the Ahnapee trail

- SCHAUER PARK: After a lively public debate, an agreement has been reached between the County and Jacksonport to develop a harbor of refuge and expand boat launching opportunities at Schauer Park.

- REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS: To encourage the creation of jobs, our County has a revolving loan program to provide very low interest loans to start and grow local small businesses. Two loans are being sought at this meeting.

- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY: The Board will be asked to approve a resolution supporting a state-wide study to create a new, bold economic development plan. We are not financially supporting this effort.

- BUSSES!: The social services and finance committees are recommending the acceptance of $326,500 ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) to purchase buses for the Sunshine House and Red Cross.

- ASPHALT PLANT: Our current asphalt operation cannot recycle old asphalt. $727,000 is being requested to upgrade our capabilities which will allow us to use RAP (Recycled Asphalt Products) and use less oil and propane to produce asphalt to maintain our roads

- ETHICS: The County is freshening up our ethics code - repealing the old code and replacing it with "ethical principles" that will be encorporated at a part of our Rules of Order.

We will also be re-assigning to committees. Some of our committee assignments will change to accommodate the new members of our County Board and changes made by the County Board Chairman.

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Ben Meyer