Otsego County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Otsego County board approves $953K in warrants; recall petition approved

The Otsego County Board of Commissioners approved two warrants totaling $953,837.78 at its Aug. 11 meeting, and the Election Commission approved a recall petition against Gaylord Mayor Todd Sharrard on Aug. 14. The Board of Canvassers also certified the Aug. 4 election results.

Board approves warrants

At the Aug. 11 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved the Aug. 4, 2026 warrant of $802,213.51 and four void checks by an 8-1 vote, with Commissioner Mason voting no. It also approved the Aug. 11, 2026 warrant of $151,624.27 unanimously. The consent agenda, including the July 28, 2026 minutes, passed unanimously. The board then recessed into closed session to discuss the County Administrator review, with an 8-0 vote; Commissioner Sortor was excused.

Election results certified

The Board of Canvassers certified the Aug. 4, 2026 election on Aug. 11. It resolved discrepancies in Bagley Township AV Precincts 1 and 2 by hand-counting envelopes, confirming 850 ballots. One MOVE ballot from Otsego Lake Township was rejected because it was received after the deadline, and another was spoiled due to an overvote and crossing party lines.

Recall petition approved

The Election Commission on Aug. 14 unanimously approved a recall petition against Mayor Todd Sharrard, filed by Paul Kanary. The commission found the petition language factual and clear enough for voters to identify the alleged conduct. The petition can be appealed to Circuit Court by Aug. 24, 2026, and requires 374 signatures to circulate. The original petition was returned to sponsor Paul Kanary.

Other meetings

The Parks and Recreation Commission met Aug. 10 and Aug. 12, but minutes have not yet been published. The Aug. 10 agenda included discussion of a potential Community Center sale, options for Wah Wah Soo Beach erosion at $30,000 for repair vs. $158,000 for reconstruction, and bids for fence and electrical projects at Libke Field and Otsego Lake County Park. The Aug. 12 agenda included a closed session to consider the purchase of real property under the Open Meetings Act.

The Budget and Finance Committee met Aug. 19, with minutes not yet published. The agenda reviewed grant agreements for Materials Management, Housing, Veteran Service, and Motorcycle Safety programs; bid awards for park electrical and fencing upgrades, Libke Field fence, and Groen Motel demolition; and budget amendments for the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund, Airport fuel tank replacement, and Iron Belle Trail maintenance. A closed session was scheduled to consider the purchase of real property.

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Aug. 21, also with minutes not yet published. The agenda included adoption of a unified financial controls policy, a fund balance and millage review policy, and a legal services policy. It also addressed the decline of Healthcare Fund 647, which has fallen below a $250,000 balance, and MERS Fund 704, which reached zero, and considered restructuring or dissolving the Budget and Finance Committee.

Coming up

The Board of Commissioners will meet Aug. 25. The agenda includes a public hearing on proposed Program Year 2025 CDBG funding and closeout of Program Year 2024 grants with MSHDA, a resolution authorizing $90,609.77 in program income funding for low-to-moderate income housing improvements, and bid awards for the Libke Field fence and the Groen Motel demolition.

Otsego County Board approves $395,802 in payments; zoning board denies variance

The Otsego County Board of Commissioners approved two payment warrants totaling $395,802.32 at its July 28 meeting, the most consequential decision in the past two weeks. The board also approved minutes from its July 14 meeting. Other recent meetings included a zoning board denial, a procedural opioid settlement committee session, and a canvassers meeting with no published decisions.

Board of Commissioners

The board unanimously approved a July 21 warrant of $323,490.21 and a July 28 warrant of $72,312.31, for a combined $395,802.32. Both votes were unanimous. The board also approved the regular minutes of July 14, 2026, by unanimous consent. The meeting included reports on mental health services, election security, and county clerk activities, according to the official minutes.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals met July 28 and denied a non-use variance for 5965 Northwood Dr in Hayes Township (case PZBA25-001) that would have reduced the front setback for an accessory building. The board also approved minutes from its July 29, 2025 meeting. A temporary use permit request for a snowmobile racing event at 988 Five Lakes Rd in Livingston Township (PZBA25-002) was on the agenda; no decision on that request is recorded in the available materials.

Opioid Settlement Steering Committee

The Opioid Settlement Steering Committee met July 30 to adopt bylaws, review funding notices, and discuss competitive bid and proposal review processes. The agenda included reviewing request-for-proposal and budget documents, discussing the bid timeline, and completing conflict of interest disclosure forms. No decisions were scheduled; the meeting was procedural in nature.

Board of Canvassers

The Board of Canvassers met August 5 to canvass the results of the August 4, 2026 election. The agenda included a period for public comment. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions or results are available.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Otsego County roundup: Board approves $395,802 in warrants, personnel changes advance, zoning variance denied

The Otsego County Board of Commissioners approved two payment warrants totaling $395,802.32 at its July 28, 2026 meeting, the largest financial action among recent county meetings. The same meeting included reports on mental health services, election security, and county clerk activities.

Board of Commissioners

The board unanimously approved a July 21, 2026 warrant of $323,490.21 and a July 28, 2026 warrant of $72,312.31. Members also approved the regular minutes of July 14, 2026 by unanimous consent. The meeting included reports on mental health services, election security, and county clerk activities.

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee on July 24, 2026 unanimously approved three position changes, all referred to the Budget & Finance Committee for further action:

• Increasing the Part-time Operational Maintenance Worker to Full-time, pending financial analysis and a Guardian Flight funding conversation (Unanimous)
• Increasing the Part-time Housing Clerk/Veterans Service Officer to Full-time (Unanimous)
• Changing the title from Groen Property Manager to Groen Building & Grounds Supervisor (Unanimous)

The committee also approved the June 12, 2026 meeting minutes (Unanimous).

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals met July 28, 2026 to consider two public hearings. The board denied a non-use variance for 5965 Northwood Dr, Hayes Township (PZBA25-001), which would have reduced the front setback for an accessory building. The board also approved minutes from its July 29, 2025 meeting.

A temporary use permit was requested for a snowmobile racing event at 988 Five Lakes Rd, Livingston Township (PZBA25-002). Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so the outcome of that permit request is not yet available in the record.

Veteran's Affairs Committee

The Veteran's Affairs Committee met July 21, 2026. The agenda included a review of May 19, 2026 minutes and a discussion of the MVAA FY26 CVSF Grant status. Members also previewed the Northern MI Benefit Fair scheduled for November 5, 2026, conducted clerk interviews, and reviewed several reports, including the Director Report and financial reports for Veteran's Affairs, Burial, and Soldiers Relief. Minutes have not yet been published.

Opioid Settlement Steering Committee

The Opioid Settlement Steering Committee met July 30, 2026 to set up procedures for future opioid settlement spending. The agenda included adopting bylaws, reviewing a notice of funding, request for proposal, and budget documents, discussing a competitive bid process and timeline, discussing proposal review and scoring, and completing conflict of interest disclosure forms. No decisions were scheduled; minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Board of Canvassers — August 5, 2026:** Will review and canvass the results of the August 4, 2026 election. The meeting includes a period for public comment.

Otsego County Board approves $746,630.36 July warrant; committees review airport, parks projects

The Otsego County Board of Commissioners approved a $746,630.36 warrant on July 14, 2026, the largest of three financial warrants authorized at its regular meeting. The warrant, which included 35 voided checks, passed on a 6–1 vote. The board also approved two earlier warrants totaling $347,027.39 and adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 budget calendar.

Board of Commissioners — July 14, 2026

The board approved its regular minutes from June 23, 2026 by unanimous consent, then moved through a series of financial items:

• **June 30, 2026 warrant:** $154,704.83 with 57 voided checks — approved unanimously.
• **July 7, 2026 warrant:** $192,322.56 with 13 voided checks — approved unanimously.
• **July 14, 2026 warrant:** $746,630.36 with 35 voided checks — approved 6–1.

The board unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Calendar, which sets the timeline for the county's next budget cycle.

Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions OCR 26-20 through OCR 26-25, honoring Alpenfest awardees.

The board entered a closed session by unanimous vote to consider attorney-client privileged material, then unanimously approved recommendations from the legal opinion discussed in that session. The minutes do not specify the subject of the legal matter.

Transportation and Building & Grounds Committee — July 9, 2026

This committee met to review airport, transit, and facility matters. The agenda listed discussion of an Airport Camera Contract, a signed Generator Contract, the bid process for a hangar build, and a fuel truck emergency repair. Members were also scheduled to review May 2026 Transportation Committee minutes and receive reports on transit and airport operations.

Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Parks & Recreation Commission — July 13, 2026

The commission's agenda included several new business items:

• **Otsego Lake County Park Electrical Upgrades Project**
• **County Park Road Project**
• **Gaylord Youth Instructional Football INC Special Event Application**
• **EMS Regional Managers Pavilion Usage Request**
• **Road Commission Pavilion Usage Request**

The commission was also scheduled to review previous meeting minutes, budget reports, and old business including Wah Wah Soo Beach erosion and a project list.

Minutes have not yet been published, so no votes or decisions are confirmed.

Coming up

Veteran's Affairs Committee — July 21, 2026. The agenda includes a status update on the MVAA FY26 CVSF Grant, a preview of the Northern MI Benefit Fair scheduled for November 5, 2026, clerk interviews, and reports covering Veteran's Affairs finances, burial, and soldiers relief.