Washtenaw County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

County boards review $25M brownfield deal, $10.7M mental health budget

This week, several Washtenaw County boards and committees met to review budgets, land deals, and program updates. Minutes from these meetings have not yet been published, so no final decisions are recorded. The most significant items on the agendas included a $25 million infrastructure agreement for a brownfield redevelopment project and a $10.7 million annual budget for community mental health services.

Brownfield redevelopment

The Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority met Aug. 13 to consider multiple reimbursement agreements and work plans. The board reviewed a three-party agreement for Arbor South with the City of Ann Arbor, which includes $25 million in trunkline infrastructure. It also considered an amended restated agreement for Broadway Park, updating a 2020 capture and an 18-year limit, and an EGLE work plan for Water Street in Ypsilanti, which would establish a sub-committee for a $500,000 grant and $300,000 loan from the DCC. The board also reviewed a Phase II assessment grant application for the 90 Maple Ypsi Historic Depot, with a cost-share of $11,550 to $13,550 with the DCC.

Mental health and millage

The WCCMH Quality-Finance Committee met Aug. 10 to review the Fiscal Year 2027 draft annual budget, a financial status report for the period ending June 30, 2026, and a program committee dashboard for FY26 Quarter 2. The committee also reviewed a performance improvement report and a semi-annual recipient rights report.

The WCCMH Millage Advisory Committee, also meeting Aug. 10, reviewed a financial update showing $5,124,773 in actual year-to-date spending against a $10,652,400 annual budget. The committee heard a presentation on the Packard Health (KnewJoy) Healing Brothers United program, which addresses mental health challenges for Black men and boys in the county. It also reviewed Washtenaw Intermediate School District updates, including a High Fidelity Wraparound program partnering with 18 families and more than $80,000 in mini-grants awarded to 34 public schools. A millage RFP update was on the agenda.

Parks and land conservation

The Parks and Recreation Commission met Aug. 11 to vote on several contracts and agreements. Items included an architectural and engineering design contract amendment for EWCRC, a grant agreement for Parker Mill County Park, a fishing dock engineering contract for Rolling Hills, and multiple land conservation purchases under the Natural Areas Preservation Program, including agreements with Houle, Zahn, and Seabury. The commission also considered roofing and repair contracts for Park Lyndon and Parker Mill.

Other meetings

The Washtenaw County Food Policy Council met Aug. 12 to discuss its 2026–2027 strategic plan, review the Resilient Washtenaw Plan, and plan election-year outreach, including a candidate forum. The council also received updates on food waste, nutrition, zoning, and pollinators.

The Material Management Planning Committee met Aug. 19 to vote on proposed bylaws amendments and discuss the siting process for a landfill proposal. Public comment was limited to two minutes per person.

Coming up

The Washtenaw County Environmental Council will meet Aug. 25 to review a $220,000 Michigan State Police grant for county-wide hazard mitigation planning, discuss wildfire smoke impacts on air quality, and receive updates on the Towner Campus solar installation and the Ecorse Corridor Climate & Health Project. The meeting includes public comment and a discussion on tree protection policies.

Board of Commissioners approves $2.36M shelter plan, tables healthcare millage

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved a $2,355,560 winter sheltering plan and tabled a healthcare millage ballot resolution at its Aug. 5 meeting. The board also failed to advance an E911 surcharge increase.

Board of Commissioners

The board voted 9-0 to approve $2,355,560 for the 2026-2027 winter sheltering plan, which includes $100,000 for a daytime warming center and a minimum of $50,000 for homelessness services on the western side of the county. The amendment allocating the western county funds passed 8-1.

A resolution to place a healthcare millage on the November ballot was tabled after the board amended it to 0.25 mil. The vote to table was 5-4. The board then approved a resolution directing the county administrator to propose non-millage healthcare funding options by Nov. 4, 2026, with a 6-3 vote.

A proposal to increase the E911 surcharge and place it on the ballot failed 4-5.

The board also approved opioid settlement advisory committee appointments, the 2026-27 indigent public defense budget, and a tentative agreement with the Public Defenders Association, each by 9-0 votes.

Other recent meetings

• The Environmental Council met July 28 to discuss herbicide and pesticide use concerns after a resident complaint about spraying at County Farm Park and the Recreation Center. The agenda also included review of Tree and Woodland Protection Policies and MMPC Draft Goals. Minutes have not been published.

• The Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee met July 28 to consider conservation easements for the Zahn and Seabury properties. The agenda included recommendations for a 147.566-acre farm in Sharon Township and a 156-acre farm in Saline Township. Minutes are not yet available.

• The same committee met Aug. 5 to consider three conservation easement recommendations. The agenda included a $543,000 easement for a 121.534-acre property in Lima Township, a $239,700 easement for a 147.566-acre property in Sharon Township, and a tabled easement for a 156-acre property in Saline Township.

• The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee met Aug. 3 to hear presentations from Therapeutics, LLC, and the Washtenaw County Trial Court, along with updates from the Washtenaw County Health Department.

• The Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane met Aug. 4 to receive updates from the U.S. EPA, Michigan EGLE, and local governments on 1,4-dioxane contamination. The agenda included residential well sampling results and a review of dioxane migration in Scio homeowner wells.

• The Board of Canvassers met Aug. 6 to canvass the Aug. 4 primary election and certify containers if necessary.

• The Board of Commissioners held a working session Aug. 5 with no formal votes. Presentations covered the Woodlawn Cemetery Restoration Project and the Winter Shelter Plan & Homeless System Updates. Public comment focused on support for funding the Daytime Warming Center.

Coming up

• The WCCMH Millage Advisory Committee meets Aug. 10 to review a $10.7 million budget and hear a presentation on the Packard Health (KnewJoy) Healing Brothers United program.

• The WCCMH Quality-Finance Committee meets Aug. 10 to review the FY 2027 draft annual budget and financial reports.

• The Parks & Recreation Commission meets Aug. 11 to vote on contracts including NAPP land purchases and trail design.

• The Washtenaw County Food Policy Council meets Aug. 12 to discuss its 2026-2027 strategic plan and election-year outreach.

• The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority meets Aug. 13 to vote on reimbursement agreements for Arbor South, Broadway Park, and Water Street, and to consider a Phase II assessment grant for the 90 Maple Ypsi Historic Depot.

County board set to vote on $14.3M public defense budget; late-July advisory meetings await minutes

Washtenaw County's Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote Aug. 5 on a $14,324,184 indigent public defense budget for 2026-27 and a resolution placing a healthcare access millage on the November 2026 ballot — the most consequential items in this week's county meeting calendar. Several advisory boards met in late July, but minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes of those sessions are not confirmed.

Board of Commissioners — Aug. 5 (upcoming)

The Board of Commissioners has multiple action items scheduled:

• Vote on a **$14,324,184** indigent public defense budget for 2026-27, which would create 5 new positions.
• Resolution to submit a healthcare access millage question to the November 2026 ballot.
• Approval of a **$400,000** purchase of residential property for Community Mental Health use.
• Ratification of a **$2,727,537** state grant for prosecutor offices to reduce caseloads.
• Authorization of a **$105,555.91** salary for a new Immunization Nurse Coordinator position.

A separate Board of Commissioners working session the same day includes a discussion on the African American Cultural and History Museum with Dr. Debby Covington and a presentation on winter sheltering.

Recent meetings — agendas only, outcomes not confirmed

All four meetings below were held July 22-28. Only agendas are available; minutes have not been published, so the items listed reflect what was planned, not confirmed results.

Community Action Board — July 22

The board was scheduled to approve the FY27 Community Action Plan and review the Community Needs Assessment, now open for public review. Routine approvals of the July agenda and May meeting minutes were also planned, along with program updates from OCED staff and two public comment periods (3-minute limit per individual).

Board of Health — July 24

The Board of Health was set to act on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Health Department Budget. The agenda also included a kindergarten oral health assessment presentation and discussions on a Cyclosporiasis outbreak and air quality response. Summer Health Day was noted for Aug. 5.

Environmental Council — July 28

New business included discussion of herbicide/pesticide use concerns after a resident complaint about spraying at County Farm Park and the Recreation Center. Old business covered ongoing review of Tree and Woodland Protection Policies and MMPC Draft Goals. Upcoming engagement events listed: Green Fair on Sept. 18 and Summer Health Days on Aug. 5 at 555 Towner St. An in-person public meeting was proposed for September or October at the County Lodge in Superior Township.

Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee — July 28

The committee discussed conservation easement recommendations for the Zahn property (156-acre farm in Saline Township) and the Seabury property (147.566-acre farm in Sharon Township), plus updates on appraisals and comparables and a progress report on in-progress properties.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee:** Presentations from Therapeutics, LLC (Tina Strimpel) and Washtenaw County Trial Court (Kristin Sample), plus updates from the Washtenaw County Health Department.
• **Aug. 4 — Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane:** Updates from the U.S. EPA and Michigan EGLE, including 2026 residential well sampling results, the Parkland Plaza development proposal and monitoring wells, and a Polluter Pay Bills update with the Michigan legislature.
• **Aug. 5 — Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee:** Scheduled votes on a **$543,000** conservation easement for the 121.534-acre McCalla property in Lima Township along Jerusalem Rd and a **$239,700** easement for the 147.566-acre Seabury property at 4608 Sylvan Rd in Sharon Township. The Zahn easement at 10786 Macon Rd in Saline Township is tabled pending NATAC and USDA ACEP-ALE updates.
• **Aug. 12 — Washtenaw County Food Policy Council:** Discussion of the 2026-2027 strategic plan, review of the Resilient Washtenaw Plan, election-year outreach planning including a candidate forum, and updates on food waste, nutrition, zoning, and pollinators.

Washtenaw County boards set stage for August primary, review dioxane data and brownfield projects

Washtenaw County committees and boards met throughout the second week of July 2026 to prepare for the August 4 primary election, review groundwater contamination data, and weigh brownfield redevelopment agreements totaling tens of millions of dollars. All meetings listed below were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so items are described as scheduled for discussion or action, not as final decisions.

Election preparations advance

The Election Commission met July 7 to finalize preparations for the August 4, 2026 Primary Election. The agenda included approval of early voting sites and pay rates, appointment of an election inspector and chairperson for five County-Coordinated Early Voting Sites, review of forms and test ballots from equipment testing, and a Public Accuracy Test of voting equipment.

The Board of Canvassers met July 15 to approve minutes from its May 15 meeting, hold a training session, and plan the August primary election canvass. No policy or financial items were listed.

Brownfield Authority weighs Emerald Glen and Ann Arbor plan amendment

The Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority had the most dollar-heavy agenda of the week at its July 9 meeting. The board was scheduled to act on a reimbursement and affordable-housing agreement for the Emerald Glen project in Manchester, which includes 6 rent-restricted units, a 10% annual admin/LBRF capture, and $2,000 per year for plan implementation. The board was also set to act on an Act 381 MSHDA work plan for the same project.

A separate item introduced a major amendment to the Village of Ann Arbor Brownfield Plan, raising eligible activity costs from $31,371,716 to $39 million and adding a $5.7 million public connector road. The board was scheduled to vote on creating a sub-committee to review the amendment form. A July 2026 financial report was listed for information only.

CARD reviews 1,4-dioxane well results and Parkland Plaza

The Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane met July 7 to hear updates from the US EPA and EGLE on 1,4-dioxane contamination. Agenda items included 2026 EGLE resident well sampling results, the Parkland Plaza development proposal and the fate of monitoring wells on that parcel, an update on Ann Arbor's 1,4-dioxane from Erin Donnelly, a review of 1,4-dioxane migration in Scio homeowner wells by Dan Bicknell, and a Polluter Pay bills update with the Michigan legislature from James D'Amour. Old business included updates from Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor Township, Scio Township, and the City of Ann Arbor.

Police Services Steering Committee discusses 911 surcharge

On July 10, the committee was scheduled to discuss the 911 surcharge, led by Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, and hold a consultant/facilitator conversation led by Commissioner Katie Scott. The agenda also included review of May draft minutes regarding PSU budget actuals and millage subsidies.

Materials Management and Food Policy Council

The Material Management Planning Committee met July 8 to consider draft bylaws amendments for August, discuss the siting process and requirements, review new member feedback, and approve June 10 meeting minutes. Public comment was limited to two minutes per person.

The Washtenaw County Food Policy Council met the same day to vote on approving June meeting minutes and the agenda, hear public comment, receive subcommittee updates on food waste, food access, planning, pollinators, and inclusive justice, and hold a working session on election-year outreach logistics and a strategic planning session for a resilient Washtenaw County.

Coming up

The Washtenaw County Community Action Board meets July 22, 2026, with action items including approval of the FY27 Community Action Plan and May meeting minutes. The Community Needs Assessment will be open for public review, with two public comment periods limited to three minutes per individual.