Chairman Solmes called the regular meeting of the Barry County Road Commission to order at the Road Commission’s Board Room at 6:30 A.M.
Members present: Solmes, James, Knight, and Managing Director Jake Welch.
The agenda for January 27, 2026 was approved.
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Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to approve the following consent items:
- Minutes of Previous Board Meetings – January 6, 2026
- Payroll
- Bills
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
CHECK NAME AMOUNT
1/15/26 Barry County Road Commission Payroll $168,439.01
Bills:
1/15/26
| Check Number | Vendor Name | Check Amount |
| 48336 | Aaron Boeske | $480.00 |
| 48337 | Adam Nieland | $480.00 |
| 48338 | AIS Construction Equipment Cor | $469,998.00 |
| 48339 | Alec Belson | $222.98 |
| 48340 | Allegan County Road Commission | $200.00 |
| 48341 | Barry County United Way | $1,893.02 |
| 48342 | Bauer Built Tire | $1,145.00 |
| 48343 | Ben Byle | $485.02 |
| 48344 | Bert Keeler | $380.00 |
| 48345 | Brandy Casey | $439.74 |
| 48346 | Brent Cisler | $480.00 |
| 48347 | Brian Donnini | $80.00 |
| 48348 | Brian Heath | $480.00 |
| 48349 | Bronson HelpNet | $283.50 |
| 48351 | Capital One Bank | $23,463.71 |
| 48352 | Carleton Equipment Co | $152.96 |
| 48353 | Charles Benedict | $552.54 |
| 48354 | Chris BeBeau | $80.00 |
| 48355 | City Of Hastings | $985.84 |
| 48356 | Cody Metzger | $480.00 |
| 48357 | Consumers Energy | $7,563.12 |
| 48358 | Culligan Water Conditioning | $121.00 |
| 48359 | D & K Truck Company | $7,579.74 |
| 48360 | Dana Kilmer | $480.00 |
| 48361 | David Daniels | $691.99 |
| 48362 | David Liddell | $80.00 |
| 48363 | Delta Dental | $61.08 |
| 48364 | Detroit Salt Company LLC | $35,142.90 |
| 48365 | Donald & Lisa Johnson Jr. | $3,000.00 |
| 48366 | Dr. Hooks, Inc. | $51.49 |
| 48367 | Dylan Kennedy | $192.84 |
| 48368 | Floyd’s Electric Service Inc | $345.00 |
| 48369 | Frontline Maintenance & Serv. | $32,355.55 |
| Check Number | Vendor Name | Check Amount |
| 48370 | Gary Vandecar | $552.54 |
| 48371 | Granger | $191.29 |
| 48372 | Greg Shook | $1,154.16 |
| 48373 | Hastings Ace Hardware | $243.60 |
| 48374 | HealthEquity | $23,585.28 |
| 48375 | Ironclad Environmental | $19,216.00 |
| 48376 | Jake Gorr | $45.00 |
| 48377 | Jake Welch | $944.98 |
| 48378 | Jesse Alexander | $120.00 |
| 48379 | Jim Raulston | $807.97 |
| 48380 | Johnnie Stayton Jr. | $480.00 |
| 48381 | Jonathan Norris | $480.00 |
| 48382 | Joshua McConnon | $480.00 |
| 48383 | Kaiden Shumway | $1,368.40 |
| 48384 | Kendall Pranshka | $276.28 |
| 48385 | Kimball Midwest | $1,074.36 |
| 48386 | Lake Michigan Credit Union | $3,043.63 |
| 48387 | Larry Maupin | $552.54 |
| 48388 | Liana Vickery | $480.00 |
| 48389 | Lincoln National Life Ins | $1,229.96 |
| 48390 | Luke Selby | $480.00 |
| 48391 | M & K Quality Truck Center | $621.99 |
| 48392 | MacAllister Rentals | $225,750.00 |
| 48393 | Mark Weeks | $340.00 |
| 48394 | Michael Hoebeke | $120.00 |
| 48395 | Mike Hull | $1,180.19 |
| 48396 | Mike Keeler | $480.00 |
| 48397 | Patricia Wolf | $276.28 |
| 48398 | Precision Computer Solutions | $12,307.00 |
| 48399 | Preferred Credit Union | $4,761.36 |
| 48400 | Priority Health | $23,933.77 |
| 48401 | Purity Cylinder Gases Inc | $929.58 |
| 48402 | Quadient, Inc | $98.85 |
| 48403 | Rex Ferris | $480.00 |
| 48404 | Rob Garrett | $480.00 |
| 48405 | Robert Nagel | $276.28 |
| 48406 | S & M Liquid Tirefill Inc | $2,679.79 |
| 48407 | Scott Bond | $80.00 |
| 48408 | Scott Schantz Jr. | $80.00 |
| 48409 | Scott Swen | $480.00 |
| 48410 | Sean Satterly | $680.00 |
| 48411 | State Installation & Service | $1,049.60 |
| 48412 | Stephan Satterly | $480.00 |
| 48413 | Tom Boulter | $480.00 |
| 48414 | Tom Chaffee | $276.28 |
| 48415 | Truck & Trailer Specialties | $5,981.24 |
| 48416 | Trystyn Yoder | $480.00 |
| 48417 | UniFirst Corporation | $450.90 |
| 48418 | Valley Truck Parts, Inc | $313.60 |
| 48419 | View Newspaper Group | $164.00 |
| 48420 | Wayne Moore | $480.00 |
| 48421 | Wayne Roush | $276.28 |
| 48422 | Yellow Rose Transport, Inc. | $41,569.60 |
| Total | $975,269.60 |
The following bids were opened on January 15, 2026 at 11:00 A.M.
Internet Network Upgrade
| Bidder | Bid Amount | Alternate Bid Amount |
| Global Data Technologies | $18,342.30 | $20,322.30 |
| Grand Valley Integration Inc. | $29,300.00 | No Alternate Bid Submitted |
| Lake Michigan Technology LLC | $64,400.00 | $71,002.00 |
| VanBelkum Companies LLC | $56,886.90 | No Alternate Bid Submitted |
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to award the 2026 Internet Network Upgrades at Management’s discretion pending post bid opening interviews and not to exceed the amount of $72,000.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Overhead Hoist
| Bidder | Amount |
| Advantage Plumbing & Drain, LLC | $37,487.05 |
| Lift Solutions | $30,780.00 |
| Morgan Site Services | $20,483.00 |
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to award the Overhead Hoist to Advantage Plumbins & Drain, LLC and not to exceed the amount of $40,000.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Well Replacement
| Bidder | Amount | |
| Kraai Well Drilling | $63,116.00 | |
| $41,316.00 | Alternate Bid | |
| West Shore Well Company, LLC | $92,110.00 |
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to award the 8” Steel Well to Kraai Well Drilling and the amount not to exceed $64,000.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to set the bid date of February 26, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. for Crack Seal Blocks, Culverts, Dust Control, Scraper Blades, and Traffic Control Signs.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Managing Director Jake Welch and Equipment Superintendent Scott Schantz traveled to Virginia to evaluate a Shoulder Pulling Machine. They presented the Board with the pros and cons of purchasing this new style of equipment.
Pros: The Shoulder Pulling Machine would allow the BCRC to use fewer pieces of equipment and less personnel when pulling shoulders. The BCRC plans to pull approximately 60 miles of shoulders per year and anticipates this work could be completed in six weeks using this machine. Additionally, other counties have expressed interest in seeing the machine and may potentially be interested in renting it from the BCRC.
Cons: This is a new style of machine that has not yet been used in Michigan, and its use would be limited specifically to shoulder pulling.
The seller has offered BCRC the opportunity to pay to demo the Shoulder Pulling Machine with the option to purchase.
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to proceed with the demo and potential purchase of the Shoulder Pulling Machine, with the purchase cost not to exceed $365,000.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Managing Director Jake Welch gave the Board an update on the Little Thornapple River Inter-County Drainage Board Meeting. The Inter-County Drainage Board agreed to pay for Design and Construction Engineering costs for the Martin Road, Jordan Road, and Brown Road bridges. They also committed to similar funding arrangements on the remaining structures on the same water course into the future.
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Motion was made by Commissioner James and supported by Commissioner Knight
WHEREAS, Act 143 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1943, as amended (“Act 143”), authorizes the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Barry (the “Road Commission”) to borrow money in anticipation of future Michigan Transportation Fund revenues and to issue its notes for county road purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Road Commission has determined the need to borrow money and issue notes (the “Notes”) in a maximum principal amount of $6,220,000 to pay for construction, improvement, maintenance and repair of county highways and related general county road purposes permitted by Act 143, as more specifically described in Exhibit A hereto (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Act 143, the Road Commission may issue its Notes in the maximum principal amount authorized by the County Board of Commissioners for authorization; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and in the best interest of the County for the Road Commission to request the Barry County Board of Commissioners to authorize the issuance of the Notes in the not to exceed principal of $6,220,000 to pay for all or a portion of the cost of the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- The Road Commission hereby approves the Project and the estimated principal amount of the Notes to be issued in the not to exceed amount of $6,220,000 to pay the costs of the Project.
- The Road Commission hereby requests the Barry County Board of Commissioners authorize the Road Commission to borrow money and issue the Notes in the not to exceed principal amount of $6,220,000 for the Project in accordance with Act 143.
- The Secretary of Road Commission is hereby authorized and directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the Barry County Board of Commissioners.
- All resolutions and parts of resolutions in conflict herewith shall be and the same are hereby rescinded.
EXHIBIT A
BARRY COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION
PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR ACT 143 NOTES
The proceeds of the Notes shall be used for construction, improvement, maintenance and repair of County highways, bridges, and other general county road purposes, including, but not limited to, the reconstruction, chip sealing, and seal coating of roads and bridge structures, on County primary and secondary roads, including, for example and without limitation, the following: North Ave, Lohers Landing Dr, Podunk Lk Dr, Cedar Creek Rd. Ackers Pt Dr, Kingsbury Rd, Barger Rd, E. State Rd, Banfield Rd, Hickory Rd, Sager Rd, and related engineering and financing costs.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Matt Toburen of Nexus RC demonstrated the new app currently being developed for the Barry County Road Commission. Mr. Toburen reviewed the development process and the work his company has completed with input from Jake Welch and Dylan Kennedy. He then provided tablets to the Board and management so they could sample and test the app.
Commissioner James was excused from the meeting at 8:38 A.M.
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Meeting adjourned at 9:50 A.M.
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Secretary Chairman
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