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 May 19, 2026 was approved.
______________________________________________________________________________
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to approve the following consent items:
- Minutes of Previous Board Meetings – May 5, 2026
- Payroll
- Bills
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
CHECK NAME AMOUNT
5/7/26 Barry County Road Commission Payroll $176,184.31
Bills:
5/7/26
| Check Number | Vendor Name | Check Amount |
| 48766 | Advantage Plumbing & Drain LLC | $825.00 |
| 48767 | Air Components, Inc. | $1,718.25 |
| 48768 | Alec Belson | $80.00 |
| 48769 | Argent Institutional Trust Co | $500.00 |
| 48770 | Bauer Built Tire | $10,645.48 |
| 48771 | Bert Keeler | $380.00 |
| 48772 | Best Equipment Company, Inc. | $883.41 |
| 48773 | Black Gold Holdings LLC | $17,796.48 |
| 48774 | Brandy Casey | $80.00 |
| 48775 | Brent Cisler | $12,300.00 |
| 48776 | Brian Donnini | $224.15 |
| 48779 | Capital One Bank | $18,508.78 |
| 48780 | Carleton Equipment Co | $600.00 |
| 48781 | Charles Benedict | $552.54 |
| 48782 | Chris BeBeau | $466.83 |
| 48783 | City Of Hastings | $985.84 |
| 48784 | Corewell Health Occupational | $325.00 |
| 48785 | Culligan Water Conditioning | $84.50 |
| 48787 | D & K Truck Company | $8,649.93 |
| 48788 | Dana Kilmer | $293.14 |
| 48789 | David Liddell | $80.00 |
| 48790 | Dovi Inc. DBA DeVos Insulation | $198,805.60 |
| 48791 | Dylan Kennedy | $80.00 |
| 48792 | Frontline Maintenance & Serv. | $32,355.55 |
| 48793 | Gary Vandecar | $552.54 |
| 48794 | Hastings Ace Hardware | $537.90 |
| 48795 | Huizinga Rebuilding and Truck | $419.23 |
| 48796 | Jake Welch | $80.00 |
| 48797 | John Deere Financial | $57.57 |
| 48798 | JX Enterprises, Inc. | $439.42 |
| 48799 | K M International, Inc. | $36.46 |
| 48800 | Kendall Pranshka | $276.28 |
| 48801 | Key Cleaning Services, Inc. | $981.00 |
| Check Number | Vendor Name | Check Amount |
| 48802 | Kimball Midwest | $1,376.56 |
| 48803 | Lakeland Asphalt Corp | $155,361.58 |
| 48804 | Larry Maupin | $552.54 |
| 48805 | Leaping Lizards | $1,160.00 |
| 48806 | LJ Fluid Power Inc | $30.00 |
| 48807 | Lumen Electric, Inc. | $1,334.64 |
| 48808 | M-43 Auto Body & Mechanical | $3,150.41 |
| 48809 | Mark Weeks | $340.00 |
| 48810 | Michigan Cat | $104,080.72 |
| 48811 | Mika, Meyers, Beckett & Jones | $7,782.50 |
| 48812 | NEXUS RC, LLC | $4,716.63 |
| 48813 | Parts and Service Financing | $3,270.36 |
| 48814 | Patricia Wolf | $276.28 |
| 48815 | Priority Health | $24,602.29 |
| 48816 | Purity Cylinder Gases Inc | $153.63 |
| 48817 | Ridderman Oil | $24,583.86 |
| 48818 | Robert Nagel | $276.28 |
| 48819 | Scott Bond | $80.00 |
| 48820 | Scott Schantz Jr. | $80.00 |
| 48821 | Sherwin Industries Inc | $4,272.05 |
| 48822 | St. Regis Culvert Inc | $147.60 |
| 48823 | Todd Wenzel Buick GMC | $345,592.00 |
| 48824 | Tom Boulter | $35.78 |
| 48825 | Tom Chaffee | $276.28 |
| 48826 | Truck & Trailer Specialties | $158.37 |
| 48827 | UniFirst Corporation | $476.66 |
| 48828 | US Hydraulics LLC | $765.41 |
| 48829 | Wayne Roush | $276.28 |
| 48830 | Weller | $725.00 |
| 48831 | Wightman | $2,500.00 |
| Total | $999,034.59 |
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Steve Shults with Bloomingdale Communications spoke to the Board about a Variance to Utility Permit #2026R00034. They are requesting a bury depth of 48 inches. Mr. Shultz also discussed burying cables at the shoulder of the road instead of the back of the right of way on certain roads that have issues burying at the back of the right of way. Mr. Shults informed the Board that if the cable is in the right-of-way and needs to be moved, they will always relocate it.
Motion was made by Commissioner James and seconded to grant Bloomingdale Communications the variance for Utility Permit #2026R00034 under the BCRC Engineering Departments approval. The BCRC Engineering Department may approve the variance on a case-by-case basis by location. Bloomingdale Communications will provide the required information, and the Engineering Department has the discretion to approve burying cable at a depth of 48 inches and allowing cable placement closer to the shoulder of the road.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
Motion was made by Commissioner Knight and seconded
WHEREAS, the Board of the County Road Commissioners requests the laying out and designating of a drainage district and the location, establishment and construction of a drain, located in Assyria Township, Barry County, pursuant to Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 of Public Act 40 of 1956, as amended; and
WHEREAS, Section 327 of the Drain Code authorizes a board of county road commissioners to file with the Drain Commissioner an application for the laying out and designating of a drainage district and a petition to locate and establish a drain if necessary for the construction or maintenance of any highway to take the surplus water across adjacent lands; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Road Commissioners has determined that the laying out and designating of the proposed drainage district and the locating and establishing of the proposed drain is necessary for the construction or maintenance of Holmes Road to take surplus water across adjacent lands, and is also necessary and conducive to the public health, convenience or welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Board of County Road Commissioners does authorize the filing of an application for the laying out and designating of a drainage district and a petition to locate, establish and construct a drain with the Barry County Drain Commissioner.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Chairperson is authorized to execute the application for the laying out and designating of a drainage district and petition to locate, establish and construct a drain.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary shall forward to the Barry County Drain Commissioner a copy of this Resolution for the application for laying out and designating a drainage district and petition to locate, establish and construct a drain.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
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Motion was made by Commissioner Knight and seconded to authorize Chairman Solmes to sign the Petition for Locating, Establishing and Constructing a Holmes Drain.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
To the Barry County Drain Commissioner:
The undersigned is the Board of County Road Commissioners, Barry County, Michigan. This petition has been duly authorized by the governing body of the Barry County Road Commission and requests that the Holmes Drain be located, established and constructed under the provisions of Chapter 4 of Public Act 40 of 1956, as amended.
The Barry County Road Commission has determined that the proposed drain is necessary for the construction or maintenance of Holmes Road to take the surplus water across adjacent lands and understands that it will be liable for an assessment at large for a percentage of the cost of the proposed drain.
The tentative location of the proposed drain shall be as described in the Order Laying Out and Designating the Holmes Drain Drainage District.
Motion was made by Commissioner Knight and seconded to authorize Chairman Solmes to sign the Application for Laying Out and Designating a Drainage District for Holmes Drain.
ROLL CALL: Yeas, Solmes, James, & Knight
Nays, None
Motion Carried
To the Barry County Drain Commissioner:
The undersigned is the Board of County Road Commissioners, Barry County, Michigan. This application has been duly authorized by the governing body of the Barry County Road Commission and requests that the Holmes Drain Drainage District for the proposed Holmes Drain be laid out and designated under the provisions of Chapter 3 of Public Act 40 of 1956, as amended.
The Barry County Road Commission has determined that the proposed drain is necessary for the construction or maintenance of Holmes Road to take the surplus water across adjacent lands and understands that it will be liable for an assessment at large for a percentage of the cost of the proposed drain.
The proposed drainage district is located in Assyria Township, Barry County, Michigan. The tentative location of the proposed drain is as follows: near Holmes Road.
______________________________________________________________________________
Managing Director Jake Welch gave the Board an update on the FEMA process the Governor is trying to get approved. The Board determined not to move forward seeking reimbursement.
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Pick-up Trucks Bids were opened on May 18, 2026 at 11:00 A.M.
| 2025 GMC 2500 HD Crew Cab SLE Pickups | ||||||
| #250120 | ||||||
| None | ||||||
| #250140 | ||||||
| Scott Simmons | $58,200.00 | 3rd Choice – Awarded 1st Choice | ||||
| #250310 | ||||||
| None | ||||||
| 2025 GMC 2500 HD Crew Cab AT4 Pickup | ||||||
| #250010 | ||||||
| None | ||||||
| 2025 GMC 3500HD Crew Cab SRW SLE Pickup | ||||||
| Bid with or without plow | ||||||
| #250260 | ||||||
| Scott Simmons | $61,100.00 | 2nd Choice – Awarded 1st Choice | ||||
| No Plow | ||||||
| #250270 | ||||||
| Scott Simmons | $61,125.00 | 1st Choice – Awarded | ||||
| No Plow | ||||||
| 2025 GMC 3500HD Crew Cab DRW SLE Pckup | ||||||
| Bid with or wihtout plow | ||||||
| #250370 | ||||||
| None | ||||||
The Board acknowledged the sale of the Pick-up Trucks to the highest bidder.
Managing Director Jake Welch reported to the Board that the trucks not sold through the bid process were being sold through alternative methods.
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Meeting adjourned at 7:29 A.M.
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Secretary Chairman
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