The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 10 to adopt the 2027 General Appropriations Act, approving a balanced $23.8 million general fund budget and a 5.043 mill tax levy (the Headley maximum). Commissioners discussed pension contributions, vehicle replacements and the building inspection fund before the vote.

Several residents praised the sheriff and county clerk for coordination on poll security and urged the county to prioritize investigating any unlawful voting; speakers also urged turnout and public education ahead of the midterms.

Planning staff walked commissioners through a comprehensive rewrite of the county zoning ordinance (current code dates to 2008). Commissioners requested more time to review changes, including provisions on data centers, battery storage and short‑term rentals, and agreed to postpone final action until November.

After second interviews with two finalists, commissioners gave the county administrator authority to negotiate a construction-manager contract with Granger for preconstruction services on a proposed law-enforcement facility and approved a $58,000 change order to Abbot Marsh's A/E contract.

Two construction-manager finalists — Clark and Granger — presented technical assessments and millage-campaign strategies in second interviews. Both firms said community engagement, visuals and careful budgeting are keys to passing a bond; Granger emphasized a phased plan to reuse some existing space to stay within a $30M construction target.

County administration relayed a health-department notice that Titan Park is under a no-contact water closure after E. coli tests and Charlton Park carries a swimming advisory. Commissioners were told businesses operating river recreation may be affected.

County administration said two contractor finalists will be invited on Aug. 25 for review and the working base budget for the new jail is $30 million with $5 million in additional charges; final cost remains subject to later determinations.

A commissioner said MDOT awarded West Michigan Trails a wayfinding-signage grant covering design through installation that includes the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail, requiring coordination among multiple jurisdictions including Barry County.

The board adopted resolution 26-20 to pledge full faith and credit for the $4.475 million Duncan Lake intercounty drain bonds, subject to confirmation other counties similarly commit; Barry County's maximum exposure was described as $1.7 million.

A county behavioral-health representative told Barry County commissioners that House Bill 6022 would let Medicaid plans perform inpatient prescreening, raising concerns that multiple entry points could delay required three-hour crisis screenings. Local public-safety and community-health groups oppose the change.

The board opened a public hearing on the Delton Stepping Stones CDBG application; presenter said the project seeks a $1,500,000 CDBG grant to support infrastructure for roughly 45 housing units, with 51% required to serve low- and moderate-income households; one resident spoke in favor.

Heather Wing asked the board to approve millage language for a November ballot measure to fund farmland and open‑space preservation, saying local matching funds are needed to capture state and federal grant opportunities; commissioners expressed concerns about 'millage fatigue' and distribution of benefits.

The planning commission delayed a set of code revisions, including data center rules, and the county is considering a moratorium while it studies utilities, water use, discharge and low‑decibel noise impacts associated with data centers.

The board approved Resolution 26‑19 to contract with Professional Code Inspections (PCI) for state construction code services to Barry County, instituting a shared chief building official arrangement and a fee change that returns 10% of revenues to the county.

The commission approved a contract and addendum with 46 Entertainment and Peachtree Entertainment to provide emergency services and 911 support for the Aug. 8–9 Rock the Country event at the Barry County Expo Center; commissioners and sheriff's staff flagged staffing and union triple‑time cost pressures.

The county board approved Resolution 26‑21 authorizing submission of a CDBG grant application to fund the Delton Stepping Stones housing project and designated the county administrator as certifying officer; Commissioner Bassett said she would abstain while calling the project a community benefit.

During limited public comment, Brian Green expressed support for local clerks and concerns about outside interference; Shelly Lake described a project reviewing 2020 absentee materials and said about 30,000 missing envelopes were found when compared to the qualified voter file — an allegation not substantiated during the meeting.

The Barry County Board of Commissioners authorized acceptance of $12,375 from MDOT to buy a hydraulic broom attachment for runway maintenance and heard an airport update emphasizing recent AWAS funding, taxi-lane repairs and local economic activity tied to aviation and drone manufacturers.

Public comment at the July 14 Barry County meeting featured split views: Brian Green of Barry County Indivisible urged protection of local clerks and warned against outside interference, while Shelly Lake, a local deputy clerk, said her team has found thousands of purportedly missing absentee envelopes from the 2020 Detroit review and has passed evidence to the DOJ; the board did not take formal action on these claims.

The Barry County Board of Commissioners voted 8-0 on June 23 to adopt Resolution #26-18 opposing state preemption of local zoning authority as presented in the proposed Housing Readiness Act.

Jake Welches, director of the Barry County Road Commission, told commissioners the agency bonded $6.2 million, will chip‑seal about 230 miles and undertake five bridge projects this year, and reported the county’s paved roads are 1.8% rated poor — the best in Michigan for the fourth consecutive year.

Facing consultant estimates in the $38–42 million range, the Barry County Board authorized staff to issue RFPs for construction managers to develop pre‑construction engineering options and determine whether the proposed law‑enforcement facility can be delivered closer to a $30–35 million target.

At its June 9 meeting the Barry County Board of Commissioners approved $4,375,845.14 in prepaid invoices, authorized routine claims and reimbursements, appointed residents to several advisory boards, renewed county insurance coverage for FY 2026–27, and adopted Resolution #26-16 naming WMHIP trustees.