The Isabella County Board of Commissioners approved a $7,500 grant to increase recycling education. They also had a presentation to implement a financial forecast early which would help predict the county's budget, approving medical examiner positions and installing a mural at Coldwater Lake Family Park.

Education and outreach in Michigan grant

The $7,500 grant was offered by the Michigan Recycling Coalition. The money will go to informational items, such as brochures, and outreach to communities to help increase education about recycling, Brian Smith, county administrator, said.

The board also approved Materials Recovery Facility Operator, Helen Lee, to represent the county on the Heartland Material Management Planning Committee. The committee works to create a sustainable waste management plan to collect and dispose of recyclables, organic materials and solid waste properly.

“Recycling education increases the amount of recycling we do,” Tobin Hope, district 7 representative, said. “The heartland management committee, in conjunction with several other counties to increase recycling in mid-Michigan.”

Financial forecasting

The Isabella County Financial Director Chris Witmer presented a financial forecast to the commissioners using a scenario software, which helps predict data across 10 years, to show revenue growth for the county.

Ethan Wallace

Part of Chris Witmer's 10-year forecast scenario showing the fund reports across each fiscal year for different county operations, such as central government and public safety on April 8, 2026. (CM-Life | Ethan Wallace)

“This (forecast) is designed for us to use as a tool so we can answer a few just basic questions,” Witmer said. “Are we structurally balanced? What can we afford? What are our long-term financial impacts of the decisions we make now?”

Witmer said the program can help determine if they are investing their money the best way they can. She said that instead of going with a lease, they could use a bond to see long-term growth.

For example, even if they don't see growth in the first few year, the forecast can determine if it will pay off in the future.

Smith said the software would help make budgeting easier and allow the county to plan more easily for the future.

Witmer encouraged the county to implement the program within the next two years because they will be forced to regardless because the county's current software won't support them in 2030.

She said that moving data from the current data to the cloud will require time and will save money the sooner it is done.

There are some drawbacks to the forecast since it can’t plan everything, Witmer said. It only plans for current expenditures and not any potential costs or new revenues.

She said it is not a replacement budget system but is a tool to help plan costs.

Medical examiner investigator positions

The county commissioners approved six part-time positions for Medical Examiner Investigators (MEI). The county commissioners approved of Sparrow Health Services at their meeting on Dec. 16, 2025.

Through Sparrow, the county can hire local MEIs who can get to scenes faster than from people in Lansing, Smith said. The investigators would also have to be approved by Sparrow.

Jerry Jaloszynski, district 3 representative, said the Sparrow contract said that sometimes when a loved one dies at home or in an accident, then it could take an hour or two until a MEI comes to the site.

Having examiners come sooner, it can help improve the hardship if families had to wait for an examiner, Jalozynski said.

Coldwater Lake Family Park mural

In other news, the county got another grant for $3,200 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. The grant will be used to create an outdoor mural at the Coldwater Lake Family Park.

The grant would cover most of the cost, while the county would pay $800, Smith said.

While there were no details about the mural, according to the document from the Parks and Recreation Director, Alexis Hansen, the mural will be at one of the park's most popular pavilions. The location will be accessible for campers and daytime visitors to see the art installation during the camping season.