Alpena County committee approves two emergency-management grants, asks treasurer to add grant-match line item

The Grants and Contracts Committee voted March 12 to approve two emergency-management grant applications and to request the county treasurer create an expense line for grant-match funds.

Emergency Management Director Nic Modrzynski presented the FY25 Emergency Management Performance Grant application and recommended acceptance. The committee approved renewal of the EMPG award in the amount of $3,536.00 with an in‑kind county match of $1,768.00 and directed revenue posting to line item 101-426548.000. Former Emergency Management Director Kim Elkie told the committee the county's EMPG allocation has declined in recent years.

Modrzynski also presented the MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security Divisions 2025-26 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant application. The committee approved the HMEP application for $1,500.00 with a $300.00 (20%) in‑kind contribution and authorized the Local Emergency Planning Committee Chair to sign necessary documents.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer told the committee there is no current budget line for grant-match funds and requested that the treasurer create one. Commissioners Lucille Bray and John Kozlowski supported the request and the committee approved creating an expense line for grant-match funds in the Emergency Management budget.

All recorded votes on these items were unanimous: Commissioners Lucille Bray, John Kozlowski, and Dan Ludlow voted to approve the grants and the line-item request. The committee did not specify additional conditions; staff will proceed with required grant documentation and the treasurer will be asked to establish the requested line item.