Commissioners approve admin items: tax-letter due date, delinquent-tax interest rate, stipend and janitorial contract; IT hiring discussion tabled

The Saginaw County Commissioners approved several administrative items during the meeting.

Tax notice and interest: Commissioners agreed to add language to the FY27 municipal tax-assessment letter specifying a Sept. 1 payment due date. The board also adopted the state-prescribed 7% interest rate on delinquent tax payments.

Stipend for deputy communications director: The board approved a $200 stipend to compensate the deputy communications director for scheduled desk shifts covering dispatch duties while staffing remains short. Administration said the stipend is paid only for scheduled shifts; the union has agreed to the arrangement.

Janitorial contract: Administration presented two bids for janitorial services. After discussion about hours, scope (consumables), references and local preference, the board accepted the bid from Native Maine Cleaning of Freeport, contingent on references and a contract clause requiring the vendor to perform the full job scope rather than only a reduced number of hours.

IT director job description and hiring options: Commissioners authorized an update to the IT director job description but debated whether to hire a full-time director or contract for IT services. Concerns included 24/7 coverage, costs (estimates of $78,000–$140,000 annually), potential vendor-driven system recommendations and transition risks. The board tabled hiring decisions pending vendor quotes and additional information.