COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners Tuesday formally voted to hire Byce Securiture and Associates of Kalamazoo to design and engineer the facility at a cost of $1.24 million. The selection was made after commissioners interviewed representatives from Byce and three other firms on December sixth.
Commissioners also formally approved county employee insurance for 2019 which continues the hard cap with a wrap option. County Administrator Bud Norman said this option would decrease the premiums to employees but would increase the risk to the county.
The Juvenile Defender contract for 2019 was also approved. Attorney Ralph Stevens plans to transition from the juvenile defense’s role next year as he will continue serving existing cases but any new neglect cases will be assigned to a different attorney. With his reduced case load, Stevens requested his portion be reduced to $60,000. The $12,000 left over will go to the representation on any new neglect cases.
