News Photo by Reagan Voetberg The Huron Undercover Narcotics Team board of directors meets on Thursday morning.

ALPENA — The Huron Undercover Narcotics Team (HUNT) board of directors on Thursday discussed and adopted the HUNT operating budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1.

The budget is balanced with $1,258,463 in revenue and expenses.

The Michigan State Police are expected to contribute $890,888 for the wages and benefits of troopers they employ on the HUNT team. They are also expected to contribute $24,570 for the use of their office space and utilities.

The City of Alpena, Alcona County, Alpena County, Montmorency County, and Presque Isle County all contribute $8,000 for operating expenses, and Rogers City contributes $5,000.

HUNT is expected to receive $65,964 from the Byrne grant, which is a federal grant that provides funding for criminal justice programs. The application for the grant has been submitted and is in the review process, MSP District Seven Task Force Commander D/F/Lt. Nathan Groya said. They asked for around a $500 increase from the previous fiscal year.

Also in the budget is a $500 expense to maintain HUNT’s web page, which is one of the only narcotics task force teams in Michigan to have a website.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

~ Assistant HUNT Team Commander D/Sgt. Scott Wood reported on recent drug cases going through the courts, including Jeffrey Kortman who was convicted of multiple drug charges in Presque Isle County and John Sherwood who was recently found guilty on all counts by a jury trial in Alcona County. Sherwood will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

~ Reported that the three newest officers added to the HUNT team are doing well.

“They are off and running and doing a good job,” Groya said.

~ The board of directors voted in favor of exploring different savings options for HUNT’s adjudicated forfeiture funds. Those funds are currently in a standard savings account, Groya said. They are thinking of moving the money to a money market or high yield savings account. The funds are just savings and have not been used for anything in recent years.

~ The board of directors approved the purchase of a new vehicle to replace an old one for use by HUNT officers.

~ The board of directors approved the purchase of a bulk order of HUNT coffee mugs to distribute to community partners.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.