News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Friday, Alpena County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Kozlowski is seen sitting in his chairman seat after the board’s vote to re-elect him.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted on Friday at their annual organizational meeting to re-elect John Kozlowski as the board’s chairman.

The board voted to elect Brenda Fournier as vice-chair, as well.

Kozlowski accepted the position and there was no opposition to his appointment nor was there opposition to Fournier’s appointment.

Kozlowski told The News that he felt honored “that the board would put their trust in me as chair for the upcoming year.”

Kozlowski said that looking forward to what 2026 has in store, his hope is that the board will continue to make improvements on the successes that they’ve had over the last couple years.

“An important one is to be able to maintain a balanced budget as we have done for the last two years,” Kozlowski said. “That has been a huge accomplishment.”

Kozlowski said this was an improvement from “the direction the county was headed in prior to the board working together with all the department heads and most importantly, the county administrator.”

“It has been a team effort to get us moving back in the right direction,” Kozlowski added. “I believe we have had a very productive year thanks to the efforts of all the county employees.”

He stated that the board is continuing to look at ways to make improvements on their previous successes and are looking for new opportunities that will benefit the county moving forward.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer told the board on Friday that starting in 2027 board chairs will be named in odd-numbered years and serve for two-year terms. However, Osmer said that commissioners will have to vote on vice-chairs every year.

At the meeting, board members also approved committee assignments for each board member. Kozlowski noted that committee assignments would not change much for 2026.

“Nothing’s really changed because I think it’s been working,” Kozlowski said. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

Board members approved meeting dates for 2026, as well. Kozlowski explained that if a meeting time does not work for a committee chair then they can make adjustments with their respective committee members.

“That’s totally up to you and your committee,” Kozlowski said.

Per the board’s vote, Alpena County will hold full board meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the County Annex Building in the Howard Male Conference Room.

Likewise, the Facilities, Capital, and Strategic Planning Committee will meet the third Wednesday of each month; the Courts and Public Safety Committee will meet on the third Monday of each month; the Personnel Committee will meet on the first Tuesday of each month.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.