LANSING — The Michigan Association of Counties wants to work with the Legislature to tweak the Michigan Open Meetings Act and make it easier for county commissioners to conduct business remotely.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Open Meetings Act allowed members of a public body to attend, participate, and vote remotely at county board meetings so long as a quorum was physically present at the meeting location.

That rule was changed because of the pandemic in 2020 and allowed an entire board of commissioners to meet and vote remotely. The temporary rule change expired at the end of 2021, but the change impacted the pre-pandemic rules, which now ban remote participants from voting even if a quorum is physically present in the room.

Now, MAC wants to work with the Legislature to allow elected officials on county boards to meet remotely if needed or at a minimum allow board members to vote remotely if a quorum of the board meets in person.

Alpena County Commissioner Bob Adrian said the county proved during the pandemic, when it made significant investment in its technology to improve the quality of remote meetings, that it can meet and be effective when conducting business remotely. The board often met from different locations on video meeting platforms like Zoom last year and things worked out. Adrian said most county meetings still have a video or phone option today and it also makes it easier for people who want to attend the meeting, to do so from home, and also make public comment if they choose.

He said he favors having a quorum in person at a meeting, but a person who is logged into the meeting from another location shouldn’t be punished and not allowed to vote.

“When a person is at the meeting, but just not there physically, I think they should be allowed to vote,” Adrian said. “The tech is here and I don’t think a person who may be ill or injured, or can’t be there in-person should not be allowed to participate in a vote. We shouldn’t exclude anyone.”

In a press release Wednesday, MAC outlined its legislative goals to help its member counties.

In addition to the Open Meetings Act change, among MAC’s priorities are having the state continue to invest in protecting and improving Michigan’s local and public system for mental health.

The press release says MAC supports further investment and expansion of innovative integration models. An integration model brings together the police and community mental health services to find help for those who suffer from mental health issues. County governments want to continue to play a vital role in oversight so the mental health system remains closely connected to the community.

During her State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed her desire to work with Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature to provide additional support for mental health issues in Michigan.

Stephan Currie, executive director of MAC, said in a written statement that MAC and the counties were pleased at the prospects of receiving more support and financial assistance.

“Our county members who are entrusted with oversight of the local mental health system were pleased to hear the governor cite mental health as a priority for the year ahead,” he said “As the governor develops her budget plans, we hope to see more about long-term investments in local government stability and in water, transportation and broadband infrastructure utilizing the historic opportunity presented by federal COVID aid and the state’s strengthening economy.”

MAC also called for an 8% increase in revenue sharing for counties, and to have a revenue sharing trust fund established to ensure proper funding doesn’t fall victim to annual state budget politics.

MAC is also looking for a way for counties to recoup some of its lost tax revenue from property tax exemptions granted to veterans from the state.

Currie said in a press release that MAC establishes its list of priorities annually after receiving correspondence from the counties and focuses on topics that suit a majority of them.

“These goals reflect months of meetings and discussions by our policy committees of elected county leaders, by our Board of Directors and by our membership,” said Stephan Currie, MAC’s executive director. “These items constitute the ‘Regional Agenda,’ if you will, from Michigan’s original regional governments, our 83 counties.”

Michigan Association of Counties 2022 legislative priorities

∫ Revise the Open Meetings Act to meet the demands of the 21st Century

∫ Protect and improve Michigan’s local and public system for mental health

∫ Enact reform to ensure proper funding of local courts

∫ Compensate counties for revenue lost from the Veterans Property Tax Exemption

∫ Adopt the MI Roadmap to use America Rescue Plan funds for historic investments in Michigan

∫ Create a fair revenue sharing system for counties