To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Joshua Freeman, Director of Administration
title
RE: 67th District Court MOU
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Genesee County Board of County Commissioners and the 67th District Court with authorization for the mediation team to sign the MOU.
BACKGROUND:
In 2023, the Board of County Commissioners approved Genesee County’s Capital Improvement Plan (GCCIP). The GCCIP called for the closing of several district court locations. The 67th District Court sued to stop those closures. As part of a settlement agreement, the Court and the County agreed to mediation to come to a final court consolidation agreement. Mediation sessions have concluded with an agreement on a path forward.
DISCUSSION:
The attached MOU is the culmination of several months of mediation sessions. In short, the County and the Court have agreed to:
• Close two satellite court facilities; Mt. Morris & Flushing by August 5, 2025.
• Build a new magistrate hearing room at the McCree Building.
• Commit to building a new court facility, by 2030, in the County Seat that will accommodate the entire District Court, contingent on availability of funding.
• Upgrade necessary technology to accommodate the local communities and local law enforcement agencies.
• Seek no changes to the current District Court election districts/divisions.
• Seek no reduction in staffing because of consolidation
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There should be no impact on Human Resources because of this MOU.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There will be an unknown impact on the budget in effectuating this MOU. Initially, the County will realize savings from the closing of two buildings. Per the Capital Improvement Plan, those savings are to be transferred to the Capital Improvement Fund to help offset facility maintenance. The unknown portion of this will be the final building cost. Staff is currently evaluating proposals for a space study that will guide the consolidation process. That proposal is expected to be presented to the BOC in May. Funding for that proposal will be paid for from the Capital Improvement Fund.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
In reducing the County’s fleet of buildings, Facilities will be able to redirect those resources to other upkeep and maintenance needs of other buildings
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
In reducing the number of physical locations, IT will realize efficiencies in their operations.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Genesee County has prioritized the long-term financial stability of county finances. In reducing our physical footprint, Genesee County will be able to redirect our limited resources towards the more than $80 million in capital needs that Genesee County faces over the next 10 years.
.resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan (“Board”), that the request by the Director of Administration to authorize entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between this Board and the Genesee County 67th District Court (“District Court”), whereby this Board and the District Court agree to:
• Close two satellite court facilities; Mt. Morris & Flushing by August 5, 2025;
• Build a new magistrate hearing room at the McCree Building;
• Commit to building a new court facility, by 2030, in the County Seat that will accommodate the entire District Court, contingent on availability of funding;
• Upgrade necessary technology to accommodate the local communities and local law enforcement agencies;
• Seek no changes to the current District Court election districts/divisions; and
• Seek no reduction in staffing because of consolidation;
is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and MOU being on file with the official records of the April 23, 2025 meeting of this Board), and both the Chairperson of this Board and the District Court Chief Judge are authorized to execute the MOU on behalf of Genesee County and the District Court, respectively.