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Updated: November 4, 2026 @ 1:15 am
Wexford County Administrator Joe Porterfield addresses the Wexford County Board of Commissioners during a meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
Staff Writer/Reporter
Wexford County Administrator Joe Porterfield addresses the Wexford County Board of Commissioners during a meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
• The Wexford County Board of Commissioners will consider a $27,109.60 budget amendment to complete radio system upgrades in four patrol vehicles. Commissioners also will consider using a Michigan State Police grant to upgrade fingerprinting equipment at the Wexford County Jail.
• The board will review a request from its legal counsel to waive potential conflicts of interest involving the firm’s representation of both Wexford and Grand Traverse counties in connection with the Shipyard Solar project.
CADILLAC — The Wexford County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss and multiple agenda items connected to the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office during its upcoming meeting Wednesday.
This includes a vote on a budget amendment of more than $27,000 to pay for upgrades to four patrol vehicle radio systems. Commissioners also will vote on upgrading the fingerprinting capabilities at the Wexford County Jail through a Michigan State Police grant.
Wexford County Sheriff Trent Taylor said the total cost of the vehicle radio upgrades is $27,109.60. He said the work will complete the upgrades to the county’s patrol vehicle fleet. While these will be the last vehicles needing radio upgrades, Taylor said the issue likely will need to be revisited in a few years when additional upgrades are necessary related to changes in the technology used.
As for the fingerprinting equipment, Wexford County Jail Administrator Lt. Michael McDaniel said he applied for a grant through the MSP that will allow the county to be reimbursed for the cost of upgrading the Identix fingerprinting machine at the jail.
In addition to a new computer that will run an updated operating system, McDaniel said the grant will allow for the purchase of a new palm scanner, which is used to capture digital fingerprints.
“We currently have one, but this upgrades the one we have. Our current system is not Windows 11 compatible, and this upgrade will allow for it,” McDaniel said.
Also during the meeting, commissioners are scheduled to discuss another waiver of conflict and consent to representation regarding the Shipyard Solar project.
The commissioners are being asked to waive any potential conflict of interest involving the law firm representing both Wexford and Grand Traverse counties in their review of the Shipyard Solar LLC project.
In a letter included in the board’s Nov. 4 meeting agenda packet, Cohl, Stoker & Toskey, P.C., said both counties have requested its legal representation regarding the project. While the firm said it does not believe an actual conflict currently exists, it acknowledged that the counties could eventually disagree over its legal opinions regarding the project.
The firm is asking each county board to review the potential risks and implications of the joint representation and, if agreeable, formally waive any potential conflict.
The board chair would sign the letter to document the county’s consent.
Last month, commissioners approved waiving a potential conflict involving the county’s bond counsel, Dickinson Wright PLLC. The bonds are related to construction of the Wexford County Jail.
The request from the law firm asked the county to acknowledge that there would be no conflict related to its connection with the Ranger Power solar project.
During the board’s discussion last month, Wexford County Administrator Joe Porterfield said he had reached out to the county’s legal counsel at Cohl, Stoker & Toskey. If the county were drawn into any legal issue related to the solar farm, he said, the firm would represent Wexford County.
The board is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the commissioners room on the third floor of the Wexford County Courthouse, 437 E. Division St. The meeting also will be available on YouTube after its conclusion by searching for “Wexford County Board of Commissioners.”
rcharmoli@cadillacnews.com
Staff Writer/Reporter
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