County Commissioner· 2023-01-03–2028-12-31 (oath of office administered to all commissioners January 3, 2023 per Emmet County BOC minutes of Jan 3, 2023; term through December 31, 2028: MCL 46.410 sub. 2 gives commissioners elected at or after the 2024 general November election a 4-year term beginning January 1 following the election, so the current term runs January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028; earlier service before 2023 not sourced)
Brian Gutowski
Emmet County
No biography on file yet.
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Top issues during term (20)
Text amendment on storage uses
New rules could limit where storage businesses can build and shrink the pool of viable industrial parcels.
Materials Management Plan public hearing
No county match required; grant grows by $77,056.
Indigent defense funding and staffing
Grants bring in outside funding, including $20,680 for the recovery program, at no direct county cost.
Sale of county parcel 06-12-14-100-002
The county would receive $544 for the parcel.
Master Plan chapter reviews
A prior county transit effort reportedly spent significant money and failed, per Laughbaum — a caution he raised against transit language.
FY2027 Community Corrections Grant Application
The grant amount isn't set yet, but approval keeps funding flowing for local diversion and supervision programs.
Older Citizens millage renewal
Distributes senior millage funds as presented for 2027.
Pellston airport contaminated soil removal
Up to $562,950 paid directly from county funds.
County building roof projects — Pellston Airport and Bay Bluffs
County funds for kitchen equipment replacement at Bay Bluffs; contract amount not stated.
Jail inmate phone and video rates under new FCC rules
Costs the county roughly $5,350 a year in reduced revenue from the inmate phone/visitiation contract.
Underutilized Adult Crossroads Program
Only $508.20 of the program's $7,389.64 budget has been spent so far, leaving most of the allocation unused.
Emmet County Master Plan update
A prior county transit effort reportedly spent significant money and failed, per Laughbaum — a caution he raised against transit language.
Lake Shore Drive reconstruction
U-Haul commercial storage deferral relief
Could affect the amount of tax or deferred revenue the county collects on U-Haul's commercial storage property.
DTE proposed pipeline communication
CDBG Chill grant close-out
Closing out the grant finalizes accounting on state grant funds already received.
2026 fair finances and ticket pricing
Ticket prices of $20-$25 per event shape fair revenue, with concert sales already at $46,884.
Petoskey Curling Club at the Fairgrounds
The club ended the season with roughly $8,500 on hand after covering about $8,000 in construction and operating costs.
MDARD Electrical Grant and Grandstand Improvements
About $16,000 for installation and ten speakers, with sponsorships being sought to offset the cost.
Airport Winter Operations and De-icing
Equipment and de-icing operations affect airport operating costs; amounts weren't specified.
Decisions during term (179)
Recorded while Gutowski was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Agenda (grants, recovery program agreements, minutes)
Claims, Committee and Travel Voucher Approval
DPW- EGLE Material Management Planning Grant Amendment
Sheriff- Smart Communications Second Amendment
Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) FY27 Grant
MIDC Attorney Administrator Agreement
MIDC Attorney Agreements
Closed Session on attorney-client legal correspondence
Fair Advisory Board reappointment (Pam Gibson)
DHHS/Bay Bluff Board reappointment (Manual Cordova)
Historical Commission appointments
Materials Management Planning Committee resignation (Darcy Wright)
Brownfield Redevelopment Authority resignation (Brittany Garst-Hall)
Consent Agenda Motion
October 5, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Approval of Agenda
Consent Agenda Motion
Jed Avery Request for Relief from Commercial Storage Deferral
Timothy Davis Request for Relief from Commercial Storage Deferral
Agreement for Extension Services with MSU Extension
Voting record (48)
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