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)(Public Safety)
Indigent defense funding and staffing
Grants bring in outside funding, including $20,680 for the recovery program, at no direct county cost.
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.
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.
Operation Northern Exposure mass-casualty exercise
Seasonal staffing vacancies
Seasonal wages start at $17.34/hour; vacancies could strain park operations in peak season.
Countywide AED Deployment
Costs the county $82,650.
Community Recovery Alliance Presentation
2027 EMS Ambulance Purchase
Cost of the ambulance purchase was not stated in the materials provided.
Medical Examiner transition
$42,180 per year in administrative fees through the end of 2029.
County Emergency Operations Plan Updates
Hazard Mitigation Plan awaiting FEMA
FEMA approval can unlock federal hazard mitigation grant dollars for the county.
Active hazardous-materials site plan reviews
The grant could offset remediation costs that would otherwise fall on the county.
Fairgrounds emergency and security planning
Sheriff's Office Patrol Rifle Funding
$30,000 in private donation funds for patrol rifles.
St. Ignace Mutual Aid Agreement
No cost is stated — each agency pays its own personnel and keeps its own equipment.
District Sanitary Code Enforcement Amendment
No direct cost to residents is spelled out; the change is about enforcement authority, not fees.
Indigent Legal Representation Contract Amendment
Jail video surveillance upgrade grant
The county's share of the $430,000 project would be reduced by up to $50,000 in reimbursed grant funds.
Federal Operation Stonegarden Grant
$68,250 in federal funds for law enforcement operations.
Family Attendance at Community Impact Events
Decisions during term (2)
Recorded while Gutowski was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Voting record (0)(Public Safety)
No votes found matching Public Safety.