County commissioners tackled a wide variety of issues at their Thursday, April 14, meeting, including making a final decision on animal shelter services and deciding to advertise for two openings on the Economic Development Corporation board. They approved a contract for work on the County Fact Book and received updates from Sheriff Scott Strait and 92nd District Court Judge Beth Gibson. The commission took no action on a request from insurance representative Jack Gordon that it reinstate him as one of two county insurance representatives.

Commissioners also agreed to spend $7,500 for a mapping project and authorized the purchase of computer software to protect county files. They received a committee report on plans for the addition of a new dam on South Manistique Lake, and continued their ongoing discussion of a need for an assistant.

County commissioners unanimously approved a contract with U.P. Engineers for $19,300 to complete the County Fact Book. EDC Director Michelle Walk said the EDC and County Planning Commission members had met and chose Gove Associates of Kalamazoo as their first choice to complete the project. Their second choice was U.P. Engineers of Sault Ste. Marie. Members were concerned as to whether travel expenses were included in the bid from Gove. Ms. Walk later learned that those costs were not included in the bid. The decision then was made to award the contract with U.P. Engineers, with the county commission’s approval.

When completed, the Fact Book will be used in writing a county-wide master plan and will help county organizations in their grant applications. It will be a source of county information, including history, culture, environment, agriculture, population, housing, economic development, and human services in the county.

In another EDC matter, commissioners agreed to advertise to fill two vacant board positions on the EDC and will review the applications at their Thursday, May 12, meeting. Deadline to apply for the openings is Friday, May 6.

“I don’t think we can just get anyone off the street. It needs to be someone who has a passion for EDC and what their mission statement is,” said Chair Dawn Nelson.

Ms. Walk said there is the potential for a third opening because one member has not been attending the meetings, which is a violation of the organization’s by-laws. Ms. Walk said she would contact that board member.

“We need people on that board that are willing to put in some man-hours in between meetings,” said Ms. Walk.

Mrs. Nelson suggested that maybe a full time EDC director will eventually be needed, supported by a grant or funding other than from the county.

In the next few months, Ms. Walk said she would look into how other counties are supporting full-time directors.

A lengthy discussion ensued among commissioners with George Ford from Mackinac Animal Aid Association before commissioners decided to let Ginger Valentine of St. Ignace take over the contact for the cleaning of the County Animal Shelter and care of the animals at the rate of $1,000 per month. Mrs. Nelson voted against the assignment based on principle, she said after the meeting.

Commissioners said they were surprised to read in the April 7 issue of The St. Ignace News that the county was working on a contract with Mrs. Valentine when, in fact, commissioners understood that Mr. Ford was going to submit the name of an individual to Mrs. Nelson for commissioners to consider. Mr. Ford apologized and said he had forgotten to do that because he had gotten emotional regarding Lela Robach’s situation. Mrs. Robach turned in her resignation at the last commission meeting for health reasons, and died several days later. In the meantime, Mrs. Nelson received another application for the position.

Commissioners also were surprised that the contract presented for Mrs. Valentine was for more money than Lela Robach was paid and wording in the contract had been changed. At the commission’s request, Mr. Ford and Mrs. Valentine agreed to adhere to Mrs. Robach’s contract. The contract will expire December 31, 2005.

Mr. Ford also informed commissioners of a mud problem in the shelter’s kennel run and in the parking area. Gravel was added with the help of community service workers and volunteers.

He said he is working with St. Ignace schools to recruit students for community service, which is required for graduation, by teaching students about the business of shelters and careers associated with animal care.

Sheriff Scott Strait told commissioners he is talking with Vital Care about a possible contract for a resident nurse program and standby physicians at the Mackinac County Jail. This would reduce the need for transports to and from doctors’ offices and, at the same time, provide in-house medical care for inmates. Vital Care provides pharmaceuticals for inmates. Sheriff Strait said he would bring the contract costs and comparative transport costs to the next commission meeting.

In March, he said, the jail had a daily average of 26 inmates. It has 28 beds. There were 24 transports.

The new washer, dryer, refrigerator, and freezer commissioners approved for the county jail have been delivered and installed, he said.

Judge Beth Gibson said she is working with sheriff departments in both Mackinac and Luce counties to develop a system for video arraignments, so some prisoners don’t have to be transported to and from hearings.

She also told the board that case filings are up 39 percent.

Commissioners approved Judge Gibson’s purchase of a $12,560 dot matrix printer to be paid for through the Drug and Alcohol Case Load Assistant Fund. The current printer is more than 10 years old.

Commissioners authorized Equalization Director Jim Fenlon and Assistant Director Ken Gilmore to spend $7,500 for parcel mapping with Manatron, Inc. of Portage. The total cost is $10,000, but Mr. Fenlon said they would like to see if the program will work before committing to the whole amount. The software will marry the county’s digital maps so all township boundary lines, subdivision lines, and other landmarks will meet when they are put together.

Commissioners also authorized the Equalization Department to spend $850 for software that will protect the county’s computer system, and commissioners approved $300 a year for support of the software.

A brief review and discussion took place between commissioners on their need for an assistant. They decided to continue to monitor their needs and would make a decision by September on whether the position will be maintained or eliminated. The position was filled in March by Cindy Oliver of St. Ignace.

The board took no action on Jack Gordon’s request to be reinstated as an insurance representative for the county. Commissioners terminated the services of Mr. Gordon of Oscoda last month. The county now relies solely on the Cheeseman Agency of St. Ignace.

Commissioner Carl Frazier gave the board an update on the Manistique Lake Dam Committee, which is considering building a new dam on South Manistique. Mr. Frazier said if the dam is built, Mackinac County would be the caretaker for it because South Manistique Lake is in this county. The current dam is on Manistique Lake in Schoolcraft County. Mr. Frazier said there would be another meeting later in the month.

The county is seeking sealed bids for a survey to create a metes and bounds description in the Carnegie Trail area. The county deeded the land to the state around five years ago, however, the county board believed the property was 17 acres, but it is not.

Helen Thompson was reappointed to the Jury Commission. The commission maintains a roster of eligible jurors.

The next county commission meeting is Thursday, April 28, at 1:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ room at the county annex building.