County Commissioners finalized 2006 salary increases for the county’s elected officers, including raising their own salaries at a meeting Thursday, October 27. All elected officials will receive a two percent increase effective January 1, except for the county clerk, who will receive a three percent raise. In addition to the two percent increase, the prosecutor will receive a $3,000 one-time bonus. Commissioners will not see their two percent increase until January 2007. They also raised the mileage rate paid for travel.

Beginning January 2006, salaries will be $44,278.96 for the clerk, $42,826.55 for the treasurer, $41,800.69 for the register of deeds, $73,993.61 for the prosecuting attorney, $47,435.99 for the assistant prosecuting attorney, $48,708.22 for the sheriff, and $44,270.40 for the undersheriff.

Commissioners gave Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn the added increase to compensate her for potential new duties now that they have eliminated the assistant to the board. Commissioners were not sure what additional duties she would take on, but Mrs. Tamlyn speculated they might need help with situations involving the building and grounds. Grant seeking was not discussed.

The $3,000 bonus for Prosecutor W. Clayton Graham was proposed by Commissioner Joe Durm and tied to the vote for the raises. Prior to that, Commissioner Jim Farero had proposed elected officials receive their raises and he and Larry Leveille voted in favor, but Dawn Nelson and Joe Durm voted against the motion. With Commissioner Carl Frazier was absent, the tie vote was considered a “no” vote, which then opened up the floor for Mr. Durm to make the same motion with the addition of the $3,000 one-time bonus for the prosecutor. The motion passed, 3-1, Mr. Farero voting no, saying that he is concerned the board is opening itself up to other departments asking for bonuses for additional work.

The bonus for Mr. Graham is for working on a civil suit over 9-1-1 mapping, contract reviews, and other matters that are outside his normal duties as counsel to the commission.

The commissioner two-percent increase will not take effect until January 2007, because state law stipulates commissioners are not allowed to increase their own compensation unless it is effective “beginning the first odd numbered year after the determination.” With the increase, salaries will be $4,222.80 for commissioners and $5,049 for the chairperson. Those amounts also affect the County Road Commission.

The mileage rate for county employees while on county business was increased from 37.5¢ per mile to 48.5¢ per mile, which is the Internal Revenue Service mileage rate. The new rate goes into effect November 1.

Commissioners made no changes to the pay structure for meetings and meal allowances. County and road commissioners, along with the canvassing board, election commission, jury board, and plat board members, will continue to receive $60 per day for meetings. The county meal allowance includes $7 for breakfast, $7.25 for lunch, and $16.50 for dinner.

Moving on, commissioners officially certified the millages of the 11 townships in Mackinac County. The cities of Mackinac Island and St. Ignace have charter millages and are not certified by commissioners.

In another matter, commissioners agreed to purchase 10 cellular telephones at a cost of $2,400 per year after the first year cost of $5,940, which includes equipment. The phones will be used by the Sheriff’s Department, Judge Tom North, and Prosecutor Graham. The request was made by Sheriff Scott Strait and will allow the department to seek warrants and other legal requests, and for communication that can not be done by radios. The portable telephones now used in the county will soon be obsolete, Sheriff Strait said. He noted some officers have been using their own phones.

Commissioners agreed that the sheriff could seek bids to have his building re-keyed as a security measure that is supposed to be done every few years. They also agreed to change the counter window in the sheriff’s office to a sliding and locking glass. The glass now used does not open and it is difficult to hear through it.

The department received $29,500 in grants for an all terrain vehicle (ATV) for enforcement and safety education classes. The department will purchase two ATVs and have $13,000 available to cover operations.

In other business, commissioners approved a bid from Graphic Sciences of Royal Oak for $12,802.20 to transfer microfilm to a computer disk in the register of deeds office. The project cost had been estimated at $21,000. The funds will come out of the technology fund, which has a balance of approximately $33,000.

Commissioners meet Thursday, November 10, at 1:30 p.m. in the commissioners’ room at the County Annex.