The Mackinac County jail is in compliance with all regulations, though it is not being adequately staffed, states a report issued by the Michigan Department of Corrections following its inspection of the facility in February. Sheriff Scott Strait broke the news to county commissioners during their Thursday, March 9, meeting, having received the final report earlier in the week.

Commissioners reacted to the development by requesting copies of the report, along with a copy of the letter Sheriff Strait is required to write to the Department of Corrections detailing the steps he is taking to correct the matter.

The county is required to maintain jail staffing and commissioners set the budget for the Sheriff's Office, which includes staffing costs. They had balked at a request last fall during the 2006 budget process, when Sheriff Strait asked for funds for additional jail personnel. At that time, commissioners indicated they were willing to reconsider the matter after the 2006 budget year began.

"Basically, it is a problem that I acknowledge, I understand, but I have no authority or power to fix it, because it requires additional staffing," Sheriff Strait told commissioners during the meeting.

According to the report, jail stations were not adequately staffed at times. The lack of staffing was caused from deputies being called to handle ancillary responsibilities including transporting inmates to court or medical appointments, performing bookings, and searches, explained Sheriff Strait.

Sheriff Strait said he is drafting a staffing plan reqiring minimum expense to the county but which fills the personnel gap by making part time deputies full time county employees. He is expected to present the plan to commissioners at their next meeting.

Sheriff Strait also said inspections take place every 12 to 16 months and the county jail received a clean report during its last inspection.

In another county staffing matter, commissioners discussed new complaints regarding animal control and decided to investigate why hours were not being maintained by the Animal Control Officer Bob Robach and how they will address the issue at a future meeting. Animal shelter issues continue to remained unresolved and have plagued this commission for the last year.

"We have to square this away, the hours have to be met, and the job has to be done," said Commissioner Jim Farero, who is on the animal shelter committee with Commissioner Joe Durm.

Based on a recommendation from county Equalization Director Jim Fenlon, commissioners approved a contract with the Illinois-based company Rockford to produce the county's plat books. The company produced the books in the past, but had required that the county buy the books and then resell them.

Mr. Fenlon was able to negotiate an agreement in which the county will pay for the books after they are sold. Rockford also will use their own maps of the county.

Commissioners are expected initially to order 200 of the books, at a cost of $25 each.

During the February meeting, commissioners had approved a one-year contract for plat book production with PlanSight of Rumely. Commissioners never heard back from the company regarding changes they wanted made to the agreement, which included the company's agreement that it would not charge the county for any needed changes to the maps. PlanSight planned to use the county's digital maps. Since the county was to provide the maps, commissioners did not think they should be charged for changes. Commissioners also wanted the maps returned to the county when the contract ended.

PlanSight planned to charge $28 a book.

Commissioners approved nonattorney magistrate reappointments to 92nd District Court, based on recommendations by Judge Beth Gibson, including Linda Livermore, Judy St. Louis, and Debra Luepnitz.

Nancy Hardy was reappointed to the tax allocation board.

Judy Luoma of St. Ignace was appointed as a new member of the Planning Commission and Ken Drenth, Cheryl Schlehuber, and Oliver House were reappointed to their seats on Planning Commission.

George Ford of Moran was appointed to the Economic Development Commission.

Dean Read of the Planning Commission received board approval to advertise for proposals to complete the county's master plan.

In another matter, County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn advised commissioners that the elevator in the Court House is on a weekly maintenance schedule and may need to be replaced.

Commissioners next meet Thursday, March 23, at 2 p.m. in the commissioners' room in the annex building at the Court House.