Sheriff Scott Strait says that his department now is at a critical point in using up its overtime budget and Mackinac County Commissioners agreed to hold a special meeting Thursday, April 20, to look at the staffing shortage at the county jail.

Sheriff Strait had requested more funding from commissioners last fall when he told them his department was short staffed. Then, during an inspection in February, the Michigan Department of Corrections marked the jail down for not meeting needed staffing levels. At that time, commissioners had asked to see the state's documentation, forgoing any decision to increase staffing levels.

In the last month, one part-time officer resigned to take a full-time position elsewhere and another officer was placed on light duty, the sheriff told commissioners Thursday, April 13. It will cost about $85,000 to bring staff levels up to state standards, he said.

"I don't have anyone to fill sick days, vacation days, time off requests," Sheriff Strait said. "I'm at a point where I'm eating up the overtime budget.

"The comp time issue is becoming more and more problematic because I have to fill all the days off with overtime, and they take comp time for it and they get time off for that, and it's really a vicious cycle," he said.

"We've got to do something and I think this is the time to do it," said Commissioner Joe Durm.

Commissioner Larry Leveille agreed.

"I can see where he's using up a lot of overtime because of shortages, so we're going to have to act on it," he said.

Carl Frazier also agreed, but suggested commissioners delay any action until Dawn Nelson could attend the meeting. She was absent from last week's meeting and Mr. Frazier, as vice-chairman, chaired the meeting.

The commission's slowness in addressing the jail staffing issue has been perplexing to Sheriff Strait, especially since the commission, three weeks ago, agreed to fund a seasonal police officer for Mackinac Island at a cost of 15,241.92, because city officials there said the sheriff does not patrol their city.

There are no county roads on Mackinac Island, although the Sheriff's Marine Division does patrol the harbor and marina and deputies provide assistance during peaks times, such as the yacht race season.

Commissioners also discussed with Sheriff Strait the need for storage for his department's boats and snowmobiles. Sheriff Strait said a building is needed to protect the seasonal vehicles when not in use, and he would research costs and potential locations for the structure and advise commissioners at a later date.

Commissioners Agree To Give $20,000 in Additional Funding

to Senior Citizen Programs

Following a plea for financial help with senior citizen programs in Mackinac County, commissioners agreed to give $20,000 in additional funding to the Community Action Human Resource Authority, Inc. Commissioners made the decision based on the county's increasing senior citizen population.

The Community Action Agency serves Chippewa, Luce, and Mackinac counties and commissioners already have earmarked $10,000 for the agency this year.

Without the additional funds, the agency was facing a $52,128 deficit, partially the result of federal funding cuts and the increased senior citizen nutritional program needs in Mackinac County, Donn Riley, senior services director for the agency, told commissioners. In 2005, the agency served 10,000 more meals than staff had anticipated in the county, with 829 seniors listed as clients, he said.

County money is spent within the county, he told commissioners, and said that earlier in the month, Chippewa County had raised its allocation to $72,000 a year.

Plans Move Forward

on Airport Work

Airport Manager Paul Fullerton brought the commissioners up to date on the airport project he initially told them about in April 2005. The project involves constructing eight airplane hangars, a new taxi way, and drainage work at the airport. The project is estimated to cost $700,000. All but 2.5 percent will be paid for with grants, with the county's contribution about $20,000.

Mr. Fullerton estimated the hangars will generate approximately $15,600 a year in revenue.

SANE Reports Increase in Seizing Crack Cocaine Detective Ken Mills from Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE) provided commissioners with the department's 2005 annual report. An officer was on Mackinac Island last summer and the officer made an impact on the department's work, he said.

In 2005, SANE arrested 226 people on drug charges, with the agency covering seven counties, including Chippewa, Emmet, Luce, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Mackinac, and Otsego.

One ongoing investigation of powder cocaine in the St. Ignace area has led to some arrests, with more forthcoming.

One ounce, or 28 grams, of cocaine costs $1,000, he explained.

Officers also doubled the number of seizures made for crack cocaine last year, from 40 in 2004 to 86 in 2005.

Commissioners took no action on a letter they received from Treasurer Jane Hampton along with a list of properties that have reverted to the county for nonpayment of 2003 taxes. The letter also was sent to cities and townships in the county. If the local unit of government decides to purchase any of the reverted property, it must be for public use only. Any remaining property is scheduled to be offered at public auction in mid-July.

Commissioners will meet April 20 on the Sheriff's payroll request. Their next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at the county's annex building.