County Braces for 12% Health Insurance Hike
By Karen Gould

With 2008 budget planning underway, county commissioners say they are bracing for a projected 12% increase in health insurance costs, which would add more than $42,500 to the county's expenses.

Meeting Thursday, September 13, commissioners discussed, but took no action on, the possibility of employees sharing in the cost of heath care insurance, a practice being used by other organizations.

The county pays $356,000 a year for employee health insurance and its insurance agency, Cheeseman Insurance Agency of St. Ignace, is expected to advise commissioners of 2008 insurance costs in October.

In other business, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kayla Nixon gave commissioners an update on the Circuit Court case on the water level in East Lake. Commissioners had petitioned the court in July to establish and set a permanent level for the lake. They also asked the court to set the legal level at five feet and to order the county to construct a fixed seal dam.

The case was heard by Circuit Court Judge Charles Stark Friday, September 21, who adjourned the hearing until more information could be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality. The next court date was not set.

During Thursday's meeting, commissioners gave Mrs. Nixon a nine-month extension to seek proposals for the construction of the dam and to establish the special assessment district to pay for the dam's costs.

The matter was triggered in January, when East Lake property owners requested county commissioners establish a fixed lake level, saying the lake level was too low.

Commissioners appointed John Monville and Jeri Huyck to the County Board of Canvassers. The board reviews and certifies election results and is responsible for conducting requested election recounts. Kathy Wells and Dorothy Paquin also sit on the board.

Commissioners agreed that the county would act as a pass-through agency for any grants received by the E.U.P. Community Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. of Sault Ste. Marie. The agency has applied for an $8,000 grant from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The center serves Mackinac, Chippewa, and Luce county residents and provides mediation services to resolve issues. Disputing parties often are referred to the center by the courts. Geraldine Stelmaszek is director of the organization.

Belonga Plumbing and Heating of St. Ignace was the low bidder for bathroom renovations planned at the courthouse. Belonga bid $5,577, while Mark and Sons Plumbing and Heating, also of St. Ignace, bid $6,699.25. Owner Mark Mullins attended the meeting and reminded commissioners that bids need to be opened and reviewed as advertised. He said commissioners opened the bids September 11, but not at 3 p.m. as scheduled.

Commissioners apologized for the confusion, explaining they took no action then because the opening occurred at a committee of the whole meeting. Mr. Mullins rejected their offer to rebid the project and requested they follow procedure at their next bid opening.

Commissioners set committee of the whole meetings for October 4 and October 18 for budget work. They plan to adopt the elected officials' salaries at their meeting Thursday, October 25.

The commission's next regular meeting will be Thursday, September 27, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mackinac County Courthouse annex building.