Commissioners, Officials, Road Board Get Pay Hike
Mackinac County Commission
By Karen Gould

A 3% increase in salaries for the coming year for some elected Mackinac County officials was approved by commissioners October 25. Non-union employees are soliciting a 70¢ per hour increase in pay. For now, commissioners have tabled any decision on that until they can review county policy, although they say the raise likely will be approved.

County commissioners voted to give themselves an additional $50 on days they attend more than one meeting. They continue to earn $60 each day for the first meeting they attend. The decision caps each commissioner's daily payment at $110.

The board's annual salary of $4,222 for commissioners and $5,049 for the chair will remain unchanged. Road commissioners receive the same annual salary, and both boards are entitled to health care benefits.

Two weeks after approving the additional $50 payment for a second meeting for themselves, county commissioners amended their decision to include road commissioners. Viewed as an oversight made during the October meeting, the county board corrected the error at its November 8 meeting.

Elected officials who addressed commissioners with salary requests this fall will receive a 3% increase next year, including the clerk, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, and sheriff. Treasurer Jane Hampton, who did not appear before the commission, will receive a 1% increase in pay beginning January 1. Each salary was voted on separately and all votes were unanimous during the October meeting.

Mrs. Hampton will receive $43,254.83, up from $42,826.56. Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn, who earns $46,098.97, will receive $47,4819.39 next year. Register of Deeds Diane Frankovich, now at $43,620.69, will receive $44,9293.11. Now at $50,315.59, Sheriff Scott Strait's salary will move up to $51,825.51 and Prosecuting Attorney Fred Feleppa will receive $76,213.43, increased from $73,993.62.

Commissioners said they will address Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kayla Nixon's salary at her first-year anniversary of hire in March.

A 3% increase in pay also was approved by the county board for Undersheriff Darrell Sadler, who now earns $45,731. For 2008, his salary will increase to $47,102.93 annually.

As part of their annual salary resolution, commissioners set a rate of $60 per day for meetings for county organizations including the Canvassing Board, Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission, Housing Commission, Jury Board, and Plat Board. The board members also will receive 48.5¢ per mile for travel, as will county officers and jurors.

Meal allowance will remain at $8 for breakfast, $8 for lunch, and $20 for dinner.

Commissioners and road commissioners receive the meal allowance when traveling on out-ofcounty business.

Except as provided by law, all fees generated by county officers will be added to the general fund.

Commissioners directed the county treasurer to deposit all general fund monies in the First National Bank of St. Ignace, Central Savings Bank, and National City Bank at the direction of the commission. Funds to be deposited include those received, those received in the future, and those received in the name of the treasurer.

The remaining 2008 budget process has slowed as commissioners have yet to decide on a request by non-union employees for a 70¢ hourly increase. Commissioners also have tabled the union's request for an increase in life insurance benefits from $20,000 to $60,000.

After a lengthy discussion on the wage and classification program, commissioners agreed they need to review the program's guidelines. They expressed concerns that unless the language approving the nonunion increase is precise, some employees could tap into the pay hike twice and receive a $1.40 per hour raise in 2008.

"We need to sit down and iron this out before we put it in ink," said Dawn Nelson, commission chair, "but our intent fully is to give a 70¢ raise."

Commissioners must adopt the county's 2008 budget by year's end.

During the November 8 meeting, the commission tabled a grant request from Charlie Vallier for $10,000 to be used for architectural drawings for a new building for the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway. In 2006, the County Commission gave $10,000 to help establish the vintage snowmobile museum.

Mr. Vallier was unable to attend the meeting.

"Until we get through the budget the first time," said Mrs. Nelson, "I think we need to know whether we have this money or not. We certainly would be very favorable, if we have the money."

Commissioners Larry Leveille, Calvin "Bucky" McPhee, and Mike Patrick agreed.

"As far as I'm concerned, it is a good boost to the west end," said Mr. Leveille, "and well thought out and well put together."

From July through October, said Commissioner Carl Frazier of Naubinway, 1,000 people have visited the museum.

"They've got a really good group of dedicated people working on this," he said.

The commission began granting funds to county projects in 2006 in a process that bypassed the county's Economic Development Corporation, after deciding the group had made little progress to improve the county'seconomy.

Since then, the commission has given out $55,000 for projects, including the St. Ignace lighthouse, the proposed North Huron Scenic Pathway, the Clark Township Recreation Park development, the Naubinway snowmobile museum, and a planned park on the old railroad dock in St. Ignace.

The next regular meeting of the commissioners is Thursday, November 29, at 3:30 p.m. at the County Courthouse annex building in St. Ignace.