County Gives $10,000 to Two Projects
Ports of Mackinac, Project Hope Get County Funds
By Karen Gould

Kayla Nixon, assistant prosecuting attorney, will receive a 3% increase in her salary following her first year of service. This was one of several financial decisions Mackinac County commissioners made at their Thursday, March 27, meeting. They also granted $10,000 to the Ports of Mackinac Web site project and $10,000 to Project Hope.

Mrs. Nixon, who attended the meeting, had asked for an 8.5% increase. While commissioners say she has done a good job on her first year with the county, they agreed they could not increase her pay more than other county officials, although they did agree to review her work and consider an increase in six months. Hired at $42,000, she now will earn $43,260.

The county commission granted $10,000 to St. Ignace Area Project Hope. Pastor Jim Balfour and volunteer coordinator Connie Litzner attended the meeting, seeking $5,000 from the county. The church-based organization provides emergency assistance to families in need. Aware that families are struggling this winter with high heating costs and fuel prices, commissioners said they appreciated the work the organization was doing and decided to give $10,000.

With the books closed for 2007, a late funding request from the City of Mackinac Island for $10,000 for road work matching funds now will come from the county's 2008 budget. The late request was an oversight in billing from the Island, said Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn.

Municipalities within the county each receive up to $10,000 for roads in a three-way match program among the county, the road commission, and the municipality, providing it contributes an equal amount. Since 2003, the county has provided the Island with a matching grant.

Commissioners approved payment of $10,000 for start-up costs for a Web site that will highlight the ports of Mackinac County. In January, Cheryl Schlehuber, Janet Peterson, and Mark Sposito, all of St. Ignace, had requested support for the project. The comprehensive Web site, they told commissioners, will boost tourism.

With requests for grants due March 31, commissioners agreed that the county would act as a pass-through agency for grants from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce and St. Ignace Area Project Hope.

The chamber is seeking $4,550 for improvements to enhance the appearance of its State Street office lot, including moving the flagpole and replacing the sign and rotting landscape timbers.

Hope is seeking $15,000 from the tribe to help pay down the loan taken to purchase and remodel its building, or the grant could be directed to services the agency provides to families in need.

Commissioners also approved the final invoice for $1,250 to eChamber Connect of Ann Arbor. The company is working with the county on establishing a new Web site. Progress has slowed on the site's completion, said commissioners, noting it is the busy time of year in the Equalization Department, which is overseeing the project. While it was initially expected to be online in March, now commissioners are hoping to see the work finished by the end of April.

Confusion over pipe repairs needed at the jail has commissioners considering rebidding the project. Sheriff Scott Strait, who sought the bids, did not attended the meeting. Commissioners now plan to contact him to request specifications be incorporated into the bid documentation. Larry Belonga of Belonga Plumbing and Heating and Mark Mullins of Mark and Sons' Plumbing and Heating, both of St. Ignace, bid on the work and were given project details verbally. Both men attended the meeting.

The project includes replacing a rusting galvanized pipe with copper piping in the jail. The cold water pipe is in the ceiling and the job requires demolition of the old ceiling, replacing the piping, and constructing a new ceiling.

Commissioners plan to discuss the issue with the sheriff, and did not set a new bid deadline at the meeting.

Following a presentation earlier in March, commissioners at the meeting agreed to adopting a new life insurance program for the county. The new program will save the county about $1,500 and allows employees the option of taking the life insurance with them if they leave their county job. Employees leaving the county must take over the policy payment. Eligible employees receive a $20,000 life insurance plan, while commissioners and department heads receive a $60,000 life insurance benefit. Commissioners are working with Vincent Babcock of Employee Benefits Agency of Marquette, and the insurance is with Mutual of Omaha.

The county can change carriers as long as the benefit is not reduced.

The county's personnel policy booklet will be sent for review to attorney Bonnie Toskey of Cohl, Stoker, Toskey, and McGlinchey in Lansing. Commissioners agreed the policies need to be updated and the general review should include spelling out appropriate computer and Internet use in county offices.

A request to enter into a lease agreement for a copier/fax machine was postponed and commissioners now say they will contact the 92nd District Court, which is requesting the agreement. Considering the cost presented by the court, commission- ers said they probably will seek bids for the machine. Commissioners question the monthly lease payment of $111 for five years. Total cost of the machine would exceed $6,700. Commissioners noted the Equalization Department has just purchased a copier for about $1,200.

The next regular meeting of the commissioners is Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at the County Courthouse annex building in St. Ignace.