Contracts are up for renewal January 1 for the jobs of Mackinac County animal shelter manager and animal control officer, and the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners has decided to make the two positions fullfledged county employees, rather than contracted services positions. The board is accepting applications for the two positions until Friday, December 4, at 4 p.m.

Animal shelter manager Ginger Valentine is re-applying for that position, and animal control officer Wendy Frosland is re-applying for that job.

Changing the positions from independent contractors to county employees will give the board more regulatory power, County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn said. In the past, if either position received a complaint, the commission could only listen to it and terminate the contract. As county employees, the positions will be directly accountable to the board.

Mrs. Frosland said there may also be advantages to the employee if the jobs become full-fledged county positions, such as more regular hours.