In a series of sometimes-awkward resolutions over the course of a week, the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners has hired Cedarville resident Lorie Thompson as the county's animal control officer and hired Ginger Valentine of St. Ignace as the animal shelter administrator, who will oversee all operations of the county's animal control program.

The hiring took place at a commission meeting Wednesday, December 30.

Both women will be bona fide county employees under a new commission policy. Formerly, both positions were contracted to individuals, with Mrs. Valentine operating the shelter and Wendy Frosland of St. Ignace Township serving as the county animal control officer.

Because Ms. Thompson is not yet certified by the Department of Agriculture for her new role, the Mackinac County Sheriff's Department will respond to emergency animal complaints, such as dog bites or injured animals. Sheriff Scott Strait said his office will not respond to lost or missing animal calls or any other animal matters not deemed to be an emergency. He said he will handle emergency calls on the east end of the county, the undersheriff will handle calls on the west end, and that 911 Coordinator Bryce Tracy has volunteered to handle emergency animal calls in the cen- tral portion of the county. Calls usually are made to 911.

Meanwhile, the county will ask the Michigan Department of Agriculture to certify Ms. Thompson based on some 30 years of experience she has in animal care, including rescue, and an associate's degree she holds in criminal justice. Barring certification, the county will have to submit a training plan to include some or all of a required 100 hours of instruction, which can be taken in formal classes or earned by shadowing animal control and law enforcement professionals. Either way, the commission has been advised, she cannot work in the field by herself until such certification is obtained, although she can work at the shelter with Mrs. Valentine.

Mrs. Thompson began work January 4, although neither she nor Mrs. Valentine have been assigned a wage. That decision could come as early as Thursday, January 7, when commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. for that purpose. Also on the agenda for Thursday will be to set a training period for which Ms. Thompson is expected to be certified, if that will still be required.

Their pay likely will be tied to other county employee wages, which are being negotiated. Under her old contract with the county, Mrs. Valentine has been paid $19,188 a year and has a budget of $3,000 to hire additional help to cover her time off. County Commission Chair Dawn Nelson said at a meeting Monday, January 4, that the board will have to decide whether to start her now as a new employee or to begin her county wage based on her three years service at the shelter. Frosland's contract with the county paid her $18,910.50 annually and required her to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as the animal control officer.

Commissioners changed its animal control program from contractbased employment to county employment on the advice of its attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service and because it seeks to have more control over the policies and operations there.

Mrs. Nelson announced that the county hopes to be able to continue its relationship with the Mackinac Animal Aid Association, which pays to keep animals at the shelter beyond the time the county allows and which spays, neuters, and pays for medical bills for shelter animals.

The commission's selection of Ms. Thompson came as a surprise to Commissioner Calvin "Bucky" McPhee and to Ms. Frosland, who said Mr. McPhee had told her she had been rehired and told commissioners she was attending the December 30 meeting to go over working assignments.

Mr. McPhee's motion to hire Ms. Frosland that day died for lack of a second, and Mrs. Thompson was hired on a 4-1 vote, with Mr. McPhee voting against the selection and Commissioners Larry Leveille, Carl Frazier, Mike Patrick, and Mrs. Nelson voting for it, Mrs. Nelson stating that complaints received about Ms. Frosland prompted the commission to hire Ms. Thompson, the only other candidate to be interviewed for the position.

Jo Ford of the Mackinac Animal Aid Association (MAAA), replied in Mrs. Frosland's defense that the nature of the position lends itself to complaints.

At a subsequent meeting Monday, January 4, Mr. Leveille said he would like to rescind his vote of December 30 and cast it for Ms. Frosland, instead, stating he didn't feel he had all the facts about the complaints made against Mrs. Frosland.

Mr. McPhee asked on Monday to discuss the whole matter in closed session, but was told by the commission's attorney, Richard McNulty, that the commission could not do so. Mr. McPhee also suggested the county could not hire an animal control officer who is not already certified, but Mr. McNulty said the commission could do so with the stipulation that the person not perform the duties of an animal control officer until a certificate is issued and that it hire on condition that the certificate be obtained within a reasonable amount of time. He said the sheriff or any law enforcement officer could perform the functions of an animal control officer in the meantime.

Mrs. Ford said December 30 that MAAA will continue its services at the shelter, but noted that Ms. Thompson is a member of Friends of the Animals, another animal care group that has had an estranged relationship with MAAA since 2004. She suggested that group would now be able to see who is making donations to MAAA and is concerned that having the two groups working in close proximity to each other will cause friction.

Another concern was raised by the commission about one of Mrs. Valentine's part-time assistants at the shelter, Donna DesJardins, who is related to Mrs. Valentine. Commissioners said Mrs. Valentine's administrative role and county employment might trigger a nepotism clause that would prevent Mrs. DesJardins from continuing to work there. Mr. McPhee said he believes she should be allowed to continue to work at the shelter, considering her nearly five years of experience.

"It's going to be hard to find someone who knows what she does," he said.

Most of the other commissioners agreed, saying they had never encountered any problems with Mrs. DesJardins working at the shelter. Mrs. Nelson said she is unsure if two relatives should be working together.

Both the part-time jobs at the shelter will become county positions and so applications must be taken and interviews granted to all eligible candidates, she noted. Applications are being accepted until January 13.