Legislation May Pave Way for Road Match

Pending legislation may be the answer to reinstating the county's road match program. A state bill that has passed the House last week and now is at the committee level in the Senate would specifically allow the county, by resolution, to transfer surplus general fund money the county road fund to be used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of highways under the direction of the board of county road commissioners.

The information was included in a legal opinion released by county commissioners during their Thursday, January 28 meeting. a January 14 assertion from a township supervisor that the match program is legal, the county's attorney, Richard McNulty of the Lansing firm Stoker, Toskey and Mc- Glinchey, reiterated his opinion that it is illegal for the county to give money from the general fund directly to townships. The road match program's legality was debated December 30 after county commissioners had asked their attorneys to investigate the legality of the arrangement.

Thursday, the attorney also suggested commissioners seek Senator Jason Allen's support of the bill, and recommended the commission send a resolution in support to the House, Senate, and governor, contact the Michigan Association of Counties for assistance, and inform the townships so they can show support of the measure.

Commissioners agreed to send a copy of the opinion to the county's 13 units of government and the county road commission, although they made no resolution of support for the bill during Thursday's meeting and may take up the matter at a future meeting. They did, however, express support of the match program.

Mr. McNulty also opined that if one or more townships challenged his opinion or the Michigan attorney general opinion on the issue, the court could rule in favor of using county personal and property tax funds for the road program.

In previous years, the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners budgeted $130,000 for the program, which included $10,000 for road projects in each of the county's 11 townships and two cities. The townships matched the funding, as did the road commission.

Questioning the program's legality, county commissioners did not include road match funding in this year's budget.

Union Contracts

Commissioners were advised that agreements were just reached with both unions representing county employees, although the contracts had not yet been signed. The previous contracts expired December 31. The courthouse employees' union, a chapter of Local 388, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, ratified their contract Wednesday, January 28, and the Police Officers Labor Council approved their contract Thursday, January 29. After the contracts are signed by the unions, they will be presented to the commission.

All salaries were frozen this year until the negotiations are completed. No contract has been signed yet.

Information Technology

The county is considering establishing a new position that would cover computer support and the county's mapping program. Commissioner Calvin McPhee said the need for technical computer assistance is increasing and the county Web site needs an experienced person to keep it updated. Equalization Director Jim Fenlon now works on computer issues. With the recent retirements of Equalization Department employees Katie Frosland and Ken Gillmore, money saved there could be used for the position, which would share computer duties with equalization work. A job description will need to be drafted. Mr. Fenlon was not at the meeting.

Leases

Commissioners approved a oneyear lease with Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft District Health Department (LMAS). The department leases the county building on Burdette Street in St. Ignace. The lease had been for 10 years and was changed to a monthly basis. The agency will continue to pay the county $2,350 a month.

Commission also approved a monthly lease with Allied EMS for $1,000 for the Burdette Street building. The ambulance company had been paying $1,250. The company had requested a reduced lease rate.

Resolutions

Commissioners approved a resolution for the Father Marquette Museum to show support of the efforts to rebuild and develop the park site. In 2000, the Father Marquette Memorial was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. The resolution is to be jointly agreed upon by the county, the City of St. Ignace, and Moran Township with each contributing a representative to help create a governmental agency to further the project.

Commissioners agreed to prepare a resolution of appreciation to Louis Litzner of St. Ignace. Mr. Litzner, who has served on the Department of Human Services board for more than 10 years, offered commissioners his resignation, which they accepted.

Commissioners approved a resolution in support of the Les Cheneaux Islands restoration project. Clark Township is seeking funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help eliminate invasive weeks that are affecting fish populations and ecosystems in Cedarville Bay.

Reappointed

Mr. McPhee was reappointed to the U.P. Resource Conservation and Development Council. The commission also approved paying annual dues of $300 to the organization. The Les Cheneaux Watershed Council, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Bay Mills Indian Community, Hiawatha National Forest, Chippewa County, and Lake Superior State University are among the partners in the nonprofit organization, which promotes conservation of natural resources in the Upper Peninsula.

Purchases

A grant will cover the cost of about $8,900 for a new network server for the sheriff's office. The purchase was approved by commissioners, who also agreed to buy three-flat screen monitors for the clerk's office at $150 each.

County commissioners will next meet at 4 p.m. in the county annex building Thursday, February 11.