County commissioners put their support behind a bill that would enable the county road match program to continue. The county dropped the program, which provides $10,000 to each township in Mackinac County, for the coming year, when it was discovered giving general fund money to townships for that purpose may not be legal. During the commission's meeting Thursday, February 25, commissioners also discussed repairs that must be made to a wall in the downstairs vault of the county courthouse, and made appointments to the Department of Human Services and Building Authority.

House bill 5141, which the resolution supports, would allow counties to transfer general fund money to the county road fund for the maintenance and repair of roads under the road commission's jurisdiction. The bill has passed the Michigan House of Representatives with only one dissenting vote, the commissioners noted, and the resolution would help spur its consideration in the Senate. Commissioners said they would encourage all other townships in Mackinac County to draft and adopt similar resolution to speed the process along.

The commissioners took no action on the match program besides the resolution. It is unknown when the legislation will be considered by the Senate.

The county commission appointed Jay Caldwell of St Ignace to serve on the Department of Human Services board. Mr. Caldwell replaces Louis Litzner of St. Ignace, who retired January 31.

Bruce Cochran of Cedarville, Bruce Dodson of St. Ignace, and Fred Feleppa of St. Ignace were appointed to the Building Authority. The appointees will serve staggered one-, two-, and three-year terms, respectively.

The authority originally worked on matters when the county annex building was under construction more than a decade ago. When the building was complete, there were few items for the board to address, and the terms were not renewed. Treasurer Nora Massey has requested refinancing bonds to receive better interest rates for the county, but the building authority must approve the refinancing, spurring the appointments.

A wall on the east side of the vault in the courthouse building is disintegrating, Mackinac County clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn reported. The damaged wall was discovered when filing cabinets were moved to make room for new shelving units. Damage to the wall includes rotting studs, which may require the drywall to be torn down. A builder will be contacted to assess the damage. Until then, the cost of replacing the wall is unknown. No further action was taken.