The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on
Monday, September 9, 2002 in the Courtroom of the Chippewa County Courthouse at
5:30 p.m.
Present: Commissioners: Don Cooper, Bernard LaJoie, Aaron Hopper,
Earl Kay and Chairman Gary McDowell
Also Present: Timothy Dolehanty, Controller, Richard Timmer, Julie
Timmer, Cindy Moniz, Helen Kennedy, Patrick Schuh, Lisa Wilcox, Tim McKee,
OES/9-1-1 Director, David Carpenter, Finance Director, Debbie Green, Jasmine
Wakeman, Jim Johnson, Don and Christine McLean and Diane Cork, County
Clerk
It was moved by Bernard LaJoie, supported by Aaron Hopper, to
acknowledge correspondence received in the Clerk's Office and forward to the
appropriate committee, if necessary. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Kay, supported by LaJoie, to approve the
minutes of August 12, 2002, as presented by the Clerk, with the following
corrections:
PAGE 4, second paragraph from the bottom reads:
"It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
Postula, to recommend adjusting the grade assignment of the Crime Victim
Advocate position from a grade 8 to grade 10. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously."
Sentence should read:
"It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
Postula, to recommend adjusting the grade assignment of the Crime Victim
Advocate position from a grade 8 to grade 10. On a voice vote the motion carried
with Commissioner Cooper voting no."
AND
PAGE 5, fourth paragraph down reads:
"Commissioner Dale stated the schedule was set for 3 people at 20 hours a
week to be able to have the flexibility of someone in attendance at the facility
when needed. Discussion followed.
On the question: Commissioners Postula, Hopper, Kay and McDowell
voted yes.
Commissioners Cooper, Dale and LaJoie voted no"
Sentence should read:
"On the question: Commissioners Postula, Hopper, McDowell and LaJoie
voted yes.
Commissioners Cooper, Dale and Kay voted no"
In the Resolution to Support Kewadin Casino, Hotel & Convention
Center, the year "2000" should read "2004."
With the above changes, the August 12, 2002 Board minutes were
approved.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Don McLean read the following statement:
We are here again tonight asking you for action on the petitions we
presented you four months ago.
Those petitions were in response to the death of our daughter, Karen
McLean, on 2-14-01.
Karen's death resulted from mismanagement at Hiawatha Behavioral
Health and their failure to provide appropriate treatment.
Our petitions asked you to make changes in the top management of
Hiawatha Behavioral Health or find Chippewa County a new mental health
agency to join.
1260 Chippewa County residents signed those petitions.
This commission's Health & Human Services Committee met in June and
gave the issue consideration, indicating they would meet again for further action.
This Committee has not been able to have a meeting in the last three
months.
Our issue is still very relevant; at a hospice meeting this past week, I was
approached by a friend who is a retired Chippewa County Health Department
worker.
This person offered us encouragement in our cause and added that they
were well aware of the problems at Hiawatha Behavioral Health, as they were
encountering the same problems trying to get help for a friend.
This person indicated the situation was a mess with no prospects of
improvement.
We realize governmental action takes time, but we all need to consider
that in most cases time alone does not cure a person's mental problems.
Perhaps some accommodation needs to be made to allow you to move
ahead on this issue.
I, also, ask you to consider contacting the other Chippewa County
representatives on the HBH Board and inform them of this issue and remind them
that they were appointed to represent the interests of Chippewa County and its
residents.
We believe this issue is important and the 1260 people signing the
petitions agreed.
HBH is not providing services for the residents of Chippewa County.
You, as our elected representatives, are the only ones who can correct the
situation.
In response to a question from Commissioner Cooper, Tim Dolehanty
stated that a meeting was scheduled for September, but a conflict arose and
Mr. Dolehanty was hoping that Commissioner Postula could have attended
tonight's meeting so a new date could be arranged.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper, supported by Commissioner Kay,
to take this issue from committee and put it into a County Board Workshop so all
Commissioners could look at the options that are available. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Kay, supported by Commissioner Hopper,
to accept the nomination of Merrill Lewis to the Hiawathaland Library
Cooperative Board. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. (This
nomination will be held for 30 days and voted upon at the October 14, 2002
County Board meeting.)
Mr. Dolehanty stated that no applications were received for the position of
member of the F.I.A. Board. It was suggested that this position be re-advertised and also
that the current members who were appointed to fill a vacant seat be contacted to see if
they would be interested in continuing to sit on this board.
OLD BUSINESS: None
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel Committee - Aaron Hopper - August 29, 2002
The majority of the Committee report was for informational purposes only.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
LaJoie, to accept the resignation of Mary Piralli as Information Systems Director. On a
voice vote, Commissioners Hopper, LaJoie, and Kay voted yes.
Commissioner Cooper voted no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
LaJoie, to accept the Personnel Committee report of August 29, 2002 as presented. On a
voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Equalization Committee - Bernard LaJoie - No meeting
Health and Social Services Committee - Ted Postula - No meeting
Building, Grounds and Jail Committee - Earl Kay - August 14, 2002
This report was given for informational purposes only and no Board action
was necessary.
Building, Grounds and Jail Committee - Earl Kay - September 3, 2002
This report was given for information purposes only and no Board action
was necessary.
It was moved by Commissioner Kay, supported by Commissioner Cooper
to accept the Building, Grounds and Jail Committee reports of August 14, 2002 and
September 3, 2002 as presented. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Transportation Committee - Ted Postula - No meeting
Legislative and Natural Resource Committee - No meeting
Computer Committee - Don Cooper - No meeting
Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee - Rita Dale - September 5, 2002
(In the absence of Rita Dale, Aaron Hooper gave this report)
Commissioner Kay reviewed discussions held by the Building and
Grounds Committee concerning the animal shelter project. He noted there might be
zoning issues to address, but the Mackinac Trail site was determined to be the best suited
for the new facility. Commissioner Kay asked the Finance, Claims and Accounts
Committee to support approving $250,000 for construction of the facility.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
Cooper, to recommend allocation of $260,000 for the animal shelter project, and that the
project be allowed to immediately move forward.
Acting Chairman Hopper discussed a proposed budget amendment for
legal services. Consideration of the amendment was necessary because negotiations with
the AFSCME bargaining units went longer than expected. Commissioner Kay stated
concerns about charges for times the attorney spent in transit and suggested the County
reassess how the attorney is utilized in contract negotiations.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
LaJoie, to recommend approval of a budget amendment to increase the legal services
budget by $10,000. On a voice vote, Commissioners Hopper, LaJoie and Kay voted yes.
Commissioner Cooper voted no. Motion carried.
The Committee reviewed the EDC proposal received in August requesting
an additional allocation of $60,000 to enter into a contract with the government affairs
consulting firm Alcade & Fay of Arlington, Virginia. Commissioner Kay stated the firm
could assist in securing funds to build a proposed air cargo and Federal inspection
terminal at the Chippewa County International Airport, among other county projects.
Commissioner Cooper suggested considering a budget amendment that
covered the contract through the end of the fiscal years, not for a full year. The
effectiveness of the consulting firm could be considered at the end of the year and a
decision made about renewing the contract for the entire fiscal years.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Kay,
to recommend approval of a contract with Alcade & Fay at $5,000 per month through the
end of fiscal year 2002, and to readdress continuation of the contract before 2003. On a
voice vote, Commissioner Hopper, LaJoie, and Kay voted yes. Commissioner Cooper
voted no. Motion carried.
OES/E 9-1-1 Director Tim McKee reviewed a notice from the Department
of State Police concerning a domestic preparedness grant available to Chippewa County.
Under the program, the County is eligible to receive $55,409 for first responder
equipment. McKee proposed using the funds to establish an 800-megahertz radio
communications system.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner
Cooper, to recommend acceptance of the grant from the Department of State Police, but
not authorize implementation at this time. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
The Committee reviewed a memorandum from Court Administrator Susan
Short requesting approval to hire a temporary, part-time probation officer. The position
became necessary when it became known that the full-time probation officer would need
to take an extended leave.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Kay,
to recommend authorization of a temporary, part-time probation officer while the full-
time officer is on leave. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Kay,
to recommend the approval of general fund claims totaling $60,893.50, other fund claims
of $41,083.90, payroll of $483,592.19 and health department claims of $303,846.73,
vouchers 31752 through 31912 and I-1 through I-79, and Superior Township Water
Project claims (pass-thru monies) of $12,904.70. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Kay,
to accept the Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee report at given. On a voice vote,
the motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Chairman McDowell informed the Board that Commissioner Dale could
possibly be unable to attend any meetings for approximately 4-6 weeks and in the interim
he would like to appoint Commissioner Earl Kay as acting Chair to the Finance
Committee in her absence.
It was moved by Commissioner Kay, supported by Commissioner LaJoie,
to adjourn. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously and the Board did adjourn
at 6:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane S. Cork, Clerk Gary McDowell, Chairman