The Chippewa
County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on
Present: Commissioners Ted Postula, Don Cooper, Rita Dale,
Richard Timmer, Aaron Hopper, Jim Moore and Chairman Earl Kay
Also
Present: Tim Dolehanty, Controller,
Scott Brand, Evening News, Don and Chris McLean, Mary Piralli, Sue Short,
Lowell Ulrich, Probate Judge, Sharon Kennedy,
Register of Deeds, and Diane Cork, County Clerk
It was moved by
Commissioner Dale, supported by Commissioner Postula, to approve the minutes of
December 22,
Chairman Kay
deviated from the agenda by introducing Don Michaels from the U. S. Forestry
Service. Mr. Michaels invited Mr. Rudy
Johnson to come forward to be presented a U.S. Forestry Honor Award, Region 9,
for his dedication in keeping the
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Don McLean read the following
statement:
“At last month’s HBH
meeting in St. Ignace we again listened to a report about how much had been
accomplished since HBH was formed and the present CEO took control.
The report again made reference to new buildings, new group
homes, how much money has been accumulated and how he had cleaned up the mess
left by the previous agency.
These so called accomplishments dealt with things-building
and money.
This would be wonderful if HBH was a construction or
architectural firm or a bank, but HBH is a mental health agency charged with
the treatment and care of the mentally ill.
The mentally is who are the least able, among us, to take
care of themselves.
The HBH management and most of the Board members chose to
turn away from a number of people who again tried to explain the ways HBH had
mishandled situations with the result being the death of a member of their
family.
HBH continues to boast of the new buildings, new
landscaping, high employee moral with paid college tuition, pad staff
recognition luncheons, Ford Expeditions, special bonus payments and pay
increases while other governmental agencies have had to cut employee pay.
HBH does this while taking extreme measures to keep the
public from coming forward to point out the serious problems within the
agency. Problems so serious that people
have died.
We believe this is wrong.
We believe that HBH has forgotten it is a public agency
which is supposed to be answerable to the public.
We ask you to continue your efforts to bring about change so
no other mentally ill persons die because of misdirected policies aimed more at
new buildings and employee moral instead of client treatment and care.”
CONTROLLER’S REPORT – Tim Dolehanty
Mr. Dolehanty
explained that the names of W. W. LaJoie, Dr. Leif LaLone and Donald Sawruk had
been approved for consideration at the December 8, 2003 County Board meeting.
On a roll call
vote: Commissioners Jim Moore, Richard
Timmer, Chairman Kay, Rita Dale, Aaron Hopper and Ted Postula voted for W. W.
LaJoie. Commissioner Cooper voted for
Donald Sawruk.
Having received 4
or more votes, W. W. LaJoie was appointed to the War Memorial Hospital Board of
Trustees for a term to expire
It was moved by
Commissioner Moore, supported by Commissioner Timmer to adopt Resolution #04-01
as follows:
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO
USER FEES ON CANADIAN LOCKS
WHEREAS, the Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners has been informed that the
federal government of Canada has or seeks to impose a user fee on the Sault Ste .Marie, Ontario, Canada lock; and
WHEREAS, imposition
of user fees on the Canadian lock could result in financial harm to the users,
with the total annual fee collection a comparatively trivial amount Gained by
the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site; and
WHEREAS, the
Canadian Lock and United States locks have historically been toll free, and all of the locks operated in the
best interest of both Canadian and United States
users; and
WHEREAS, THE
Board of Commissioners believes that the Curtis Act is applicable in this situation, and that it should
be used, if necessary, to counter any fees imposed on vessels using the Canadian lock.
NOW. THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners urge Congressman
Bart Stupak, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie
Stabenow and Governor Jennifer Granholm to strongly oppose any action of the
Canadian government in the levy of fees on the Canadian Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and further, to
resolve the matter in accordance with agreements
reached between both countries.
On a roll
call vote, Commissioners Ted Postula, Don Cooper, Rita Dale, Richard Timmer,
Aaron Hopper, Jim Moore and Chairman Kay vote yes to adopt the above
resolution. The motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by
Commissioner Moore, supported by Commissioner Hopper, to adopt Resolution
#04-02 as follows:
RESOLUTION TO NAME BOARD CHAIRMAN
AS SURVEY AND REMONUMENTATION GRANT ADMINISTRATOR
WHEREAS, the
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth has notified the County of the need to appoint the
Board Chairman, by resolution, as the County’s Survey
and Remonumentation Grant Administrator; and
WHEREAS, the
Board of Commissioners wishes to comply with grant requirements and agrees that appointment of the Board
Chairman to this function is proper and appropriate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners names Board
Chairman Earl Kay as its administrator for the Survey
and Remonumentation Grant.
On a roll call
vote, Commissioners Ted Postula, Don Cooper, Rita Dale, Richard Timmer, Aaron
Hopper, Jim Moore and Chairman Earl Kay voted yes. The motion carried unanimously.
This concluded
the Controller’s Report.
OLD BUSINESS: None
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel – Rita Dale – January 7, 2004
Prosecuting
Attorney Brian Peppler recommended appointment of Gail Tinker to the vacant
Legal Secretary I position in his office.
If approved, Ms. Tinker would transfer from the Equalization Department
under provisions of the internal transfer policy.
It was moved by
Commissioner Dale, supported by Commissioner Postula, to recommend promotion of
Gail Tinker to the vacant Legal Secretary I position in the Prosecuting
Attorney’s office following the provisions of the internal promotion
policy.
On
discussion: Commissioner Cooper asked
whether or not this position could be left vacant because of the County budget
restraints. Prosecutor Peppler felt he
definitely needed that position filled.
On a voice vote,
the motion carried with Commissioner Cooper voting no.
Register of
Deeds/Equalization Director Sharon Kennedy appeared before the Committee to
discuss the Data Entry I position to be vacated by Gail Tinker. Ms. Kennedy proposed increasing the hours of
the Equalization Department and Register of Deeds staff to 40 hours per week
through June 1 as an alternative to filling the Data Entry I position. She stated funds are already budgeted in the
Register of Deeds Automation Fund to cover that department, and funds currently
budgeted for the Data Entry I position could be utilized to cover additional
hours worked by Equalization Department staff. Controller Tim Dolehanty presented cost
estimates for the proposal.
It was moved by
Commissioner Dale, supported by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend approval of
the temporary 40-hour workweek for the Register of Deeds and Equalization
Department staffs through June 1, 2004, as presented.
On
discussion: Commissioner Cooper asked
Controller Dolehanty what the cost savings would be. Mr. Dolehanty stated that the saving would be
approximately $24,000 through June 1.
On a voice vote,
the motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by
Commissioner Dale, supported by Commissioner Cooper, to accept the report of
the Personnel Committee as given. On a
voice vote, the motion carried.
Equalization & Apportionment – Jim Moore – No meeting
Health & Social Services – Ted Postula – No meeting
Building, Grounds & Jail – Earl Kay – No meeting
Transportation – Ted Postula – No meeting
Legislative & Natural Resources – Richard Timmer – No
meeting
Computer – Don Cooper – No meeting
Finance, Claims & Accounts – Rita Dale – January 8,
2004