The Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners met in regular session on
Present: Commissioners Ted Postula
(
Also Present: Barbara Fortin, Mary Sue Nelson, Mary Piralli, Marilyn McDonald, Tina Ojala,
Ron Cross, Dave Carpenter, Finance Director, Chris McLean, Don McLean, Arthur
Cooper, David Whyte, Debbie Sirk,
Larry Cooper, Sue Short, Probate Court Administrator, Margie Hank, Jeff Moran,
Sheriff, Brian Peppler, County Prosecutor, Julie
Beck, Public Defender’s Office Jim Lucas, MSU Extension, Scott Brand, Evening
News, Tim Dolehanty, Controller and Diane Cork, County
Clerk
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper,
supported by Commissioner Hopper, to acknowledge the correspondence received in
the Clerk’s Office and, if necessary, forward to the appropriate
committee. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner Hopper, to approve the
minutes of July 12, 2004 (Public Hearing and regular Board meeting) and July
15, 2004 (Special Session) with the notation that Julie Timmer
was listed twice in the attendance section of the regular meeting of July 12
and the word “tax” be added to Page 2, paragraph 5 (allocated tax) of the July
15, 2004 special meeting. With these
corrections, the motion carried on a voice vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Marilyn McDonald,
Chris McLean read the following
statement:
As many of you are well aware the
lawsuit Don and I filed against HBH, Sam Harma, Dr.
Robert McElhaney and Maureen Phenix
for their role in our daughter’s death has been dismissed by the Chippewa
County Circuit Court due to a filing date technicality. This was made possible by a Michigan Supreme
Court ruling on a different case last winter.
I would like to read to you “CHAIR’S
COMMENTS REGARDING DISMISSAL OF MCLEAN LAWSUIT” which was read by Dan Yake, HBH Vice Chairman at last month’s HBH meeting. Patrick Rodman, HBH Chairman, was absent at
the meeting.
It states: “I am pleased to report the dismissal by the
Chippewa County Circuit Court of the lawsuit filed by Donald and Christine
McLean as personal representatives of their daughter, Karen McLean’s estate.
HBH again expresses its sympathy to the
The short paragraph is a prime
example of how HBH management misuses events to cover their own tracks.
1.
“I am please to report” How can the work PLEASED be used in any
reference to our
daughter’s
death.
2.
“HBH again expresses its sympathy” HBH has NEVER expressed sympathy to
the
3.
“consistent with the exonerations of HBH’s services to Mc. McLean” A filing date
technicality
dismissal is looked upon as an exoneration.
The definition of exonerate
in my
Webster’s Dictionary is “declare or prove blameless”. When I brought this up
to a HBH board
member, he told me he understood the dismissal was based on a
technicality. However, any one reading that statement would
think HBH was
proven
blameless. That is not the case.
4.
“determined by state and federal officials who
regulate such services” Please talk to
Dr. Terrian and ask how he was denied
investigation of our daughter’s death by HBH
management.
Dr. Terrian only wanted to use the information
to help in the care of
future clients like Karen. The state agencies that supposedly
investigated Karen’s
death are all inner connected agencies to HBH
thru the Michigan Department of
Community Health. Federal Agencies???,
I question that because when I,
personally, contacted the Federal Department
that is involved with funding I was
told that they would could not investigate, it
was up to the state.
5.
“leaves HBH able to concentrate on all of its
energies and resources on the delivery
of quality services’ Concentrating its resources must mean making
plans to board
members may attend a two day Great Lakes
Conference in Copper Harbor MI in
September.
According to someone who has been at this conference before, the time
consists of 60% playing golf, 30% eating, 10%
actual business. Rooms cost $114 a
night for double occupancy, golfing is $18 for
9 holes, then meals, travel
reimbursement and conference registration. Will the expense of this luxury get
away, provide for the delivery of quality
services? I think not.
Or, it may concern the $800 bonus per employee that HBH management tried
to pass
at the last meeting. The motion did fail when it came to a vote
which should have
ended that policy, but then it resurfaced
immediately and is being table for further
study.
How does a motion fail, and then be tabled?
6.
“all eligible citizens” This is the most crucial part of that whole
statement, because
this is how HBH managed to eliminate my
daughter from care. Who decides
eligible?
Money? Psychiartrists? Clients? Power? Spite? Maybe you should ask
Phyllis and Carol Huffman, Delores Griggs, Linda Sayles or Jackie Benson
about
how eligibility is decided. These are just four families who lost loved
ones after
Karen didn’t meet the criteria and died.
I ask all commissioners to keep
working for the changes necessary that will make HBH an agency that serves the
residents of the three county area rather than providing luxury accommodations
and services for the management. I
request this with respect for the 1260
CONTROLLER’S REPORT – Tim Dolehanty – No action items necessary
OLD BUSINESS: None
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel – Rita Dale – No meeting
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 Committee – Don Cooper – No
meeting
Finance, Claims & Accounts – Rita
Dale –
The Committee received the monthly
Treasurer’s report, monthly travel report, and a correspondence from the
Michigan Association of County (MAC) concerning an early tax collection
proposal and its effect on state revenue sharing. It was noted that MAC asked that a resolution
be passed in support of the early tax collections proposal.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend
approval of Resolution of 04-16 to support the proposal to collect county
general fund taxes in July and to continue county revenue sharing.
Commissioner Hopper believed that
this motion should be turned down explaining that a representative from the
State Treasurer’s Office will be attending the MAC Conference and perhaps more
information will be obtained from this meeting.
Commissioner Cooper stated that he
was going to oppose this motion for 1.) city, villages
and township representative on the
Governor’s committee all have a constitutional protection for a portion of the
revenue sharing so naturally they will want the county to give up their share
and 2.) in the Lake County Board of Commissioners
Resolution, there are a couple things.
Moving of the County property tax collection to July 1st will
create a hardship on many citizens by requiring property tax payments a mere
six months after having paid their property taxes. The effect of this proposal
is to shift and shuffle the burden of the State’s budget shortfall onto county
government, placing a new tax on the counties by requiring counties to find
their own revenue sharing. Those two
things are specific around the State.
Commissioner Hopper had a
conversation with Representative Johnson, Leader of the House, saying there is
no more money, this is the deal. Commissioner Hooper believes that senior
citizens and farmers will be exempt and pay taxes in December.
Commissioner Dale stated that there
still has not been a determination on the PILT money.
On a voice vote, the motion failed
with all Commissioners voting nay.
The Committee received a request from
the Prosecuting Attorney to new the Title IV-D Cooperative Reimbursement
Contract.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend renewal of the title IV-D
Cooperative Reimbursement contract, as presented. On a voice vote the motion carried
unanimously.
The committee reviewed a draft
resolution in support for the establishment of an assisted living center, as
recommend by the Board of Health.
Committee members agreed on the need for more information regarding the
proposal, and on the potential need for a closed session to discuss property acquisition.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Hopper, to schedule a meeting with Health Department
officials to discuss the assisted living center concept, and to hold a closed
session if necessary to discuss property acquisition. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Controller Dolehanty
reviewed the most recent invoice for expenses associated with the
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend approval of the use of funds in
the Annex Renovation cost center to pay for the
Controller Dolehanty
presented a situation where an employee wished to be considered for a position
at a lesser pay grade, but would like to maintain an hourly wage above the
maximum for that grade. The Committee
agreed that the matter should be taken up by the Personnel Committee.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to recommend that
the Personnel Committee consider the proposal regarding internal transfers to a
lower pay grade. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
Controller Dolehanty
presented a draft agreement from Hiawatha Behavioral Mental Health Authority
(HBH) regarding deferral of mandatory payments.
He said HBH payments were included in the most recent budget projections
for payment in 2004, so there was no need for a deferral agreement.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Timmer, to recommend the
mandatory payments be made to HBH and that the draft agreement for deferred
payment be rejected.
Controller Dolehanty
reviewed a memorandum from the finance Director about establishing Fund
502. The
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend establishing fund 502 as
requested. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Dale,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend the approval of general fund
claims totaling $133,591.11, other fund claims of $163,115.43, payroll of
$527,353.07 and health department claims of $396,053.11, total claims of
$1,220,112.72, vouchers 36379 through 36586 and H-1 through H-152. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Having completed the report, it was
moved by Commissioner Dale, supported by Commissioner Postula,
to accept the report as given. On a
voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion was held on a proposed
operating millage proposal to be placed on the
November 2004 ballot.
Commissioner Cooper was opposed to
having a millage proposal placed on a ballot until
the Commission shows that they are good stewards and make some changes in
spending patterns.
Commissioner Timmer
expressed his desire to put the proposal on the November ballot so if it was
turned down, there will be time to make the cuts that will be needed to have a
balanced budget. He felt that the public
needs to know that there could be a snowballing if cuts are made with personnel which
would in turn effect revenue.
Commissioner Postula
stated that in the future, there will be a need to replace revenue sharing.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner Moore, to approach the
voters with a ballot proposal for 1 mill for 2 years to help the county
establish other revenue sharing/funding options.
On a roll call vote: Commissioners Postula,
Dale, Timmer, Hopper, Moore and Kay voted yes. Commissioner Cooper voted no. The motion passed 6-1.
Chairman Kay stated that the Evening
News held their Annual Best of the Best in different categories and at this
time he presented certificates to Rita Dale, best politician, Diane Cork, best
civic leader, Nicholas Lambros, best Judge and
Sheriff Jeff Moran, best law enforcement officer.
Commission Postula
asked if the County every offered an incentive for the employees to retire like
the City did.
In response, Chairman Kay this option
had been discussed, but one department, Register of Deeds, would have the most
to loose.
Commissioner Timmer
said options for insurance with a cafeteria style policy would reduce costs
along with increasing the dollars for those who do not take the insurance.
Chairman Kay thought that the School
Board found a new health care carrier.
Commissioner Cooper stated when
someone leaves the position should not be filled.
Commissioner Dale didn’t believe the
County had an over abundance of employees in each office.
In other business, it was moved by
Commissioner Hopper, supported by Commissioner Moore, to declare impasse in
negotiations with Teamster Local 328 representing Health Department home health
care nurses, to implement health insurance benefits consistent with other
County employees as described in the proposed appendix B, Benefits-at-a-Glance
for Chippewa County Employees, and to continue wages as stated in the expired
collective bargaining agreement. On a
voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Having no further business, it was
moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by
Commissioner Posutla, to adjourn. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously and thereupon the Board did adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane S. Cork, Clerk
Earl Kay, Chairman