FINANCE, CLAIMS AND ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
A special meeting of the Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners’ Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee was held on Thursday, May
27, 2004 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Chairperson Dale called the meeting to
order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rita Dale, Chairperson, Aaron Hopper, Richard
Timmer, James Moore
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Earl Kay
MEMBERS
ABSENT:
Ted Postula, Don Cooper
OTHERS PRESENT:
Tim Dolehanty, County Controller, Hon. Lowell
Ulrich, Probate Court Judge, Susan Short, Court Administrator / Juvenile
Officer, Hon. Michael MacDonald, District Court Judge, Ann McKay, Court
Administrator, Elizabeth Church, Chief Public Defender, Diane Cork, Clerk, Vicki
Gage, Deputy Treasurer, Tina Ojala, Bookkeeper, David Jones, Probation Officer,
Barbara Fortin, Enforcement Officer, Ron Cross, Property Appraiser, Kathy
Munson, Property Appraiser, Hon. Nicholas Lambros, Circuit Court Judge, Gail
Shunk, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds, Carrie McDowell, Legal Secretary, Wayne
Fortin, Probation Officer, and Tim McKee, OES/E 9-1-1
Director
Additions / Deletions to the
Agenda
Chairperson Dale called for additions or deletions to
the agenda. Hearing none, the
agenda was declared approved as presented.
District Court
District Court Judge Michael MacDonald stated he was
confident that the County would find its way through the current budget
problems. He reviewed case numbers
and budget components of the District Court. Judge MacDonald said he would issue a
memorandum showing where budget cuts could be made. He then reviewed court fee structures
and stated the District Court fees are at the maximum allowable
rates.
Commissioner Timmer asked if the Court would prefer a
reduced workweek instead of employee lay-offs. Judge MacDonald said he did not know,
but added the Court would have to bite the bullet like everyone else. The Judge concluded his comments with a
request that the Board’s Judicial Liaison Committee be
reestablished.
Probate Court Judge Lowell Ulrich reviewed the funding
structure of his court. He stated
credits due to the County from the State and an unanticipated lump sum payment
combined to increase anticipated revenue by $67,892. Judge Ulrich also proposed elimination
of an air conditioning unit and a Westlaw subscription, saving an additional
$4,983. A detailed description of
these adjustments was provided to the Committee.
County Clerk Diane Cork stated her department was not a
revenue-generating office. She
offered comparative workload statistics for Marquette County. Ms. Cork stated she would agree to
whatever cuts the Board made, but cautioned that a reduction in staff would
probably result in a corresponding revenue reduction.
Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Lambros spoke on behalf of
the Clerk, stating there are fewer employees in the Clerk’s office than those in
similar or smaller counties.
Chief Public Defender Elizabeth Church reviewed caseload
statistics for the Public Defender office.
She stated the public defender was a mandated function and that clients
are accepted based on statutory income guidelines. Commissioner Kay asked whether the
public defender conducted credit checks on potential clients. Ms. Church said they did
not.
Ms. Church said she could offer no cost reductions for
her department. She added that the
Circuit and District Courts both increased public defense fees. Ms. Church stated conflict cases are
kept to a minimum, and that Department of Corrections costs are included in her
budget.
Adjourn
Chairperson Dale thanked those in attendance and
declared the meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
__________________________________
__________________________________
Timothy J. Dolehanty, AICP, Recorder Rita Dale, Committee
Chairperson