The Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners met in regular session on
Present: Commissioners: Ted Postula, Don Cooper, Scott Shackleton,
Richard Timmer, Bernard LaJoie, Jim Moore and Chairman Earl Kay
Also Present: Don and Chris McLean, Jim German, Mary
Piralli, Scott Brand, Evening News, Frank Blisset, Sue Short, Probate
Court, Marilyn McDonald,
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner LaJoie, 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
Postula, supported by Commissioner Timmer, to approve the
The paragraph reads: It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to cancel the current contracts with both
The paragraph should
read: It was moved by Commissioner
LaJoie, supported by Commissioner Posutla, to cancel the current contracts with
both
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Don McLean read the following
statement:
“Four years ago after the
death of our daughter Karen McLean the Chippewa County Medical Examiner, Dr.
James Terrain, contacted us and asked for our help in checking into the
circumstances of her death.
After a brief discussion we
agreed and as Karen’s Legal Representatives we signed the consent forms to
allow Dr. Terrain to obtain her records from Hiawatha Behavioral Health.
A short time later Dr.
Terrain again contacted us and indicated that HBH had refused to provide him
with Karen’s records. They were in
effect stonewalling him.
Their stonewalling tactic,
along with our Probate Judge’s refusal to meet with Dr. Terrain, worked a Dr.
Terrain choose not to go through the process of filing a subpoena to obtain her
records.
As a result there was no
official inquiry into the circumstances of Karen’s death even though Dr.
Terrain indicated on her Death Certificate that she died of untreated Mental
Illness.
We tried to get legislation
passed that would allow a County Medical Examiner free access to all mental
health records of a person who dies unexpectedly within their county. Our efforts were unsuccessful.
This creates a situation
where there is no true public oversight of mental health agencies, and as a
result they can do what they want and are answerable to no one.
We have tried to point out
this and other problems to a variety of people in an effort to correct this
situation before anyone else had to die.
Unfortunately we have not
been successful, and we know of four other people, in the HBH service area, who
have died from what we believe has been HBH mismanagement.
I would imagine you are all
aware of recent suicides in our area. We
have heard from a number of reliable sources that a number of these unfortunate
people were clients of HBH or had tried to get held from HBH.
Again HBH is able to claim
Confidentiality and again no one will be accountable for the mismanagement of
an agency that is charged with caring for our most vulnerable citizens, the
mentally ill.
As you struggle with the
county’s involvement in the recent suicides in the county jail, keep in mind
that “What goes around, comes around”, and also your need to do what is right
for the people of Chippewa County.
CONTROLLER’S REPORT
– Kelly Beaune
No action items needed
OLD BUSINESS: HBH Appointment
Two individuals William P.
Connolly and James German were nominated at the February County Board meeting
for one opening seat on the Hiawatha Behavioral Board.
Discussion was held on the
period of time an application may stay on file for consideration to various
boards, committees and agencies.
On a roll call vote: Commissioners Cooper, Shackleton and Moore
voted for William P. Connolly.
Commissioners Timmer, LaJoie,
Postula and Kay voted for Jim German.
Jim German was elected to sit
on the Hiawatha Behavioral Health Board with a three year term to expire in
2008.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel – Bernard LaJoie –
No meeting
Equalization &
Apportionment – Jim Moore – No meeting
Health & Social Services
– Ted Postula – No meeting
Building, Grounds & Jail
– Earl Kay – March 3, 2005
Tony Montero reviewed the
Courthouse Annex’s heating/cooling system problems. The Committee discussed the condition of the
outside damper, installation of building graphics and work station, air
conditioning in a hub closet, and the overall lack of maintenance on the
heating/cooling system.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to approve the purchase and
installation of an outside air damper replacement, from ACC Planned Services,
in the amount of $1,425.00.
Commissioner Shackleton asked
if bids were requested for this project.
Chairman Kay stated that the
monetary amount was below the amount required by the Purchasing Policy and that
this was a defective part that needed to be replaced and in the past, Mr.
Montero had done a lot of work both on the City/County Building and the
Courthouse.
On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
Mr. Montero will be getting
back with the Controller’s Office regarding the problem with the VAV box
problems, as well as the building graphics and work station issue after more information
is obtained.
Commissioner Timmer explained
that VAV boxes are censors that help control the heating/cooling system by use
of a monitored computer program.
Three bids for toilet paper,
and both rolled and multi-fold paper towels, were reviewed. Commissioner Timmer requested that the state
provider be checked with, to see if additional savings were possible.
It was moved by Commissioner
Postula, supported by Commissioner Timmer, to approve the bid of Mussio
Janitorial Supplies, Inc., in the amount of $1,111.80, if the state provider is
not lower. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
Having no further action
items, it was moved by Commissioner Postula, supported by Commissioner Timmer,
to accept the report of the Building, Grounds and Jail Committee report as
given. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
Transportation – Ted Postula
– No meeting
Legislative & Natural
Resources – Richard Timmer – February 17, 2005
Informational purposes
only. No action items necessary.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to accept the report of the
Legislative and Natural Resources Committee meeting as presented. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner
Shackleton, supported by Commissioner Cooper, that the County put out a request
for proposals for Workers Compensation insurance to include local
providers. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
Computer Committee – Don
Cooper – No meeting
Finance, Claims and Accounts
– Richard Timmer – March 10, 2005
Sheriff Moran presented the
Committee with documentation, including expenditures and projected revenues for
installing a video arraignment system for the federal inmates, which would
reduce expenses currently charged for travel, and an increase in revenue for
housing inmates, as the federal government would not have to be as selective in
who they send to Chippewa County.
It was moved by Commissioner
Moore, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, to install the video arraignment
equipment as presented, to increase line item 101-351-850.000 by $6,700 to
cover the costs and to increase line item 101-000-543.000 by $6,700 for
increased revenue. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
The Committee discussed the
previously held work shop, and was presented with an additional letter from War
Memorial Hospital.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Cooper, to recommend the appointments of Dr.
Satish Chawla and Dr. John Ockenfels as Deputy Medical Examiners, to be
responsible for War Memorial Hospitals needed autopsies both legally and
financially. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
The Committee reviewed a
letter from EUP Regional Planning and Development, a request for an additional
$2,000, to maintain minimum requirements for federal funds.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner LaJoie, to recommend approval of an
additional allocation of $2,000 to EUP Regional Planning and Development for
FY2005. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
The Soo Theatre Project has
requested that the Board of Commissioners act on their behalf as the pass
through agent for funds requested from Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa
Indians.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Cooper, to approve the request from the Soo
Theatre Project. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
The CCHD requested approval
for signature for FY04/05 Comprehensive Planning, Budgeting and Contracting
(CPBC) Agreement #2.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to authorize signature for Amendment
#2 as requested. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
A request for a letter of
support was received from S.A.N.E. The
Committee discussed the benefits of having this program.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to recommend approval of the
following Resolution #05-02 and that a copy be sent to all counties involved.
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE
STRAITS AREA NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT
PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the
Chippewa County Board of Commissioners strongly supports Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, in
the Upper Peninsula , the Byrne Grant Program has proven itself as a resource
for cooperative Federal, State and local anti-crime policing strategies: and
WHEREAS, the
Byrne Program is invaluable in law enforcement efforts to secure our communities and combat
terrorism; and
WHEREAS,
Chippewa County cannot afford to reduce the effectiveness of our nation’s state and local law
enforcement agencies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners
supports the Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement and its funding through the Byrne Grant,
for continued support and enforcement of our nation’s state and local laws.
On a roll call vote,
Commissioners Postula, Cooper, Shackleton, Timmer, LaJoie, Moore and Chairman
Kay voted yes. The motion carried 7-0.
The Committee reviewed
documentation regarding the funding of the Veteran’s Children Tuition Grant
Program out of the Corpus of the Michigan Veteran’s Trust Fund.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Moore, to concur with the State of Michigan
and to pass the information onto the local Veteran’s Counselors. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Budget amendments were
presented to the Committee for approval based upon new information for FY2005:
reduced Ad Valorem Taxes by $44,560; increase Tourism and Convention by $8,219;
increase Substance Abuse by $4,109; reduce State Revenue Sharing by $44,750 and
increase Interest Income by $45,000.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the amendments as
presented. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
The Committee was presented
with expenditures of $2,350 for the Concealed Weapons Fund, which previously
was omitted from the FY2005 budget. Expenses
as follows: supplies $500; postage $250; telephone $500; travel $500;
miscellaneous $100; and education training $500.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the amendment as
presented. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner LaJoie, to recommend approval of the general
fund claims totaling $218,629.78, other fund claims of $66,969.90, payroll of
$355,014.23 and health department claims of $408,721.27, total claims of
$1,049,335.18, voucher 37799 through 37972 and B-1 through B-103. On a voice
vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer Marilyn McDonald
presented the Committee with information regarding internet banking through
Central Savings Bank and request approval to negotiate and sign said agreement
on behalf of Chippewa County.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the request as
presented. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
Having no further action
items, it was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner LaJoie,
to accept the report of the Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee meeting as
presented. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Postula stated that a discussion
was held at the last MTA meeting concerning Manatron, townships and the County
Treasurer’s Office. For some reason the
employees of some townships think that the County is being unfair to them and they
are paying the County’s bills.
A Manatron representative
came to the last meeting and spoke to the Association and explained the process
involved. The will also meet with the
individual townships, explain the process and perhaps change the wording on the
tax bills as it may be confusing to some of the townships.
Information was handed out at
the last Finance Committee re: Animal
Control Officer.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Shackleton, to recommend hiring an Animal
Control Officer for 20 hours per week, 40 hours per pay period.
Discussion was held on
pursuing other options for additional funding, licensing fees and enforcement.
On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner
Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to recommend approval of the
following proclamation re: March the American Red Cross Month.
America has always been a
place of humanitarian action and compassion-a place where people take care of
each other, and are always willing to reach out and take care of others in need
whether they are down the block or around the globe. That American desire to put our compassion
into action is deeply rooted in the character of the Chippewa County
Chapter-American Red Cross. The Chippewa
County Chapter-American Red Cross is a true reflection of that character.
For more than 88 years, the
Red Cross in Chippewa County has been the place where citizens join together,
and the generosity and compassion of the American people finds purpose. It’s been the place where someone who may not
know you will still give you their blood, save you from drowning or provide you
with shelter. Never has this been more
evident than this past year, when hurricanes pounded the East Coast, and deadly
tsunami struck our neighbors in Asia and Africa. The Chippewa County Chapter-American Red
Cross responded swiftly and generously, and in overwhelming numbers chose their
Red Cross as the place to turn their caring into action.
The Chippewa County
Chapter-American Red Cross responds to disasters in the Eastern U.P. every
year. Some are large disasters such as
staffing a canteen for the firefighters at the Tahquamenon Falls blaze last
November. Often, this response is to events
that don’t make headlines, such as the 12 home fires that disrupted lives
across Chippewa County last year. Our
Red Cross and its corps of 36 volunteers is among the first on the scene,
providing food, shelter, and more.
During this past hurricane season alone, Red Cross chapters across the
country worked together to provide shelter to more than 424,000, and served 16
million meals.
Chippewa County turns to the
Chippewa County Chapter-American Red Cross for many of the things that make
this area stronger and safer. Nearly
half of our critical blood supply is collected by the Red Cross. Last year, 1260 donors chose the Red Cross as
the place to donate the gift of life.
1140 people also turned to the Red Cross to learn lifesaving skills such
as first aid and CPR.
The Red Cross continues to
provide support and comfort to our military families. Last year, they briefed local reserves and
National Guard Troops and their families throughout the Eastern U.P. on how to
access Red Cross services and connected loved ones separated by war and
conflict.
Recognizing that suffering
knows no orders, the Red Cross provides assistance during the international
emergencies, such as the tsunami. They
have also spearheaded a campaign to immunize millions of African children
against measles, a disease nearly forgotten in America , but a deadly killer in
other parts of the world.
In America, we may not all
look the same, dress the same or sound the same, but we share a common spirit
that binds us together when times are tough and unities us in action when
someone is suffering. Like a mirror on
American, the Red Cross shows us the best possible reflection of
ourselves. In celebrating American Red
Cross Month, we are celebrating the humanitarian and volunteer spirit here in
Sault Ste. Marie and all across American,
NOW, THEREFORE, I Earl Kay,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by Chippewa County, do hereby proclaim
March 2005 as American Red Cross Month.
I urge all Americans to continue to give blood, volunteer their time,
and give generously to the American Red Cross and its local offices. Chippewa County is a place where we take care
of each other. When you help the
American Red Cross, you help Chippewa County.
IN WHTNESS, WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, in the year of our Lord
two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and twenty-ninth.
On a roll call vote:
Commissioners Postula, Cooper, Shackleton, Timmer, LaJoie, Moore and Kay voted
yes. The motion carried 7-0.
Having no further business,
it was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner Postula, to
adjourn. On a voice vote, the motion
carried and the Board did adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane S. Cork, Clerk
Earl Kay, Chairman