The Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners met 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,
Tina Ojala, Bob Savoie, UnderSheriff, Sharon Kennedy, Equalization Director,
Marilyn McDonald,
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Shackleton, to acknowledge the correspondence
received in the Clerk’s Office, and if necessary, forward to the appropriate
committees. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper,
supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Don McLean read the following
statement:
“It has been almost 10 years since
our family first had to be involved with Hiawatha Behavioral Health. One of the issues that made that involvement
more difficult was HBH abuse of the concept of patient confidentiality, patient
client privilege and authority status to avoid any form of accountability to
patients, families for even the taxpayers and county governments they are
supposed to serve.
Last month HBH continued this
secretive exclusionary policy by refusing to allow the local press to attend
their monthly Financial Committee meeting.
Their action, supported by HBH CEO Sam Harma, reaffirmed their position
that tax dollar supported HBH is answerable to no one and is even exempt from
the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.
We take issue with their position
since we believe the top management of HBH continues to make decisions that
waste taxpayer money on benefits for management and employee by limiting
services and screening out people in need.
At the regular monthly meeting of the
entire HBH Board,
It appeared most of the other HBH
board members scrambled to avoid a decision since the CEO and the board
chairman were absent from the meeting.
In the end on a split vote they postponed action on opening the
meetings.
This all ties into a Letter to the
Editor in last weeks Evening News. Even
though we agreed with many of the points in the letter regarding mismanagement
at HBH we believe this
We believe this because we saw Bill
Conley in operation during his previous service on the HBH board. We believe Bill Conley repeatedly turned his
back on the best interests of
CONTROLLER’S REPORT – Kelly Beaune
No action items necessary
OLD BUSINESS: None
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel – Bernard LaJoie –
Equalization Director Kennedy,
represented by Kathy Munson, submitted approval for the hiring of Stephanie
Rintamaki to fill the vacant Data Entry Clerk position.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to approve the hiring of Stephanie Rintamaki
to fill the Date Entry Clerk position in the Equalization Department, starting
date and hours being at the discretion of Director Kennedy, until Ms. Rintamaki
is available to work the regular 35 hour work week. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Clerk Diane Cork submitted for
approval the hiring of Kari Willis for the vacant Secretary I position in the
Clerk’s Office.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to approve the hiring of Kari Willis to fill
the Secretary I position, effective immediately, at the discretion of Clerk
Cork. On a voice vote, the motion
carried unanimously.
The Committee, following up from the
Board action taken on March 14, to hire Animal Control Officers for 20 hours
per week, hours to be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12:00 (noon)to
4:00 p.m., and Saturday’s from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. These will be straight time hours with no
pager service. Per Union contract with
Local 946, both Officers John Savoie and Jen Schoenemann were contacted
regarding these hours. The officers
agreed to share the 20 hours per week with Ms. Schoenemann working Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday and Mr. Savoie working the Friday and Saturday hours.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Timmer, to approve the recall of Animal Control
officers John Savoie and Jen Schoenemann to fill the 20 hours per week Animal
Control position. On a voice vote, the
motion carried unanimously.
Discussions regarding the additional
hours worked by Bookkeeper Tina Ojala were discussed at length: Mrs. Ojala had previously submitted
correspondence to the Board of Commissioners.
The Committee discussed several different options for
reimbursement. Mrs. Ojala wanted it
known that she did not ask or expect compensation for the extra hours worked.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to authorize Mrs. Ojala, to work up to 40
hours per week if necessary, and to pay 40 hours per week retro from
On discussion: Commissioner Cooper asked if the policy and
procedures were followed to allow the bookkeeper position to work 40 hours per
week as other departments have done.
On the call of the vote, the motion
carried with Commissioner Cooper voting no.
It was moved by Commissioner LaJoie,
supported by Commissioner Timmer, to approve the minutes of the Personnel
Committee as presented. On a voice vote
the motion carried unanimously.
Equalization and Apportionment – Jim
Moore – April 8, 2005
Equalization Director Kennedy
presented the 2005 County Equalized Values.
She explained that the values presented on the report are the basis for
completing the State required forms which must be completed and sent to the
State before the end of April. It was
explained that the assessed values are equalized before taxable values can be
calculated for the county.
It was moved by Commissioner Moore,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, that the equalized values as presented by the
Equalization Director be adopted as reported and that all state required forms
the same be completed and filed as required by statute. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Equalization Director Kennedy
explained that staff members may be attending classes during the week of July
10-15, 2005 at LSSU and it may be necessary to close the office for short times
to allow remaining on-duty staff to take lunch breaks, etc.
It was moved by Commissioner Moore,
supported by Commissioner LaJoie, that reasonable measures may be taken during
the week of July 10-15, 2005, including closing during lunch hours, to allow
staff required breaks, etc. while the office is short staffed due to staff
members attending classes, but any full day closures would only occur after
advising the Commission. On a voice
vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Ms. Kennedy advised the Board that
Ron Cross (temporary employee) will be finished the end of April.
It was moved by Commissioner Moore,
supported by Commissioner Timmer, to approve the minutes of the Equalization
Committee meeting as presented. On a
voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Health and Social Services – Ted
Postula – No meeting
Building, Grounds and Jail – Earl Kay
– No meeting
Transportation – Ted Postula – No
meeting
Legislative and Natural Resources –
Richard Timmer
Computer – Don Cooper – No meeting
Finance, Claims and Accounts –
Richard Timmer – April 7, 2005
Sheriff Moran, represented by Under
Sheriff Savoie, submitted a request to the Committee seeking approval to bid up
to $6,000 on a 1995 GMC Transport van.
The van has a security cage worth approximately $10,000, which would
separate the inmates being transported, and the County has received a verbal
agreement regarding transporting U.S. Marshall Inmates. The revenue generated by these transports
would be approximately $38.00 per hour.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer,
supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the request to bid on the 1995 GMC
Transport van.
On discussion:
Commissioner Cooper asked if this was
a budget item and where the money would come from.
Chairman Kay stated that was not a
budget item and that the money would probably come out of the transportation
budget.
Ms. Beaune reminded the Commission
that this was only a bid, not a guarantee.
Commissioner Shackleton thought that
this could be a possible money maker and felt that this would go hand and hand
with the video arraignment system.
On a call for the vote, the motion
carried with Commissioner Cooper voting no.
The Committee reviewed a draft
agreement between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Chippewa County regarding
the use of equipment and supplies from the Chippewa County Animal Control
Shelter. This agreement would be
necessary if the City were to employ animal control officers paid by the City
of Sault Ste. Marie.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to authorize the negotiation of the
agreement between the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Chippewa County. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to recommend the approval of general fund
claims totaling $186,406.54, other fund claims of $190,243.26, payroll of
$340,444.02 and health department claims of $372,299.15, total claims of
$1,089,392.97, vouchers 37980 through 38153 and C-1 through C-163. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
Kelly Beaune requested a change in
the regularly scheduled Finance Committee, to be changed to Tuesday, May 3,
2005 at 6:00 p.m. because of a previously scheduled time off.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer,
supported by Commissioner LaJoie, to approve the request to change the May
Finance Committee meeting to Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Timmer,
supported by Commissioner Postula, to accept the report of the Finance, Claims
and Accounts Committee meeting as presented.
On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion was held on cost savings
for Workman’s Compensation. Ms. Beaune
stated that a meeting is set up with Ron Sober for a presentation.
Chairman Kay noted that Richard
Brawley’s appointment to the E.D.C. Board had expired the end of March. Chairman Kay asked for the Board’s concurrence
in reappointing Mr. Brawley to the E.D.C. Board for a term of six (6) years.
It was moved by Commissioner Moore,
supported by Commissioner Shackleton, to reappoint Richard Brawley to the
E.D.C. Board for a term of six (6) years.
On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
It was noted that the Recycling
Committee was a member short.
Commissioner Shackleton accepted the appointment to the Recycling
Committee.
It was moved by Commissioner Cooper,
supported by Commissioner Moore, to approve the following resolution number
05-03 re: Community Services Block Grant
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners strongly supports the
Continued
funding of the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG),
and
WHEREAS, a National Mandate has existed for
41 years to provide local decision
makers
with CSBG funds enabling citizens to identify and solve barriers to
self-sufficiency,
and
WHEREAS, the services provided by those funds
have primarily helped less affluent
inhabitants,
and elimination of CSBG funds would be very detrimental to the
lives
of many hard working families and individuals, and
WHEREAS, local taxes are insufficient to
provide the needed and often vital services
without
the Community Services Block Grand funds, and
WHEREAS, supported activities such as
Weatherization, Home Rehabilitation, Senior
Programming,
recreational developments, infrastructure improvements, Head
Start
and Preschool programming, and other activities will be severely reduced
Or
eliminated without CSBG funding,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners
stress to members of Congress the importance of Community
Action
as the Nation’s best strategy to create opportunities of self-sufficiency
For
families and individuals, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Chippewa County Board of
Commissioners
express
its concern about the proposed elimination of Community Service
Block
Grant funding in FY 2006 and urges Congress to reauthorize the
program.
On a roll call vote, Commissioners
Postula, Cooper, Shackleton, Timmer, LaJoie, Moore and Kay voted yes. The motion carried 7-0.
It was moved by Commissioner Moore,
supported by Commissioner Cooper, to approve the following resolution number
05-04:
RESOLUTION
FOR THE ADOPTION OF
THE
CHIPPEWA COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
Whereas, Chippewa County, Michigan has
experienced repetitive disasters that have
damaged
commercial, residential and public properties, displaced citizens and
businesses,
closed streets and bridges dividing the community both physically
and
emotionally, and presented general public health and safety concerns: and
Whereas, The County has prepared a Hazard
Mitigation Plan that outlines the County’s
options
to reduce overall damage and impact from natural and technological
hazards:
and
Whereas, the Hazard Mitigation Plan has been
reviewed by community, residents,
business
owners, and federal, state and local agencies, and has been revised to
reflect
their concerns:
Now, therefore, be it resolved
that:
1. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is hereby
adopted as an official plan of
Chippewa County.
2. A
Hazard Analysis Committee is hereby established as a permanent
community advisory body. The advisory body being the approved
members of the Chippewa County Office
of Emergency Services
Board.
The group duties shall be as designated in the Hazard Mitigation
Plan.
3. The Director of Office of Emergency
Services is charged with supervising
the implementation of the Plan’s
recommendations within the funding
limitations as provided by the County
or other funding sources.
4. The Director of Office of Emergency
Services shall convene the Hazard
Analysis Committee annually. The Director’s responsibilities will include
Monitoring the implementation of the
plan and shall submit a written
Progress report to Chippewa County
Hazard Analysis Committee in
Accordance with the following format:
a.
A review of the original plan
b.
A review of any disasters or emergencies that occurred during the
previous calendar year.
c. A review of the actions taken, including
what was accomplished during
the previous year.
d.
A discussion of any implementation problems.
e. Recommendations for new projects or revised
action items. Such
recommendation shall be subject
to approval by the Chippewa County
Board of Commissioners.
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 LaJoie, to
adjourn. On a voice vote, the motion carried
unanimously and the Board did adjourn at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane S. Cork, Clerk
Earl Kay, Chairman