By Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Staff reporter
SAULT STE. MARIE — A steady stream of 4H advocates greeted the Chippewa County Commission as they began their monthly meeting on May 10.
Seven individuals, including 4H Council member Norma Osborn, high school students Amber Myers and Ken Rogers, Elaine Love and Michigan State University Extension Director Jim Lucas, pleaded with the commission to provide funding for a 4H youth agent — a position that has been vacant for two years.
In a prepared statement, Osborn claimed that the 4H Council had received authorization to search for a new agent — essentially, an activities director for the agricultural-related youth organization — had been approved by the commission and that the council had been assured that the county had enough money to fund the position.
Furthermore, she said that two commissioners had been involved with the hiring process and had been asked directly whether sufficient funding existed to fund the position.
Once Lucas took the podium, he said that Michigan State University was willing to cover the benefits expense for the position and that the county would only have to cover the actual salary.
After the extended public comment session, the commission proceeded into their agenda. The majority of the meeting rested on the committee reports, and although only the Personnel Committee and the Finance, Claims and Accounts Committee had reports, both drew considerable discussion.
Commissioner Rita Dale presented the recommendations of the Personnel Committee, and the commission rejected a reduction in office hours at the Friend of the Court Office, granted full-time status to Holly Henderson, an animal shelter attendant, and authorized the hiring of two part-time shelter attendants.
Dale also reported that her committee had decided to table the issue of funding the 4H agent position because the county lacked the funding necessary to fill the position. According to Dale, Commissioner Ted Postula said during the committee meeting that he felt that the agent position was important, but that the money just was not there.
After a brief discussion, the commission voted to in turn table funding for the agent position.
When Dale presented the recommendation to raise the hourly wages for E911 dispatchers, however, debate arose over whether that was a prudent move after denying funding to the 4H Club.
Commissioner Don Cooper voiced considerable objection to the plan, and Commissioner Dick Timmer joined him in dissent of the idea. County Chairman Earl Kay pointed out that the funding for the dispatcher positions came from the telephone surcharges and not from the general fund. Postula added that it was prudent of the county to pay for qualified people for important positions.
When the matter came to a vote, both Cooper and Timmer opposed the measure, but it was still approved.
During the Finance Committee report, the commission denied an out-of-state travel request due to the county's tenuous fiscal situation. The commission also approved application of the Community Corrections Grant for Fiscal Year 2005, borrowing by county employees from their individual retirement accounts managed by Nationwide Retirement Solutions, the Title III declaration letter of the use of National Forest revenue and the county printer reallocation proposal.
