Administration and County Services Committee

Michael Crawford

Robert McLeod, Chairman

Laura Stanek

February 5, 2004

Minutes

Members Present:

Bob McLeod, Mike Crawford and Laura Stanek

Members Absent:

None

Others Present:

Pete Garwood and Jack White

1.        Meeting called to order at 1:00 p.m.

2.        Tax Allocation Board Appointment

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners appoint Mike Huntley to the Tax Allocation Board.  Motion carried – unanimous.

3.        ACT Personnel Issues

Bob Straw, Transportation Director, joined the meeting.  Bob Straw distributed a letter indicating he will be retiring June 10, 2004.  Committee directed Mr. Garwood to advertise for the position in the local newspapers.  The Committee also discussed the need to have some overlap of when the new Director would start and before Mr. Straw would leave of at least two (2) weeks.

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners authorize lifting the hiring freeze, the release of funds for the position of Transportation Director (when vacated), and the search process to fill the position.  Motion carried – unanimous.

4.        Committee Appointments

*    Veterans Affairs Committee

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Jerry Hubbell to the Antrim County Veterans Affairs Committee.  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    Board of Public Works

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Marshall Wright to the Antrim County Board of Public Works.  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    Parks and Recreation Commission

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Mike Meriwether and Allen Pecar to the Antrim County Parks and Recreation Commission.  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    Housing Commission

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Laura Sexton to the Antrim County Housing Commission.  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    E-911 Board

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Paul Trumble to the Antrim County E-911 Board.  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    Antrim Creek Natural Area Commission

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners reappoint Carl Veenstra to the Antrim Creek Natural Area Commission.  Motion carried – unanimous.

The appointments to the North Country Community Mental Health Board will be addressed at the meeting next month.

5.        Commissioner Wage/Benefit Survey

The Committee reviewed the survey for the Commissioners salary and benefits (attached).

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Bob McLeod, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve a wage increase for the Board of Commissioners of 2.5% beginning January 1, 2005; a wage increase of 2.5% beginning July 1, 2005; a 2.5% wage increase beginning January 1, 2006; a wage increase of 2.5% beginning July 1, of 2006.  Motion carried – unanimous.

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve an increase in mileage reimbursement from $ .34 to $ .35 beginning January 1, 2005.  Motion carried – unanimous.

6.        Sheriff Department Personnel Issue

Dan Bean, Undersheriff, joined the meeting. Undersheriff Bean informed the Committee that a road sergeant will be off on medical leave for a few months, and the replacement the Sheriff had in mind has just recently had an injury that will put him on disability leave for 5 1\2 months. The Sheriff would like to hire an individual, (Jack Light) who has been on snowmobile patrol, to fill a court officer/paper service, part-time position.

The Committee indicated they would like to delay action on this issue until their meeting on next Wednesday.

7.       Building Department Inspector Vacancy

Arlen Turner, Building Official, came in and requested the part-time plumbing inspector be increased to a full-time plumbing inspector. The consensus of the Committee was that at this time they felt the budget could not support a full-time position, but that he could come back and make a new request if it appears there is too much work for the part-time inspector to handle.

8.        Building Department Part-Time Inspector Wage

The Committee agreed that the wage of all part-time inspectors should be consistent with the action of the Board of Commissioners on August 10, 2000  (i.e. part-time inspectors are to get $1.50 an hour more at each step of the scale in the bargaining union contract, because they do not get benefits).  This would include new part-time inspectors as well as current part-time inspectors.

9.       Sheriff Department

Mr. McLeod briefed the Committee on the mediation issue in the Corrections Unit.

10.     Resolutions

*    Gogebic County Resolution – Collection of Court Fees for the State

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford, to approve a resolution similar to the Gogebic County resolution, opposing the State of Michigan’s insistence that the counties collect state fees, prior to the collection of county fees, in the courts (attached).  Motion carried – unanimous.

*    Livingston County – Municipal Sewer Systems

Committee discussed the resolution dealing with hook up of residence to municipal sanitary sewer.  No Action taken.

*    Ottawa County - Valid Marriage in Michigan

The Committee discussed the resolution from Ottawa County regarding a constitutional amendment, which would address same sex marriage. No action taken.

*    State of Michigan - Parenting Awareness Month

The Committee asked that the resolution by the State of Michigan proclaiming March “Parenting Awareness Month” be distributed to all Commissioners (attached).

11.     Solution Area Planner - Emergency Management

Motion by Mike Crawford, supported by Laura Stanek, to recommend the Board of Commissioners waive the bid policy and contract with Carl Goeman to be the Solution Area Planner (SAP) for the fifteen (15) month grant period.  Motion carried – unanimous.

12.     Short Term Disability and Life Insurance Bids

Jack Sheehan, from the Sheehan Agency joined the meeting.

Mr. Sheehan presented a comparison on providers of Short Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Motion by Laura Stanek, supported by Mike Crawford, to recommend the Board of Commissioners switch to Madison National Life for the county’s short-term disability and life insurance coverage, contingent on Mr. Sheehan negotiating a $95.00 a month reduction in the premium.  Motion carried - unanimous.

Mike Crawford left the meeting.

13.     Antrim Conservation District (ACD) - Millage Request

Janet Person, Executive Director for the Antrim Conservation District, and Jim Ferguson, Antrim Conservation District Board Member, joined the meeting.  The two representatives discussed the funding needs of the ACD and the possibility of a millage request to support the ACD.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.