Votes at a glance: Chippewa County approves animal shelter equipment, health department changes, contracts and $5,000 emergency guardianship fund

Chippewa County commissioners approved a slate of routine and programmatic actions at the Feb. 13 board meeting and the Feb. 11 Finance, Claims and Accounts committee, including purchases and contract authorizations affecting the health department, public safety, animal services and county administration.

Major approvals and actions included:

- Animal shelter equipment and enclosures: The board authorized in-house surgical equipment purchases for the county animal shelter — including a surgery table, autoclave, anesthetic machine and related items — totaling $12,175 plus $2,550 for ancillary supplies, and approved purchase/replacement of nine indoor cat enclosures (listed as “9 unit cat stacks”) at $54,570. The board waived the county purchasing policy to complete the purchases.

- Supplemental animal control services agreement: Commissioners approved a two-year supplemental services agreement with the City of Sault Ste. Marie at $1,300 per month to provide additional animal control services.

- Health department changes: The Finance committee approved changing the health department’s Employer Identification Number to the county EIN effective Oct. 1, 2025; also approved was a new health department logo and two health policies (clinical policy 4.010.007 to align with state guidelines, and policy 7010053 to allow a school clerk to administer certain over-the-counter medications with parental permission).

- Probate court emergency guardianship funding: The board approved a $5,000 emergency guardian services line item to pay for temporary guardianship services after the prior pro bono provider could no longer cover the county’s caseload (the judge estimated roughly 25 of 36 current cases might require payment).

- Public safety and facilities: The board approved repairs and rental costs related to the county generator ($5,493 for repairs and related work) and authorized approximate radiator replacement work estimated at $14,920.55. The board also authorized the Sheriff’s Office to create a part-time federal inmate liaison officer position at $16.45 per hour (step 7, county part-time scale).

- Contracts and maintenance agreements: Commissioners approved a one-year JAVS (audio/video) maintenance agreement for the 90th District Court at $6,110; renewal of the Rave emergency notification system at $4,280 annually; and authorization of $7,200 for an EMT instructor course.

- Survey and remonumentation grant and contracts: The board corrected 11/12/2024 minutes to report a remonumentation grant total of $133,816 (including the county’s $15,000 allocation). It authorized monumentation contracts totaling $54,000 (Alpine Engineering and Sidot Group, 30 corners each) and $19,088 administration to Patricia Wineras; peer review surveyor payments of $5,000 split among multiple reviewers were also approved.

- Legal action participation: The board authorized a legal services agreement for county participation with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) as co-plaintiff in multi-district litigation related to PFAS/AFFF claims.

- Administrative items: Commissioners approved release of an RFQ for the county cost allocation plan (FY 2024–26), a discharge of a non-diminishing mortgage lien for $8,283 to facilitate sale of a dilapidated property, and the January county bills and payroll (general claims and other funds; totals were announced in meeting minutes and approved on voice vote).

Most items were approved by voice vote with motions carried. Two employee recognition resolutions (Resolution 25-01 thanking Mr. Trummell for 23 years with the EDC and Resolution 25-02 for Brian Decker for more than 30 years of service) were approved by roll call votes with commissioners recorded as voting yes.