Mackinac County commissioners unanimously appoint EUP 911 board member, authorize courtroom loan signature and deny multiple reclass requests

The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 8 in St. Ignace and unanimously approved a slate of administrative actions, including the reappointment of Bryce Tracy to the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP) 911 Board, authorization for the chair to sign a promissory note for a courtroom remodel loan, denial of six job reclassification requests and public posting of the proposed county budget.

The meeting opened at noon with a roll call that included Commissioners Austin Kimberling, John Kling, Mike Patrick, Daryl Schroeder and Judy St. Louis-Scott. The board approved the meeting agenda as amended and the minutes of the Nov. 13 regular meeting.

County Clerk Hillary Vowell asked the board to reappoint Bryce Tracy to the EUP 911 Board. "It was moved by Commissioner Kimberling second by Commissioner Kling to e-appoint Bryce Tracy to the EUP 911 Board," the board minutes state; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote of the five commissioners.

Treasurer Tina Massey raised concerns about a recent Budget Committee recommendation on the treasurer's wage. Massey said she "disagrees with the comparable data that the Budget Committee used to recommend the Treasurer's wage increase" and provided handouts from the Michigan Association of County Treasurers (MACT) and other county comparables, saying she believed the proposal was "not fair among the Elected Officials." Commissioners Kimberling and Schroeder asked questions; Chair Mike Patrick asked Massey where she believed her wage should be.

The board authorized Chair Patrick to sign a promissory note from First National Bank for the courtroom remodel loan after Treasurer Massey presented the document. The motion to authorize the chair to sign was moved by Commissioner Kimberling, seconded by Commissioner Schroeder and approved unanimously.

In a series of motions moved by Commissioner Kimberling and seconded by Commissioner Kling or Commissioner Schroeder as recorded, the board denied reclassification requests for the following positions: Chief Deputy Treasurer; Deputy Treasurer; Chief Deputy Register of Deeds; Juvenile Probation Officer; Deputy Administrative Clerk; and Airport Maintenance. Commissioner John Kling told the board the reclassification process "has not been done correctly for years," argued that the current wage scale needs fixing to address reclassification requests and emphasized following the budget and county policies.

The board approved posting the proposed budget publicly for 14 days (motion moved by Kimberling, seconded by Schroeder), and reviewed and approved regular bills of Nov. 26 ($256,833.46) and Dec. 8 ($119,900.76). The board also approved budget amendments #2025-40, #2025-41, #2025-42 and #2025-43; each amendment passed on recorded unanimous votes.

Road Commissioners Lester Livermore and Tom Doty addressed the commissioners and said the three-member Road Commission, elected to staggered six-year terms, adequately represents the county and that expanding the board is unnecessary. Chair Patrick raised the possibility of converting a part-time maintenance position to full time, and Commissioner Kling asked the board to examine airport staffing options when the current airport manager retires, including combining positions.

The board scheduled a Committee of the Whole meeting for Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. and set its next regular meeting for Dec. 22 at noon. Communications reviewed included an animal shelter report and the October banking report. The meeting adjourned at 1:06 p.m.

Votes at a glance - E-appointment of Bryce Tracy to EUP 911 Board — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: John Kling; outcome: approved (5-0). - Authorize Chair to sign promissory note for courtroom remodel loan — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Chief Deputy Treasurer — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: John Kling; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Deputy Treasurer — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: John Kling; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Juvenile Probation Officer — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Deputy Admin Clerk — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: John Kling; outcome: approved (5-0). - Deny reclass request, Airport Maintenance — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder; outcome: approved (5-0). - Approve posting proposed budget for 14 days — moved: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder; outcome: approved (5-0). - Approve bills Nov. 26 ($256,833.46) and Dec. 8 ($119,900.76) — outcome: approved (5-0). - Approve budget amendments #2025-40, #2025-41, #2025-42, #2025-43 — outcome: approved (5-0).

The board concluded routine business and adjourned. The Committee of the Whole meets Dec. 11; the next regular meeting is Dec. 22.