Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Indigent Defense topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs $868,364 public defender contract and $20,280 MAC administrator agreement
Summary
The Alpena County Courts & Public Safety Committee recommended the county approve a $868,364 contract with the Northeast Michigan Regional Public Defender's Office and a $20,280 Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) administrator agreement, both effective Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.
The Courts & Public Safety Committee voted unanimously Oct. 20 to recommend that the full board approve a $868,364.05 contract with the Northeast Michigan Regional Public Defender's Office and a related Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) administrator agreement of $20,280.00 for fiscal year 2026.
MAC Administrator Bill Pfeifer presented the agreements and told the committee that although the state appropriated slightly less for indigent defense this year, officials expect full funding; Pfeifer said he will notify County Administrator Jesse Osmer once the state grants are formally approved. The public-defender contract runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, with monthly installments of $72,363.67. The MAC administrator agreement is effective on the same dates with total compensation of $20,280.00 and monthly installments of $1,690.00.
The committee recorded a roll-call recommendation in favor of both agreements (AYES: Commissioners LaHaie, Ludlow, Kozlowski and Bray; NAYS: None). Commissioners noted the MAC administrator amount rose from last year’s $18,000 because of increased state indigent-defense funding and anticipated additional hours for the role.
Pfeifer also noted a staffing update in the public defender office: a new attorney, Chris Alexander, will primarily handle arraignments and misdemeanor work.
The committee’s recommendation sends both contracts to the full Alpena County Board for final approval at an upcoming meeting.
