Veterans chair questions forensic audit costs, praises millage win and flags local needs

Dick Pershinske, chair of the Mackinac County Veterans Committee, used the Aug. 8 public-comment period to press county leaders for transparency about the cost of the county's forensic audit and related legal fees.

"A large group of veterans wanted to know the amount incurred so far with the forensic audit and legal fees," Pershinske said. He asked the board to provide a figure for the record; no dollar amount was offered during the meeting.

Pershinske also told the board that veterans are "very happy the millage passed on August 6 by an 80% margin," and highlighted community needs including opioid counseling starting at Engadine Schools and requests for food donations to the Engadine food pantry, which he said serves many seniors and veterans.

Commissioners heard the comments during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board action or specific follow-up deadline was announced to answer the audit-cost question.

Separately in the meeting, Commissioner Judy St. Louis-Scott said Clerk Hillary Vowell had held one of her vouchers without pay and described the action as a personal attack. Clerk Vowell replied that she would hold commissioner vouchers if warranted and described the behavior as professional. Chair Dan Litzner said he would write a letter to staff reminding them to be courteous and respectful to commissioners.