Board amends equalization director hours, approves reclassification pending union approval and holds closed session on employee contract

The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners took several personnel and administrative actions July 25, including a closed-session review of an employee contract and multiple classification decisions.

The board went into closed session at 5:16 p.m. to discuss an employee contract under MCL 15.268 (the Michigan statute authorizing closed meetings for certain personnel matters) and returned to open session at 5:39 p.m. Immediately after, Chair Dan Litzner moved to amend the Equalization Director's contract to require 32 hours a week in the office, including fieldwork, with salary set by the salary resolution; the motion passed unanimously.

Equalization Director Mike Gillett requested a full-time clerk. Commissioners discussed union rules and funding constraints and voted to reclassify the Data Assessment Coordinator as a full-time Clerk contingent upon union approval; implementation will occur only after the union completes its process. A separate reclassification request for a Probate Court juvenile officer was discussed and tabled to January 2025.

Commissioners discussed development of clearer onboarding materials for new commissioners and a potential bill-review process; Clerk Hillary Vowell and Commissioner Judy St. Louis-Scott discussed a voucher withholding dispute that the clerk said she held while seeking guidance from the chair. Emergency 911 Coordinator Bryce Tracy said he is researching audio-recording equipment for future meetings.

The board recorded votes for personnel motions and asked staff to follow up on union notification and policy clarifications.