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Benzie County commissioners approve hiring, bills and multiple resolutions; accept counsel's advice in inmate litigation
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Benzie County Board of Commissioners approved a three‑day part‑time District Court hire (not to exceed $12,000), authorized payment of $422,052.30 in bills, adopted resolutions on vital records and leasing recycling containers to the National Park Service, and accepted legal advice after a closed session on pending litigation (BC/BS vs Benzie County Inmates).
The Benzie County Board of Commissioners on May 12 approved a series of routine and programmatic measures, including hiring a three‑day part‑time staffer for the District Court, payment of county bills, and a set of resolutions on records fees and recycling support for the National Park Service.
Judge Mead requested authorization to hire a three‑day part‑time District Court position not to exceed $12,000, with $3,900 to be drawn from the drug court grant; the board approved the hire on a motion by Chair Vance Bates, seconded by Commissioner Tucker. The board also approved payment of bills totaling $422,052.30 (motion by Tucker, seconded by Carland).
The commissioners adopted Resolution 2015‑012 to set Vital Records fees for the County Clerk and approved Resolution 2015‑011 authorizing the lease of excess county recycling containers to the National Park Service for use at the Platte River Campground. "There are 25 illegal dump sites in Benzie County now," Recycling Coordinator Marlene Wood told the board as she described recent collection events and an upcoming meeting with the DNR to review dump locations.
The board entered closed session at 10:20 a.m. to discuss pending litigation (BC/BS vs Benzie County Inmates, file no. 14‑398‑GC) with Attorney Lisa Vogler present; after reconvening the board voted to accept counsel's advice regarding the matter. The roll-call vote accepting counsel's advice recorded Ayes Bates, Carland, Sauer, Tucker, Walterhouse and Warsecke; Commissioner Griner was recorded as absent for that motion.
The board also adopted Resolution 2015‑013, the updated Recreation and Cultural Plan, and authorized a letter of support to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the Betsie River water trail. Dodie Putney presented the Benzie‑Leelanau District Health Department annual report; the board voted to accept and place the report on file.
The meeting closed with a public comment from Jim Evans about FOIA and the county's document-retention policy and an adjournment to the next regular meeting on May 26, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.
Votes at a glance: the minutes and agenda were approved; the District Court hire (not to exceed $12,000) was authorized; bills of $422,052.30 were approved; Don Tanner was reappointed to the Centra Wellness Board; Resolutions 2015‑011, 2015‑012 and 2015‑013 were adopted; the board voted to enter and exit closed session on pending litigation and accepted counsel's advice. Where roll-call tallies were recorded in the minutes, they are reflected above.
