Mackinac County board authorizes hiring process for school resource officer, approves airport helicopter contract and advances wage‑study review

Chair Mike Patrick called the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners to order at 4:30 p.m. May 28 in the Annex Boardroom in St. Ignace. The board took several administrative actions including authorizing the start of hiring for a school resource officer, approving an airport contract and forwarding a wage‑study agreement to union members.

Sheriff Ed Wilk told the board St. Ignace Area Schools requested a School Resource Officer and committed to funding 75% of the position’s cost, leaving the county responsible for roughly 25%. Wilk said startup costs were estimated at approximately $160,000, which includes the purchase of a new patrol vehicle, and that when school is not in session the officer would serve on county road patrol. After questions from commissioners, the board voted to authorize the sheriff to begin the hiring process. The motion (moved by Commissioner John Kling; seconded by Commissioner Judy St. Louis‑Scott) carried on roll call with Commissioners Austin Kimberling, John Kling, Mike Patrick, Daryl Schroeder and Judy St. Louis‑Scott voting yes.

The board also approved a contract with My Flight Helicopter Tours for airport operations. Clerk Hillary Vowell said she, Commissioner Kling, Commissioner St. Louis‑Scott, and Airport Manager Paul Fullerton met with My Flight CEO Callen Stewart on May 21 to review contract details. Commissioner Kling moved and Commissioner St. Louis‑Scott seconded a motion to authorize Chair Patrick to sign the agreement; the board approved the contract unanimously on roll call.

On labor issues, commissioners reviewed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) tied to a 2023 union wage study that had not been implemented. The board stated that the previous reclassification process had been "misused," estimating about 60% of union employees were underpaid relative to recommended scales and about 40% were overpaid. Commissioner Austin Kimberling moved and Commissioner Daryl Schroeder seconded a motion to present the LOA to union members for their review; that motion passed unanimously on roll call.

Why this matters: the SRO authorization commits the county to a portion of start‑up and ongoing costs and will create a new position within the sheriff’s office; the My Flight contract changes airport operations and the wage‑study LOA restart could lead to pay adjustments for union employees.

Votes at a glance: Agenda approval — voice vote, carried (motion moved by Commissioner Schroeder, seconded by Commissioner Kling; voice vote). Authorize SRO hiring process — moved by Commissioner Kling, seconded by Commissioner St. Louis‑Scott; roll call yes: Kimberling, Kling, Patrick, Schroeder, St. Louis‑Scott. Approve My Flight Helicopter Tours contract and authorize Chair signature — moved by Commissioner Kling, seconded by Commissioner St. Louis‑Scott; roll call yes: Kimberling, Kling, Patrick, Schroeder, St. Louis‑Scott. Present union wage‑study LOA to members for review — moved by Commissioner Kimberling, seconded by Commissioner Schroeder; roll call yes: Kimberling, Kling, Patrick, Schroeder, St. Louis‑Scott.

The board did not take testimony from members of the public at this meeting. Next steps noted in the meeting record: the sheriff may begin recruitment for the SRO position; Clerk Vowell was authorized to finalize and execute the My Flight contract; and the LOA will be delivered to the union for consideration. The meeting record shows the board adjourned at 5:23 p.m.