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Board approves Veterans bylaws, animal-shelter policies, hires legal counsel and OKs contracts, bills
Summary
The Mackinac County Board approved Veterans Committee bylaws and job descriptions, an Animal Shelter policy manual, retained Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes as county legal counsel, renewed an Empiric Solutions contract with a $200 monthly increase, reappointed Mike Patrick to the Hiawatha Behavioral Health Board, and approved nearly $3.01 million in bills and multiple budget amendments.
At its April 24 meeting the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners approved a package of administrative and financial items, including committee policy documents, a contract renewal for the sheriff's office, the selection of county legal counsel, and payment of routine bills and budget amendments.
The Veterans Committee presented bylaws, job descriptions and a policy manual; the board approved the documents unanimously (mover: John Kling; second: Austin Kimberling). The Animal Advisory Committee’s final Animal Shelter Policy Manual was also approved unanimously (mover: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder). Public commenter Lester Livermore asked about the shelter’s hiring process; commissioners said interviews will be conducted soon.
After interviewing two firms at a prior Committee of the Whole meeting, the board voted to retain Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes as county legal counsel; the firm had been serving as interim counsel since 2024. The board approved the proposal unanimously (mover: Austin Kimberling; second: Judy St. Louis-Scott).
Sheriff Ed Wilk presented a renewal proposal for Empiric Solutions, citing that the vendor had not increased fees since the original agreement two years earlier; the board approved a $200 monthly increase to the contract (mover: Austin Kimberling; second: Daryl Schroeder).
The board reviewed and approved regular bills totaling $2,970,131.45 and additional bills totaling $42,677.25. Commissioners also approved budget amendments #2025-09 through #2025-13. Several of those votes were unanimous roll-call approvals recorded in the meeting minutes.
In new-business discussion, City Manager Scott Marshall asked the county to contribute $10,000 to offset a GFL rate increase for city residents; the board discussed the request but did not take action. Chair Mike Patrick was reappointed to the Hiawatha Behavioral Health Board by unanimous vote (mover: John Kling; second: Austin Kimberling).
The meeting included two closed sessions under Michigan Compiled Laws Section 15.268 to hear confidential legal opinions related to the Road Commission and to a Veterans audit; after the second closed session the board voted to take legal counsel’s advice based on a Rehman Group report regarding the Veterans audit.
The meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m.
