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Mackinac County commissioners approve fee increases, contracts and hires; convene closed session
Summary
At their May 7 meeting the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a clerk fee increase, contracts for courthouse cleaning and tree removal, hired a full-time animal shelter worker, accepted a resignation from Hiawatha Behavioral Health and briefly met in closed session under MCL 15.268(h).
The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners on May 7 unanimously approved a package of routine actions including a change to the county clerk’s fee schedule, contracts for courthouse cleaning and storm-damaged tree removal, the hiring of a full-time animal shelter worker and two budget amendments.
Chair Mike Patrick opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Boardroom Annex in St. Ignace. After roll call, the board approved the agenda as amended and accepted minutes from the April 24 Committee of the Whole and Regular meetings.
County Clerk Hillary Vowell requested and the board approved an increase to her office’s fee schedule, setting certified-copy fees at $20 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies of the same record. Patrick recognized Vowell for her work on the 2024 elections and noted she received the Sunlight Award from the Michigan Fair Elections Institute.
The board approved a bid from Nick Adams Cleaning for a one-time deep courthouse cleaning followed by monthly service. Sheriff Ed Wilk, speaking during the cleaning discussion, noted that because the sheriff’s office employee discussed in the motion is employed by the county, the contractor issue raised will not require additional drug testing or a background check for that employee’s status.
The board also approved a $3,300 bid from Northern Tree Service for removal and stump grinding of a large tree and limbs damaged in the recent ice storm.
On staffing the county animal shelter, the board reviewed a letter of recommendation and a resume from the Animal Advisory Committee and voted to hire Shannon Becker as a full-time Animal Shelter Worker.
Commissioner Mike Patrick informed the board that Hiawatha Behavioral Health board member John Shoberg submitted a resignation effective immediately; the board unanimously accepted the resignation and directed staff to post an ad seeking a replacement.
At 5:03 p.m. the board voted unanimously to enter closed session under Michigan statute MCL 15.268(h) to discuss a confidential legal opinion from Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes. The board returned to open session at 5:47 p.m. and at 5:49 p.m. authorized Chair Mike Patrick to work with legal counsel to draft a letter to the Veterans Service Officer to arrange a meeting on May 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The board approved the regular-1 bills totaling $128,072.96 and additional bills totaling $109,933.53, and approved budget amendments #2025-14 and #2025-15. The meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
