Saint Clair County Commission approves routine contracts, appointments and $1.82 million in bills

The Saint Clair County Commission approved a slate of routine measures at its May 26 regular meeting, including contract payments, personnel appointments and a large set of regular bills totaling $1,821,921.15.

Chairman Stan Bateman called the meeting to order, and the commission moved quickly through consent and action items. The body approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of its May 12 meeting by voice vote. Commissioners then approved a final invoice tied to a bridge project involving the Town of Raglan's water line, accepted an auction guarantee from JM Wood for two Kenworth tri-axle dump trucks ($430,000 guaranteed), and approved a $5,623 change order for a new equipment storage building roof to match existing colors.

The commission also approved an access agreement to a property owned by Alan Baker — a five-year agreement that includes a $5,000 payment to allow removal of beaver dams tied to a Sandy Road project — and moved forward on staffing changes. The commission approved in-house appointments recommended by the engineer: Marty Murphy as sign crew assistant and Brandon Vaughn as road superintendent, with the resulting vacancy to be filled later.

Other approved items included a request to issue an RFQ for a consultant to develop a Safe Streets for All plan (see separate article), a $659.20 purchase for CPR/AED instructional materials for county staff, and approval to apply for a $5,000 reimbursable grant to distribute smoke detectors and rain gauges to county residents.

The commission authorized several sheriff’s office requests: a resolution to disburse $29,638 into the sheriff’s Better Law Enforcement Fund, renewal of a $3,000-per-year subscription enabling online pistol permit processing, and a consent approval for an annual Industrial Networking Solutions service agreement (estimated $443.31) to support Cradlepoint service for the DEU van and the search-and-rescue trailer (pending county attorney review).

Budget and administrative items approved included shifting the municipal agreement review date from June 1 to August 1, adding one maintenance position (level 12) to the property manager’s staff (budget amendment implied), paying an invoice of $1,431.17 to repair a jail gate control board, approving staff travel and training, and paying the regular bills of $1,821,921.15. Each action was approved by motion and voice vote as recorded in the public meeting.

The meeting adjourned after the chair read and the commission ratified Resolution 20 26 29 honoring county engineer James Daniel “Dan” Dahlke on his retirement after more than 34 years of service. Dan Dahlke accepted the recognition and thanked the commission.