Public commenter urges board to publish countywide suicide-prevention plan and reinstate trespass-review panel

James Allen of the Marquette County Suicide Prevention Coalition used the meetings public-comment periods to press the county for transparency and restoration of local oversight bodies.

Allen told commissioners the county previously approved a countywide suicide-prevention plan (he referenced a December 2013 resolution) and asked the board to provide a copy to the public. He argued the plan's absence undermines grant applications and local efforts and linked proper procedure to public-safety outcomes: "Please give us a copy of that board approved suicide prevention plan because you took millions of dollars in grants from the state and federal government based on the fact that that's why I told Jerry," Allen said.

Nut graf: Allen also accused the board of procedural lapses, citing Robert's Rules and the Open Meetings Act, and asked for a trespass-review committee and timely appeals processes. Those assertions were made as part of public comment and did not prompt a recorded formal response or corrective action during the meeting.

In addition to the records request, Allen requested restoration of a trespass-review committee and said he had outstanding concerns about a trespass notice and an appeal he filed years earlier. "We need a trespass review committee," he said, asking the board to bring the issue back for consideration.

The meeting record shows the board heard Allen's requests but did not adopt a specific follow-up or schedule a hearing to provide the planning documents or reconstitute a committee during the session. Commissioners closed public comment and moved on to agenda business.

The county did not, during this meeting, produce the referenced 2013 resolution text or commit to a timeline for producing documents requested by the speaker.