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ALPENA -- The Alpena County Finance voted 4-0 at its meeting Wednesday to recommend the full board of commissioners approve removing $15,000 from fund balance to pay for the special election in November.
The election is needed so a millage request for the construction of a new jail near the airport can be voted on.
Treasurer Kim Ludlow said once the commissioners approved the ballot language, which seeks one-mill, and filed with the county clerk, the county became responsible to pay for it. Other than the millage request, there are no other county requests or candidate races.
Ludlow said when the budget was done, there was no money allocated for a special election, so dipping into fund balance was the best way to add money to the general fund to cover the cost of the election.
County Clerk Bonnie Friedrichs said the money will cover the cost of ballots, employee overtime on election night, costs of the board of canvassers, advertising and data card programming. She said because there will likely be a lower turnout than during presidential or general elections, she may be able to save money on how many ballots she orders and the amount of staff who need to work on election night.
"I believe I will be able to come in under the $15,000," she said.
In other business:
∫ the committee recommends accepting a $10,000 Highway Safety Planning Grant with no match to the county.
∫ recommends the approval of a $79,088 Secondary Road Patrol Grant, which is used to fund a deputy who is used strictly for patrol in the county.
∫ recommends accepting a $11,266 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Snowmobile Enforcement Grant and a $10,954 off road vehicle grant. There is no match to the county on either.
∫ recommends selling a 2008 Chevy Tahoe to the highest bidder, who bid $625 for the retired vehicle.
∫ recommends approving the interlocal agreement for recycling with the township and City of Alpena.
The full board of commissioners meet Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.