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ALCONA-- A resolution for uplifting faith and freedom was unanimously approved by the Alcona County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday.
Commissioner Gary Wnuk said modern education of history has eradicated Christian links to the constitution.
Jan. 16, 1786, Thomas Jefferson declared the federally recognized Freedom of Religion Day. As Alcona has never observed the holiday, Wnuk thought it vital the board formally recognize and support the proclimation.
"Basically a lot of our history has not brought up the fact that folks, when our founders first gathered together during the Revolutionary War they decided they were going to hold a public prayer," he said. "John Adams said 'I'm not religiously bigoted, I'll play with anybody that loves the country.' He firmly believed that God would care about this country and it went beyond denominational lines."
Wnuk said the constitution and laws against murder, rape and theft stemmed from the Bible, a history that some discredit.
"Basically if you are anything but Christian you have freedom," he said. "Anything that is relative to being Christian is being silenced with a misquotation of Thomas Jefferson as separation of church and state."
Wnuk said Alcona County has been respectful toward religious freedom.
"It aggrieves me to see the ignorance we have with kids and our moral base," Ted Jolls, pastor of Curtisville Baptist Church, said. "In schools they don't know Silent Night, or why we celebrate Christmas. Kids don't get the true history because we tend to self censor ourselves and put up a wall of separation between religion and state. It thrills my heart to hear him say that."
During public comment Alan Fischer praise work of Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health for its work to teach the general public how to respond to first aid emergencies.
"You never know when you are going to be stuck in a situation," he said. "There hasn't been one in Alcona ounty yet, there was one but they couldn't get a group of five together. Anybody can join and its a very worthwhile program."
In other business:
∫ the board approved the 2018 budget with a 3-1 vote, providing it add a forgotten $2,500 data processing fee.
∫ the board approved the health care plan that will give full-time employees co-pays and deductibles, and keep the current contract for life and health insurance.
∫ the board accepted the resignation from Commissioner Kathleen Vichunas, and will advertise in local papers, and hope to have a new commissioner in office by Jan. 5.
∫ the board reappointed Patricia Thomas as board member for the Department of Health and Human Services, and Kevin Boyat to continue as chair of Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport Authority.
∫ approved spending the $11,000 fund for the security committee.
Beth Gohs can be reached via email at bgohs@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.