Several topics of discussion were brought to the table at the Oceana County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, July 10. It was items not on the agenda, however, that generated the most buzz.
During the public comment session of the Finance and Administration meeting, there were two community members who delivered passionate speeches. Rick Poole, a homeowner in Mears, stepped up to the podium to ask that attention be brought to damage being caused to his property and the surrounding area.
“My family has owned this property since 1907,” Poole said. “I’m happy to see all of the improvements that have been done to the parks, but the thing we’re not considering when we do these improvements is the fact that when you build it as nice as it is, you bring more people to it. When you bring more people to it, you have an obligation and responsibility to oversee the park and its use.”
Poole noted that Cedar Point County Park, located to the south of his property, was becoming a burden due to visitors not following rules. Poole voiced his frustrations on park supervision, as well as flood damage caused to his property by recent road work in the area.
While the board heard Poole’s concerns, they resolved that they had no oversight over the road commission and their projects. Commissioner Tim Beggs offered his contact information to Poole as a liaison to the road commission, while Board Chair Bob Walker promised to look into the issue.
Dale Danes stepped up next, with questions on the Oceana County Medical Care Facility (OCMCF) board and administrator. Danes requested job descriptions for OCMCF board members, after having received comments that OCMCF board members hadn’t been giving employees prompt responses to questions. Danes, one of three current OCMCF board members, told the commissioners that OCMCF’s administration turned him away after those employee concerns were brought to their attention.
“I worked at (OCMCF) for 35 years,” Danes said. “Some of the previous board members attended our management meetings once a week. They wouldn’t have come if they had no input. They were very involved.”
Commissioner Beggs told Danes that the board would work to find a job description for OCMCF board members.
During the regular board meeting, Commissioner Paul Erickson further explored Danes’ comments, and the possibility of adding more than the three current board members was discussed. Commissioner Joel McCormick agreed and the commissioners decided to look into expanding the OCMCF board if possible.
Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast also gave a report, noting frustration with personal recognizance (PR) bonds. Almost all of the people jailed over the holiday weekend were released on PR bonds, something Mast noted was problematic.
“It was a busy Fourth of July weekend for us,” Mast said. “Of the 34 people jailed, I believe all but one were released on PR bonds. Everyone at the sheriff’s department is taught that bond is not a punishment. It’s to ensure that (people) will return to court. PR bonds do nothing to ensure that.”
All voting items on the agenda were passed unanimously. Those items included changes to the transfer station fees which are currently scheduled to begin August 4th, the sale of the transfer station backhoe, appointing commissioner McCormick as an alternate to the District 10 Health Department committee in the case that Erickson cannot attend, the approval of a Brownfield Plan at 330 E. Main Street in Walkerville and the statement of claims. That Brownfield Plan is for a Kwik-Mart to be built.
Commissioner Walker rounded out the second meeting of the day by informing the board that new encrypted radios had been delivered and installed for emergency personnel.
