COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – On a 3-2 vote, the Branch County Board of Commissioners Tuesday turned down a request from the prosecutors office to hire a full time clerk/secretary/receptionist which would have replaced a part time position that has not been filled.
Prosecutor Ralph Kimble submitted the request due to the increase in work load and the loss of their full time summer help. The position would have paid $11.94 an hour or just over $24,800 a year.
Kimble says his office has been seriously understaffed for a couple of years due to a number of reasons which included the loss of a long time employee.
Other reasons for the understaffing according to Kimble included the removal of two clerks during the prior Prosecutor’s term, added Probate Court juvenile abuse and neglect cases, as well as increases in warrant requests and criminal prosecutions.
But Commissioner Terri Norris cited a reduced number of cases that have been reported by the courts since 2014 as a reason why she could not support the request. She added neglect cases seem to be holding steady.
County Administrator Bud Norman said while there was funding available for this year, it would be an added expense in the 2018 budget.
Board Chair Ted Gordon called for a roll call vote. Norris, Leonard Kolcz and Gordon voted no, while Randall Hazelbaker and Don Vrablic voted yes.
In other business, the Commissioners formally approved a delinquent tax revolving fund policy. It calls for the County Treasurers office to notify the board when there is a surplus and how much is it. The intent of the policy is to limit what the surplus can be used for.
Commissioners also approved spending no more than $13,000 out of Capital Outlay and Contingencies to fix the courthouse elevator which has been out of service for almost two weeks. Repairs to the open and close control panel are expected to take about two weeks.
