Mason County Commissionettes: A Positive Presence

[XLFD]

The recent revelation by the County that they may be giving the three commissioners that do not get their health insurance from the County a lump payment to get them more in line with the other commissioners has aroused some stout opposition.  The main opponent, one of those three and the least compensated member of that bloated organization, Mary Nichols. 

The amount of compensation paid out last year to Mary for wages, FICA, retirement, health care and per diem was $4418.  The amount of money the taxpayers of the county pay just for the health insurance of Tom Posma, with the same job and responsibilities is over four times that amount, $18,436.  A person who works 40 hours every week at $10.00 an hour takes home less than he gets for health insurance per year. 

The two most-bloated Commissioners, Posma and Lewis Squires, cost the County over $50,000 a year; the whole group costs $153,461 to maintain for a job wherein their duties amount to meeting once a month as a group, where they have the ability to make laws, perform oversight, and provide constituent service.  As a group, these Commissioners haven't usually performed these services in the public interest over the last few years. 

Enter Mary Nichols, and one of the fresh faces on the Commission, Susan Boes ($5101 in compensation).  Sure Posma gets paid out six times as much as Mary, but instead of wanting to raise her salary to his, she would like these guys to lower their compensation closer to hers. 

"My feeling is the County board is a part-time position and other part-time county employees are not receiving those benefits.  I have a hard time justifying health care benfits for the entire board." she told a local paper. 

The fact is, if we took out the health and dental programs for the Board of Commissioners, the County would save itself $100,926 each year.  If the new payments are affirmed by the board, that could go up by over $40,000. 

 

Lewis Squires, a chiropractor by trade whose aim seems to be to break the taxpayer's back, says:  "I do not view my job as part-time.  I take this very serious.  This is important to me.  I put my heart and soul into this.  They need to be compensated for a job well done." 

And added:  "I am definitely not on this board for the insurance coverage, not at all."  He also believes people should compare county board compensation rates with the compensations received by township officials, noting that he represents North Amber, Victory and Sherman Townships and not only one township.

So, Commissioner Chairman Squires, for all that you do, you force the public you serve to spend $17,565 on your health insurance while that money could be used for needed county services or put back into the pockets of your constituents?  The sad truth is, you represent roughly the same number of people that Mary Nichols does over roughly the same area, work about the same amount, and yet you're paid out nearly six times her in compensation.  

And she's embarrassed that you and the other bloated old guys of the Commission are picking the public's pockets as you try to justify your greed by raising her compensations to a comparable level.  

 

But Mary Nichols also has not only the fiscal common-sense that nakes her a special local politician, but she also is concerned about the safety and health of the people of her district and her county.  This is best shown when she presented this in a special 9-29-2011 meeting:

 

A consultant to look into this problem could have been hired for less than what seven different Commissioners get paid for health insurance each year, and it may have provided the County with some idea of the danger that may be present with the current positioning of the turbines and the sour gas lines.  But who introduces, seconds, and votes for this resolution, the two female commissioners.  Squires, Posma, etc. show that they are more interested in their own personal health and safety rather than those of the people they are hired to look out for. 

Keep fighting for the people, Mary Nichols and Susan Boes. 

[Willy]

Although I completely disagree with the Commissioners receiving health care benefits due to their part time status it's only fair to point out that they must devote more than the time spent at their monthly meeting. Any law or ordinance requires them to do  extensive research in order to get the whole picture and the Commissioners must spend a lot of time with complaints and other contact with citizens including separate meetings with other  Government officials and business leaders. So the job does require more than the minimum time spent at one meeting.

[XLFD]

The commissioners have set up a variety of subcommittees just like the City of Ludington has, so they do more than just attend one 90 minute monthly meeting, and most, if not all, would and  do take the extra time to research and investigate any problem they might encounter. 

But they would also be technically doing their job if they just attended these monthly meetings regularly.  They could get by with minimal research on laws they are required to vote on, the oversight they possess is optional, and they can pick and choose what constituents they decide to listen to and help.  I have found the City Councilors are really ignorant of their own ordinances and state law and don't get back with you if they don't stand to make a profit from it in some way; I expect the normal Commissioner is about the same.  That's why I am celebrating Mary and Susan; they show that humble public servants can get on the County Board and give us a good example of what should be the norm. 

[AQUAMAN]

Yeah for Boes and Nichols, both on the right track, to govern in a responsible and diligent manner, for the people. Now then, if the rest of the Board had taken the extra time to study the wind farm concerns properly and diligently, they may have voted against the plan. As it stands, they remind me of the local COL CC board, not willing to correct any errors in judgment, not willing to study up close for the good of the people, not willing to do what is right, just what the rest of the sheeple do, and be vain and aloof in the process.

[AQUAMAN]

I just wonder if CARRE was aware of this motion and voting. If not, they should have been, and could have been in attendance to put the pressure on them to vote appropriately for fairness. Does Colleen know?

[XLFD]

I believe they were aware Aquaman, if I am not mistaken Cary Shineldecker, Kirk Dinkins, John Morong and Evelyn Bergalia were all present and made comments regarding the sour gas lines issue.  Here's confirmation:

http://www.masoncounty.net/documents/Board%20of%20Commissioners/Bud...

[AQUAMAN]

That file won't open for me, but I'll take your word for it, now comes CARRE afterwards, and files the necessary lawsuit to stop this silliness by the MCC. I cannot for the life of me see where a study/investigation of the situation is not warranted and fair, esp. given the life and death circumstances that may be ahead if the wrong placements and setups of the wind turbines is completed sometime soon. It would only seem prudent and precautionary for the entire MCC to vote to see if there is any concerns for safety now, and not wait for an accident to happen in the future that could be lethal. Can't be too safe where this type of scenario is in existence near homes. Guess the Naysayers aren't concerned with others safety, unless it's theirs.........hmmm, that in itself should warrant a possible recall imho........failing suspensions/reprimands for reckless conduct.

[XLFD]

It took a while to open for me as well; I was using a borrowed computer way out in the wilderness yesterday night, so I presume that may be the problem. 

Warranted and fair, yes; but the underlying politics of the issue is that the wind farms are working against inorganic deadlines set by the government and their subsidies for such projects.  Our future wind farm would lose a lot if it doesn't get underway this year, and might not be built if its construction was somehow blocked or stalled, such as by the courts.  They are building their project, while their legal team, led by Ludington City Attorney Richard Merlin Wilson, stalls the CARRE efforts in the courts.  Once again, Manistee's Merlin making Mason County residents cry-- for justice and safety.