County Commission Candidates Speak Out

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County Commission Candidates Speak Out

By B. J. Conley

Two of the six county of Charlevoix Board of Commissioners have challengers in the Aug. 3 primary. Incumbent Bob Drebenstedt is challenged by Jerry Kelts for his seat in the 5th District that includes the townships of Eveline, Marion and Wilson (south of the Boyne City/East Jordan Road). Incumbent Shirley Roloff is challenged by Richard Gillespie for her seat in the 6th District that includes the city of Charlevoix (south of the bridge), Charlevoix Township (south of the bridge) and the townships of Norwood, Peaine and St. James. The other commissioners, Shirlene Tripp who represents District 1, Chris Christensen of District 2, Ron Reinhardt of District 3 and Joel Evans who is commission chairman and who represents District 4, are unopposed. District 1 includes the city of Charlevoix (north of the bridge), the township of Charlevoix (north of the bridge and the townships of Hayes and Bay. District 2 includes the city of Boyne City and Evangeline Township. District 3 includes the townships of Boyne Valley, Chandler, Hudson, Melrose and Wilson (south of the Boyne City/East Jordan Road). District 4 includes the city of East Jordan and South Arm Township. Drebenstedt, who resides in Charlevoix, wants to continue with his work for veterans. He is on the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Committee and assists veterans with travel support and other needs. Other goals for Drebenstedt involve senior citizens and public safety at the county building. “I want to keep the Commission on Aging operating in the black with all the programs they have and the outstanding senior centers catering to the community area,” he said. “I am working for a safer work environment for the employees and the public by getting cameras installed in the county building in the very near future.” Drebenstedt favors a non-motorized trail saying it will increase tourism in the county. He is open to an alternate route instead of the Boyne City/Charlevoix Road, although he says a trail around the lake is the most scenic. To determine cuts to make up for the $500,000 shortfall in the next county budget, Drebenstedt said the departments will be examined. “We are asking every department head to turn their budgets in early, so we can work with them to hold their costs down.” He said he is in favor of a human resource person after he listened to some of the department heads who say a human resource person would help determine raises and evaluations and would keep commissioners up-to-date on state and federal laws. Drebenstedt’s challenger Jerry Kelts of Boyne City would work towards the hiring of a human resource person, towards the budget and for a non-motorized trail around Lake Charlevoix. “I would like to see a trail all around Lake Charlevoix, not just part of it,” Kelts said. He believes the county will benefit by hiring a human resource person. “This is one thing that the county needs. Over the past six years there has been six lawsuits by county workers totaling over $6 million,” Kelts said. “A human resources person could help stop this.” Roloff , of Charlevoix, wants to expand and improve upon the county recycling program that she has been involved in. On the subject of the county budget coming up short by $500,000 next year, Roloff explained that the property tax values have dropped, resulting in less revenue for the county. To make up for the $500,000 Roloff said county department budgets will be reviewed for cuts. Roloff favors the hiring of a human resource employee. “The county needs someone that can identify legal requirements and governmental reporting regulations,” she said. The employee would stay current on federal, state and case law changes and would conduct evaluations for wages and benefits. She lists recycling programs, expansion of broadband, roads and senior citizens as issues the county needs to work on. Roloff’s challenger Richard Gillespie of Beaver Island listed good stewardship of the county’s economy as one of his goals. “My main goal is to do the people’s business fairly and economically,” Gillespie said. “The county budget has more than doubled in just over 10 years. I want to be sure the work is being done and at a reasonable price. We cannot put any more strain on the taxpayers, many of whom are in danger of losing their homes.” Gillespie favors a non-motorized trail, but he would like to see the Boyne City/Charlevoix Road improved first. “The problem is that the Legislature creates these ‘programs’ and robs money from road commission budgets to pay for them,” he said. Revenue for the county is down as is revenue for businesses, but Gillespie believes that there are many ways the county can save money. Although the hiring of a human resource person would add to county expense, Gillespie said it is time that the county has such a position to save money in the long run. “We have been sued numerous times over the last 10 -12 years. Charlevoix county has spent well over a half of a million dollars on legal defense in recent years,” he said. “The commissioners are the parent organization of every department in the county. They have public safety committees, building and grounds committees, judicial and personnel committees, amongst others, lawsuits should not happened, ever.”

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