Commissioners approve veterans millage wording, OK moving Veterans Office into former EMS building

The Mackinac County Board of Commissioners approved new ballot wording May 9 for a veterans millage to appear on the August ballot and authorized relocating the Veterans Office into a building recently vacated by the Straits Area EMS Authority.

Veterans Committee Chair Dick Pershinske asked the board to change the proposal title; the board approved the revised title and wording, which the meeting record shows should read "Proposal to Renew & Restore County Veteran Millage." The millage wording change passed by roll call (YES: Corina Clark, Jodi Kaiser, Mike Patrick, Judy St. Louis-Scott; Absent: Dan Litzner).

The board also approved moving the Veterans Office into the EMS building and approved a plan to cover the cost of veteran flag holders (about $3,000) with the veterans millage, with reimbursement from the county's ARPA funds. The motions to relocate the office and allocate funding carried by voice and roll call votes as noted in the minutes.

Pershinske explained the proposed move and referenced committee resolutions describing the county and the Veterans Committee responsibilities. Probate Judge W. Clayton Graham separately requested that the Juvenile Diversion Officer be relocated into the vacated Veterans Office space, citing safety and poor air quality in the current basement office; the board took no separate vote recorded on office assignment beyond approval of the Veterans Office relocation.

Next steps include facility preparations and coordination with staff to transfer the Veterans Office into the EMS building if timelines and space needs are met.