Altman to handle chairmanship duties another year

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Carl ?Preach? Altman will lead the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners into the new year ? and the new decade. The board met Monday morning for its annual organizational session. The Hawks native, who received unanimous support from his fellow board members, will handle the duties of chairman for a second consecutive year. Commissioner Mike Darga of Rogers City made the only nomination for chairman and had it seconded by Kris Sorgenfrei of Millersburg. A motion was made to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Altman.

?BEFORE I OPEN nominations for vice chairman, I just want to say thank you to the board for your support,? said Altman, while taking this place in the chairman?s chair. ?I hope that I can continue to do a job that is fitting of the board.? Commissioner Bob Schell of Onaway was then voted in as vice chairman for another term.

?I thank my fellow commissioners for their support,? said Schell. ?I hope we work as well as we have in the past.? ?I?m sure we can,? said Altman, responding to the comment. ?Sometimes we have to disagree to agree, but that?s part of the process.? Mike Grohowski of Presque Isle nominated Schel

l. The vote, again, unanimous. In other business: the board of commissioners? rules of order was adopted and the meeting dates will remain the same. The county board convenes the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. and the last Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m.; subject to change by the chairman.

Darga also made a request that committee meetings include a two-minute public comment period, ?in case we have people there who want to make a comment.? ?That might be appropriate at our first regular meeting,? said Altman. THE NEWLY appointed chair also suggested Darga research the idea with prosecutor Rick Steiger.

The issue of a public comment period at the committee level was recently brought into question when the public, health and safety committee did not take comments from the public, while committee members were making their final recommendation regarding Wolverine Power Cooperative?s proposal to establish a landfill, and if the plan met all the criteria of the county?s solid waste plan. The next regular meeting of the board is Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.

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