Steiger replaced as civil counsel for county board

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

One of two additions to the agenda at Friday’s Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners’ meeting was for the board to name civil counsel. By a 4-1 vote, with commissioner Lee Gapczynski voting no, the board named Haider Kazim of the Cummings, McClorey, Davis and Acho (CMDA) P.L.C as its civil counsel.

With the motion to name civil counsel, prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger who was serving in that capacity was relieved of those duties.

“The prosecutor has left the room, I was going to thank him for his past help but tell him that he will be relieved of that responsibility,” said chairman Carl Altman. As he finished that statement Steiger re-entered the room. “Rick we have acquired other civil counsel for the board and even partly at your suggestion and so I just wanted to take a second to thank you for the work you’ve done for the board in the past,” said Altman. Steiger had previously suggested that the board seek outside counsel.

“It’s been a privilege working with you. Now when I made the suggestion to obtain private counsel that was specific only to the issues going on in the jail. But I respect your decision and it has been a privilege getting to know all of you,” said Steiger.

Altman then told Steiger if he had any other questions to come to the board, and he immediately asked if there had been a vote. A vote had not yet taken place.

“Technically we didn’t motion to have you as our civil counsel so I wasn’t sure whether it was necessary to have a motion to remove you as our civil counsel,” said Altman.

“I don’t think we need to have a motion to remove him, I just think we need a motion that we name Haider Kazim as our civil counsel,” said commissioner Stephen Lang.

Vice chairman Bob Schell added a clarification to the motion naming Kazim as civil council, which was made by commissioner Mike Darga and seconded by Lang. “For clarification there was no retainer or annual fee to do this, it’s simply on a per hour as used basis,” said Schell.

BEFORE THE vote happened Steiger added comment. “By statute of course I am at the discretion of the board to become civil counsel. There’s other counties that, many other counties including Cheboygan, that the prosecutor is no

t civil counsel. I would say that I am sort of hurt over the fact that it comes in light of all the misgivings that have been going on that I’ve exposed but aside from that gentlemen I appreciate your decision. If you don’t feel comfortable with me and you want to go with someone else for whatever reason,” said Steiger.

Altman replied, “I am not going to go into much detail but it just seems that we’ve kind of lost confidence and so this is our decision.”

“I’ve never gotten you sued though, over all the years I’ve never gotten you sued. I have always had your back,” said Steiger.

FOLLOWING THE roll-call vote Steiger offered one more comment, “Gentlemen I appreciate it and best to you,” before packing up his belongings and exiting the meeting.