Otsego County's Board of Health reps scrutinized after voting against grant
GAYLORD — The chairman of the Otsego County Board of Commissioners has no plans to replace one or both of the county's two representatives that serve on the Board of Health for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.
Otsego County Commissioners Henry Mason of District II and Jonathan Turnbull of District III were appointed to the health department board last January. The board is made up of two commissioners from the county boards of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties which comprises the health department's (HDNW) jurisdiction.
Mason and Turnbull's actions and words have come under scrutiny recently as both voted against an application for a $5,000 grant for tobacco-free prevention efforts at high schools in Otsego County. Eventually, the full board approved the grant application.
"I don't have a lot of options. I would like to see other commissioners show some interest. Until I find somebody that shows interest we have got to have two commissioners on the board and unfortunately I haven't seen a lot of people willing to step up," said board chairman Doug Johnson of District VII.
After being appointed to the Board of Health, Mason and Turnbull were then selected for the board's program and evaluation committee. Members of that panel failed to consider two grant applications — the tobacco prevention program and another grant that would have provided free dental prevention care to children in Antrim, Emmett, Charlevoix and Otsego counties.
At the Aug. 10 meeting, consideration of the grants ended when members failed to come up with a second to enable discussion. Last week, the Board of Health signed off on changes to allow the full board to consider grant applications even if the program and evaluation committee takes no action or doesn't recommend approval. Those are changes Johnson was glad to see implemented.
"In a democracy the majority rules. Here you have got a four-person committee and if three don't support something they are making decisions for eight. That is not democracy in my opinion. They should be coming out of the committee with a recommendation to approve or disapprove a grant and then the full board should make a final decision," Johnson said.
More: Board of health approves grant application despite Otsego opposition
Mason has also come under fire for his comments concerning Frederic Baraga, first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette (1853-1868), and his work with Native Americans. Mason discussed Baraga, American Indians, fur traders and alcohol abuse.
Turnbull raised eyebrows by praising Ellen Templeton, the health department employee who is the program coordinator for RISE: Otsego Substance Free Youth. She will coordinate the grant and noted that it includes spending in all of Otsego County's high schools. However, he still voted against the grant application.
Johnson expressed frustration with Turnbull's approach.
"Don't say 'I am going to vote against this but I appreciate it's going to all of the schools.' It's inconsistent," he said.
Johnson wonders if there are still some bad feelings about the health department and its role in enforcing restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I still think we are suffering from the post-pandemic era and it kind of bothers me because it is raising its ugly head again. If that happens I hate to see where we are going to go," Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the Emmet County Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to remove Rich Ginop as one of their two representatives on the HDNW board following a Code of Ethics and Conduct public hearing. Ginop was also a member of the health board's program and evaluation committee at the Aug. 10 meeting.
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In other matters, when the county board met in July to approve a proposal to move the court and other governmental functions out of the J. Richard Yuill Alpine Center, the board did not fully comply with the Open Meetings Act.
Built in the 1930s, the Alpine Center was acquired by the county in 1982. The structure has developed roof issues, mold and other problems.
The board met in a closed session to consider another building for the court offices before deciding to utilize up to $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to construct a new building on county-owned land between Otsego and Illinois avenues in Gaylord that now is home to a dog park.
After consulting with county legal officials, county administrator Matt Barresi said Tuesday the board may have inadvertently violated the Open Meetings Act by reviewing both options in the closed session. Barresi said it was recommended that the board approve a new motion approving the new building after allowing for expanded public input.
Commissioners unanimously approved adding the proposal to the agenda for its next meeting on Sept. 26.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Otsego County's Board of Health reps scrutinized after voting against grant
