County board approves prosecutor?s recommendation for new assistant
With Gerald Gray?s resignation effective at the end of the month, members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners have approved his replacement. Prosecutor Don McLennan had been engaged in the search for a qualified replacement. In a memo to the board dated May 12, he said Jeaneth Kirkpatrick had agreed to assume responsibilities of the position. Kirkpatrick has experience in the Washtenaw County prosecutor?s office and previously worked a grant-funded drug prosecutor position in Detroit. She worked delinquency cases as well as abuse and neglect cases.
?Her former employers have strongly commended her work ethic,? stated McLennan. ?She should prove to be a valuable member of our staff.? Gray, who had worked as the assistant prosecutor since 1998, wants to return to private practice. His days in the public spotlight may not be over, though, as the Moltke Township resident has submitted nominating petitions and will run against chairman Allan Bruder for the District 2 county commissioner seat. Kirkpatrick has agreed to an initial salary of $42,000, plus benefits.
While her salary is within the prosecutor?s budget line-item, McLennan recognizes that the health insurance coverage will be an added expense. Gray was not receiving health benefits from the county. Instead, he was on his wife?s insurance plan. ?I am therefore electing to not employ an intern this summer,? stated McLennan in his memo. ?The savings as a result of that action ($4,550) should mean the net financial consequence to the county will be essentially a wash.? Kirkpatrick has indicated she?ll start May 24, which will give Gray a week to acclimate her to the new position.