Commissioners decide to end contract with housing project administrator

The contract with the Montmorency County firm administering Presque Isle County housing projects will end November 12, following action by the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners to end the contract. The Rural Michigan Community Development Corporation, which had gone by the name of MARCH Inc., has been administering housing projects since September 1, 2003, but there have been complaints of late payments to contractors, as well other allegations. The situation has left commissioners, such as chairman Allan Bruder, a little uncomfortable, and he recommended the board discontinue the services.

MARCH and give them a 30-day notice. “In hindsight, as far as I’m concerned, we probably should have kept control of the funds here,” said Bruder. “I would like to see us make this change, at least for the next two-year period.” Presque Isle County prosecutor Don McLennan went through the contract and told the board that there was a provision that allowed either party to terminate the situation, without cause, at any time.

“WE WOULD like to see everything pretty much done the same, but (have) the money stay in the county,” said Bruder. “If there is going to be a draw from an account, we will make the check out and send it directly to the contractor. It’ll make us feel a lot more comfortable.” In a separate motion approved by the board, proposals will be solicited in the coming weeks to find a replacement, in part because grants have to be written by the end of the year. Action is expected at the next meeting, October 29.

Bids from interested parties are due October 27. Bruder said the county is responsible for the program “I don’t care who we give it to, we’re responsible for it.” Commissioner Bob Schell wondered if any consideration had been given to re-establishing the Presque Isle County Housing Commission. “When we got rid of it I thought we were going to save the county money,” Schell said. Bruder said governmental entities don’t receive as much grant funding, as do private firms. “I really don’t understand that 100 percent,” said Bruder, who didn’t rule out the request.

IN A RELATED MATTER, the closed session minutes of the September 8 meeting

became available to the public. The 31-minute session, which was attended by all five members of the board, was to discuss contracts and strategy associated with MARCH. It was later determined by McLennan to not fall under the scope of a closed session as allowed by the Open Meetings Act. According to the minutes, commissioner Gary Wozniak told board members that the Michigan State Housing Development Authority is in the process of investigating MARCH and that there have been “financial and/or ethical concerns identified by some persons and allegations made regarding misconduct of various individuals.”

WOZNIAK ALSO said there is an indepenendent audit of MARCH being conducted and that he was going to obtain a copy of it when it is completed. Wozniak further said there are questions about whether MARCH may have some of the county’s office equipment. Part of the discussion raised the question about whether another entity could better serve the citizens of the county. No action was taken in the closed session. None is allowed in any closed session, according to the Open Meetings Act.

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