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The jail bond proposal went down 2,241 votes to 6,107.

"I am not extremely surprised the way the economy is," stated Jail Administrator Nick Romzek. He said although the bond proposal would not have resulted in a new tax, people didn't understand that.

The ballot language called for the county to issue limited tax general obligation bonds not to exceed $16.6 million to pay for renovations to the existing jail structure and to construct and equip a new jail to address safety and the physical condition of the 50-year old section of the jail. It did not authorize the commissioners to raise taxes to pay for the jail.

The commissioners planned to pay for the construction and operation of the new jail with revenue from federal marshal bed rentals. They would have had to assume the obligation from the county's general fund if the revenue from federal bed rentals was not enough to pay off the bonds However, the county could not have raised taxes to pay for any deficit without a vote of the people.

The commissioners put the proposal on the August ballot because over 3,000 voters petitioned the board for a referendum on the issue.

Med-Control millage
Voters renewed the med-control millage by a vote of 2-1 despite the opposition of public officials in southeastern Sanilac County and a scandal related to the former director.

It passed by a vote of 5,053 to 2,534

"I looked at all the townships and I thought it did very well, it was a big vote of confidence. I don't think we would have had the success without the EMS services, they stepped up. We need to work closely with them to be sure we support them,"Med-Control Chairman Ed Gamache said.

"I hope somehow Med-Control can work with the Croswell leadership. They are very focused on a millage (for ambulance service in southeastern Sanilac County)," he emphasized.

"We need to sit down, even though it passed with such a strong vote, and look at some concerns that were raised," Gamache added.

Local governments in southeastern Sanilac County had opposed the millage, and some of them are promoting a local ambulance authority supported by a millage.

Scandal also tainted the authority. The former director was sentenced to jail for embezzling over $72,000 in non-business related debit card purchases, hefty mileage reimbursements and irregular use of petty cash.

The authority for 2/10 of a mill for four years. Last year the millage brought in $255,500 to fund the state-mandated agency.

Med-Control's primary focus is on providing education and training for EMS personnel. It provides guidelines for patient care, quality assurance, purchases equipment such as more secure drug boxes for ambulances, and provides continuing education for EMS and first responders. They also have the only national registry-testing site in the Thumb.

Library millage
The library millage 'yes' votes totaled 5,243 votes compared to 3,144 'no' votes.
All of the libraries depend on the 2/10 mill county millage, but the three that are not district libraries would have been devastated. The funds are allocated among the eight public libraries in the county.
Voters renewed the library millage for four years, starting in 2008. The millage will actually be a slight increase since the Headlee Amendment has reduced its value to 0.1972 mills over the past four years.

Senior citizens millage
Voters approved the renewal of the senior citizen millage by a large margin --5,341 to 2,228 votes.
The 2/10 mill levy, which has been reduced to 0.1972 by the Headlee Amendment, will help fund the Sanilac County Council on Aging maintain and expand services to older citizens.
The council works with the Human Development Commission to fund everything from meals on wheels and adult day care to care giver training and home visits.