(SANDUSKY) – The Sanilac County Board of Commissioners heard legal advice on a matter involving a retired county employee during their Tuesday afternoon meeting. A lawyer for the County’s Retirement Board said Brenda Kauffman, who worked in the Drug Task Force department, believed the County was paying 2.5% in to her retirement fund.
However, according to documents presented, the attorney said Kauffman falls into the bracket of Elected and Appointed officials who have contributions of 2.1%. DTF officials were at the meeting and were under the impression she was receiving the 2.5%. Commissioners told members of the DTF board they have some options, including a financial reimbursement to their former employee, if it is allowable according to the Drug Task Force guidelines.
Both DTF Director Jim Johnson and Sanilac County Prosecutor were at Tuesday’s meeting and said they had the impression Kauffman would be receiving the 2.5%, although there was nothing in writing to support that.
In other Board of Commissioners news, although they have passed a motion redirecting $170,000 to the unfunded retirement budget instead of what many believe was to be additional money to pay down the jail debt, the Sanilac County Board of Commissioners are being asked to reconsider their action.
Sheriff Garry Biniecki, in a letter to commissioners, said he was disappointed he was not contacted prior to the move and warned if the action stands, the jail’s Federal Bed Rental program may be in jeopardy.
The Sheriff said the jail and federal bed rental program agreed to a four-year deal and the U.S. Marshall contract could be altered in the daily allowance per prisoner, based on new information. The $170,000 additional money was being used to pay down the jail debt, reducing the length of the bonds from 40 years to 25 years.
County Administrator Kathy Dorman said she is unaware of any contract with the U.S. Marshall’s and has never seen one. She has agreed with others that, although there was nothing official in writing, when the jail bonds were purchased, the idea was sold to county taxpayers with the understanding the County would pay off the debt as fast as possible, using any additional funds from the bed rental program.
