HoHoughton County Vice Chair Roy Britz, second from left, reads the details of a purchase for the sheriff’s department during Tuesday’s board meeting. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The purchase of a new app to let Houghton County residents look up which inmates are in the county jail is on hold while the county board seeks more answers about it from the sheriff’s department.

The board voted 3-2 Tuesday afternoon against a package from OCV including mobile app development, first-year annual support, inmate search and a custom marketing kit. The cost was $16,189.50. 

Delta County and several others in Michigan are also using the app, said Bernard Kluskens, IT director for Houghton County. Once the county approves it, a note will be put on the county’s website directing people to sources where it can be downloaded, such as Google Play, he said.

The app would be a successor to an earlier one used by residents that tied into a previous computer management system used by the jail. The system has since changed, and the old app no longer functions, Kluskens said. 

Commissioner Joel Keranen wanted to know more about the cost relative to other vendors. 

“I’m a little hesitant to vote for this without having the sheriff here to explain,” Keranen said. “Not that I don’t think it’s good, but I can’t be in favor … I just have questions.”

Keranen, Chair Tom Tikkanen and Vice Chair Roy Britz voted against approving the purchase; Commissioners Glenn Anderson and Gretchen Janssen voted in favor. 

Tikkanen invited the sheriff or a department representative to attend the December meeting to discuss the new system.

Other budgeted items requested by the sheriff’s department received unanimous approval Tuesday. 

Two all-wheel-drive Dodge Durangos were purchased from Lafontaine Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of Lansing for $44,706 each. Britz said the Durangos had a good reputation.

“I know Michigan Tech had them years in the past, and they held up well for them,” he said.  

The board also obtained the annual Solidcircle service for $19,253.76, plus a three-year warranty for $8,125. The county uses the software for its jail management and incident management system. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reimburses the county for the warranty. 

In other action, the board:

• Approved a letter of support for Franklin Township’s application for a Department of Natural Resources Recreation Improvement Fund (RIF) grant. The funds would go towards finalizing the alignment and design of a proposed non-motorized trail corridor on a DNR rail grade in the township. 

“The Keweenaw Peninsula has very few dedicated non-motorized trails of a nature that can be used for long-distance commuting and creational transportation for users of all abilities,” Board Chair Tom Tikkanen said “The portion of trail goals to be scoped within Franklin Township could be just the beginning of a longer planned trail route extending from Hancock to Lake Linden and incorporated into a longer network. Such trails are an important element of our community health, quality of life and visitor economy.”

• Heard from Keranen the transfer station’s trash compactor should be working again the next couple of days. For almost four weeks, dropoffs have been restricted to residential only. 

• Adopted the Benefit E cost of living adjustment for existing retirees of the county’s Division 02, which includes members of the sheriff’s department. The county will pay $195,071 in additional actuarial accrued liability for the annual item. It will take effect Jan. 1. Britz, former county undersheriff, abstained from the vote.

• Amended the county’s personnel policy regarding information technology to meet current standards. 

• Approved the compensation and benefits package for the Houghton County Road Commission. The package includes a $2,000 salary and mileage reimbursement of 67 cents a mile for commissioners’ use of their own cars. The terms are the same as past packages. 

• Approved third-day partial pay of $40 for election canvassers. They now come back six days after the election to review military and overseas ballots, and any signature-cured ballots sent to the city and township clerks’ offices postmarked by Election Day. 

• Reappointed Timothy Sears to the Houghton County Planning Commission Board. 

• Appointed Chelsea Rheault as the chairperson of the county Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.