Cass County prosecutor criticizes commissioners over withdrawn pay step request; board approves home repair pilot letter

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz sharply criticized members of the Cass County Board of Commissioners during the board’s February 19 meeting, responding to comments made earlier this month about a proposed two-step wage increase for his office manager.

The pay step request was introduced during the board’s February 5 meeting but was later recalled before a vote. Fitz was not present at that meeting.

Addressing commissioners Thursday, Fitz said he believed the discussion on February 5 included inaccurate information and unnecessary public criticism.

“Every one of you have missed meetings where important matters were discussed or voted on,” Fitz said. “I haven’t publicly called you out for that. I learned long ago that it’s best to get the full picture before publicly denigrating someone.”

Fitz said commissioners could have postponed the motion if they had questions.

“If you had questions about this motion, if you wanted to learn more or just needed to talk to me, all you had to do was calmly ask that the matter be adjourned to a later date,” he said. “Instead, various individuals spent approximately an hour publicly excoriating the motion with often misleading information.”

Fitz also objected to comments made during the February 5 meeting suggesting raises should not be granted for superficial reasons.

“The meeting was ended with a humiliating commentary that we can’t give a raise to somebody just because ‘I like your pretty face’ or because they ‘look good,’” Fitz said. “Amanda Smego was absolutely humiliated by that, her family was humiliated, my office felt humiliated, and other persons who saw this unfold felt the same way.”

Fitz distributed a written list to commissioners outlining reasons he believes Smego deserves the proposed step increase.

Commissioners did not respond publicly to Fitz’s remarks during the February 19 meeting.

During the February meeting, County Administrator Jennifer Rentfrow said that under the county’s recently adopted classification and compensation policy, step increases for non-union employees are scheduled to occur January 1. Fitz disputed the interpretation that commissioners lack authority to grant increases at other times.

The motion for the two-step increase was recalled before a vote on February 5.

Whole Home Performance Pilot

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved allowing Treasurer Hope Anderson to submit a MI Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant letter of intent, including a letter of support, as the next step in the Michigan Whole Home Performance (WHP) Pilot Program process.

Cass County has been identified as a prospective pilot county for the statewide initiative, which is coordinated by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority in collaboration with state agencies and Capital Access, Inc., the program’s technical assistance provider.

The pilot is intended to streamline funding sources for home repairs, health and safety improvements, and energy efficiency upgrades for eligible homeowners.

Ross Woods of Capital Access told commissioners that more than 70% of the county’s housing stock was built before 1990, meaning many homes are reaching an age when major repairs become more common.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.