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Hunt announced Monday that his work schedule is going to shift to days and asked if the commissioners could move their meeting times to evenings so he could still attend.

"If not I'm going part-time because I will not fail in my commitment to the people who elected me to office," stated Hunt, who represents District 6 that covers Buel, Fremont and Worth townships.

Board members discussed meeting at night, but that would create a conflict because the commissioners attend many of the local government meetings in the evening to keep in touch with constituents.

Commissioner William Walters sympathized with Hunt's dilemma, but also noted they have been trying to keep the courthouse building closed at night for security purposes.

County Administrator John Males offered to take responsibility for re-opening the courthouse after it closes at 4:30 p.m.

"But that entails asking our people to come back, wouldn't we pay our people to come back?" asked Walters, referring to courthouse staff.

"I'm not (paid). And for the rest, at the committee level, it would not be a problem," Males said.

"I hate to see someone give up a full-time job, but the questions Mr. Walters raised are valid," Males added.

"The board is great working with all of us, we can't survive on $10,000 (a commissioner's salary),"stated Commissioner Gary Russell, who works afternoons.

Board Chairman John Merriman then raised the issue of Hunt not being able to attend committee meetings.

"Would it help if I could or any other commissioner could cover everything so you'd have the resources," offered Males.

"I believe it could work. We had a commissioner (in the past) and he never attended a committee and opened his packet (of board information for the first time) here," stated Walters.

"I'll bite the bullet and get through it. I will not fail my constituents," emphasized Hunt.

Commissioners approved the same meeting schedule as last year: second and fourth Mondays at 10 a.m. for regular board sessions; finance committee on the first Monday morning of each month; and the three other standing committees on the third Monday mornings.

Commissioners also discussed changing the committee structure to shorten the amount of time it takes for matters to get to the board.

In other business, the board:

*Re-elected John Merriman chairman on a 6-1 vote. Russell voted no. He declined to comment on his vote later, except to say it was nothing personal.

Commissioners voted unanimously to re-elect Hunt vice-chairman, who was nominated by Commissioner Norton Schramm. Commissioner James Ruby nominated Walters, who declined the honor.

*Delaware Township resident Al Mach reamed the commissioners for dragging their feet on the jail renovation project.

"I took a tour of the jail...For this situation to exist for five years and the commissioners are sitting on their hands. It is terrible over there. You just spent money to have things fixed and it's leaking again. You're throwing good money after bad," Mach stated.

"Now you've got someone with a dubious reputation opposing the jail. What is the contingency when this election (for a $16.6 million proposal) goes down to defeat," he added.

"I said four years ago we should have put it to the voters, but the commissioners did not want to put it to the public," said Schramm.

"It (jail conditions) is not even suitable for employees. What is the contingency? Have you set down and talked? Are you going to private funding?" Mach asked.

"It will be at the discretion of this board," responded Merriman.

After over four years of study and planning, the commissioners voted to place a referendum on the jail addition and renovation on the August Primary ballot because the voters demanded it in a petition drive.