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The hoard doesn't want the land the buildings sit on, but is interested in moving the structures to nearby Delaware Park.

Treasurer Kathy Dorman and Parks Commission Chairman Art Severance met with the County Finance Committee last Thursday. Dorman presented the committee with a list of tax-foreclosed property that's available to the county for purchase, prior to the public auction in August.

A total of 13 land parcels have been foreclosed on this year. The State of Michigan has first dibs on the parcels, followed by local municipalities and then the county, which would have to pay the delinquent and current taxes before taking possession.

The Village of Forestville had until June 23 to notify the treasurer's office if it wanted the eight lots on M-25 where the buildings are located.

The parks board scheduled a meeting on June 24 at the property for a tour of the buildings, in the event the village wasn't interested. Severance said this would be the first time the board considered the purchase, and no decision had been made.

The committee sent a motion to the June 26 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, recommending the county purchase the property, should the parks board want to proceed.

The parks board wants to develop Delaware Park, and thinks it might be cheaper to pay the taxes and move the buildings than undertake new construction.

Severance said there's enough money in the parks millage fund to pay the back taxes of $62,875, current taxes of $15,000, plus the estimated $72,000 for the move - a total cost of approximately $150,000. However, he said the board would probably have to invest another $100,000 for building foundations, and to construct a road through the park.

Once the buildings were removed, the county could sell the vacant land, work out an agreement to transfer the property to Forestville, or keep it, said Dorman.

In other business commissioners:

*Received cost estimates on courthouse security, including personnel and equipment for a proposed north door checkpoint, a card-swipe system for two other doors, and other alarms and equipment.

The cost of hiring two part-time certified police officers and buying equipment for the checkpoint - walk through detector, hand held scanner, x-ray machine --plus other equipment, including card readers and alarms, is $70,445.

The committee sent the proposal from Administrator John Males and Emergency Management Coordinator Todd Hillman to the full board for approval. The cost is less than what had been discussed in March, when estimated price tag for personnel and equipment was pegged at $70,000-80,000.

"We owe it to all of the people to try to (protect the courthouse from violence)," said Commissioner Gary Russell. "If we think Sanilac County is exempt, we're only fooling ourselves."

*Heard a presentation from South Central Michigan Construction Code Inspection, which is interested in providing the building inspection services currently handled by the county's Construction and Land Use Department. SCMCCI is a non-profit governmental corporation formed in 1997 to provide building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and soil erosion inspections. Inspectors are paid per-inspection and spend most of their time in the field. The corporation operates in six counties, including Lapeer and Tuscola. It's run by a board of directors that administers and enforces codes and ordinances adopted by municipalities, and sets uniform fees for permits and inspections.

The information was referred to the County Personnel Committee for consideration.