This week’s decision by Alpena County commissioners to allow the prosecutor’s department to keep controversial furniture they earlier this year had denied payment for is bad precedent.

First, let us make clear our position has nothing to do with the merits of whether the furniture was needed or not.

For us, the issue is a matter of principle, vision, integrity and ethics.


Regardless of whether the furniture was needed, it already has been established the purchase of it was not made through proper channels, country procedures had been circumvented and in fact, no one in the prosecutor’s department even was involved with the purchase. That being the case, commissioners were correct several months ago to not pay the bill and order the furniture be returned.

Had that been done in a timely fashion, commissioners would not have been presented with the issue again this week, when suddenly drug forfeiture money became available to cover the furniture’s costs.

The prosecutor’s office argued the money for them had to be used “to enhance” law enforcement. Now you can argue with us all you want about that interpretation, but we do not believe the spirit and intent of the law is being adhered to when office furniture qualifies under that provision.

By allowing for the purchase, commissioners now have opened the door for other county departments to likewise circumvent policies and procedures. Sure, other departments might not have access to the same type of extra funds the prosecutor’s office enjoys but hey, why worry if apparently the commissioners don’t.

Where is the vision in the county when commissioners can’t come up with money to fund economic development efforts, yet they approve purchasing furniture that previously had been denied?

Commissioners had done the right thing in August when they denied the purchase. We only wish they had stuck to that decision and let everyone know there is a right and wrong way in following county procedures.