A special meeting of the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners last week has resulted in what amounted to a "double-reverse."
The county board on Wednesday, Oct. 24, reversed a decision it made last month to relocate a probation and parole office from the county Law Enforcement Center into the adjacent Government Center courthouse once the new facility is completed.

The county board had decided in February 2006 that it would keep the probation and parole office right where it is – just off the lobby in the building housing the county jail and sheriff’s office.

In October of this year, however, the board decided to reverse its 2006 decision after hearing from probation and parole field supervisor Bill Cantinella, as well as receiving a letter from Circuit Court judges Thomas G. Power and Philip E. Rodgers Jr. All three advocated moving the probation and parole office into the courthouse.

Last month’s county board vote to move the office into the courthouse was 4-3. Opposed were District No. 7 commissioner Melinda Lautner, District No. 5 commissioner David “Chauncey” Shiflett, and District No. 4 commissioner Mary Tonneberger.

At a special meeting held the morning of Oct. 24, the board took “public comment” in person from Rodgers, Probate Court Judge Joseph E. Deegan, court administrator Betsy Fisher and probation officer Steve Brett.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board voted 5-2 to reconsider its motion of Oct. 9. Opposed were District No. 2 commissioner Mark Walter and the board chairman, District No. 6 commissioner Robert Hawley, according to draft minutes of the meeting.

Walter then made the same motion he had made at the Oct. 9 meeting – to move the probation and parole office from its current location in the LEC to the new government center, and to leave the office space it now occupies vacant.

Following further discussion, the motion that was narrowly approved on Oct. 9 failed in a 5-2 vote on reconsideration at last week’s meeting.

In the minority in favor of moving the probation offices to the new Government Center were Walter and Hawley.