The Alger County Commission passed two controversial resolutions regarding Second Amendment rights on Monday, April 10, after they were tabled during the March meetings.
Resolution 2023-7 “Instruct our Representatives to Oppose All Firearms Control Legislation” passed 4-1 with Esley Mattson (D-District 3) opposing. Resolution 2023-8 “Declaring Alger County a Constitutional Second Amendment Sanctuary County” passed 3-2, with Mattson and Rick Capogrossa (R-District 1) opposing.
The amount of public input was high regarding the resolutions, with dozens of people reaching out to their respective commissioners about the issue and a standing-room only crowd at the meeting. For those members of the public speaking at the meeting, there was an 11-9 advantage supporting the resolutions. In March, only one person expressed support for the resolutions before they were tabled into April, but many of the people who spoke against the resolutions last month spoke again at Monday’s meeting.
Those supporting the resolutions talked about the constitutionality of the Second Amendment and the risk of a slippery slope when banning specific firearms. Mental health was also brought up, with some supporters going to extremes to talk about unspecified “liberal ideology” as a public health crisis while others were grounded in facts regarding suicide prevention and access to mental health providers.
Those against the resolution cited the shooting in Louisville earlier in the day, in which a targeted attack by a former bank employee left five dead. Others cited the risk of accidental or intentional discharge of a firearm as a leading cause of death to children in Michigan, while others talked about the legitimacy of defunding law enforcement, a provision of one of the resolutions. One against the resolutions was the only person to be reprimanded for their behavior after screaming an expletive during a supporter’s public comment period.
People from both sides also talked about safety during an emergency, but those in favor talked about responding to criminal activity during an imminent threat, while those against talked about how the criminal would obtain the firearm in the first place.
Letters put on the record as correspondence favored the resolutions by an approximate three-toone ratio. Some of the people who wrote letters were seen outside the courthouse with American flags as well. The group provided smaller flags and exchanged pleasantries to those entering the building. According to courthouse staff wishing to be left anonymous due to the political nature of the gathering and the resolutions, the assembly outside the meeting is believed to be the first of its kind this millennium. No incidents, positive or negative, were reported from the assembly.
But for all the public input on the two resolutions, the commission barely spoke before voting. The commission sat in silence as Resolutions Subcommittee member Dean Seaberg (R-District 2) asked if there were any questions about the resolutions more than they spoke before their respective votes.
There was not a lot of discussion regarding the resolutions in March either, as the issue was tabled due to administrative procedure instead of the merits of the resolution. This time, both resolutions were reviewed by Alger County Sheriff Todd Brock and Prosecutor Rob Steinhoff. Brock did not have further input after speaking at the second March meeting, but Steinhoff wrote in opposition of the third operative clause of the Second Amendment Sanctuary County resolution because it risked violating county policy regarding bidding procedures and opened litigation from agencies that operated within Alger County for funding issues, according to a letter wrote by Steinhoff on page 95 of the meeting’s informational packet found on the county’s website.
“Like most resolutions, the substance of these resolutions is purely political with the exception of Operative Clause 3 in 202308,” Steinhoff said. “I conducted a thorough examination of Board Policy and Michigan law and outlined the potential inconsistencies. My opinion was dismissed without explanation. Regardless, law enforcement will continue to observe our statutory and constitutionally mandated duties and to work hard to make our community a safe place for all.”
Seaberg described the procedure used by the Resolutions Subcommittee during his commissioner comments at the end of the meeting.
“We did get the letter and we reviewed it and we did not think it was an issue,” he said. “There are a lot of things that should be followed as part of the procedures and we’re starting to do those things now.”
Two other commissioners expressed their opinions during their time at the end of the meeting regarding the resolutions. Commissioner Mick Rondeau (R-District 5) cited stricter language in the Second Amendment compared to other amendments in the U.S. Constitution as reasoning for his vote. Commissioner Kelly Livermore (R-District 4) said she did not believe that the commission would ever vote to defund law enforcement, even with the approved resolution.
The resolutions do not have an impact on any state or federal law, but could have an impact on interpretations of board policy regarding financial issues. Resolutions typically are sent to other elected officials like state congresspeople or other county commissions.
Even with an extended public comment period, the longest agenda item focused on vacation time and benefits starting date for a non-union maintenance position. The issue regarded confusion over contractual issues of an employee, but needed to be handled in front of the entire county commission and not just the labor subcommittee. The length of that item forced a number of people attending specifically for the gun resolutions to leave before the vote took place.
The county also approved policies regarding retirement benefits in case an employee became a public official. The issue was brought up due to County Clerk Mary Ann Froberg’s retirement this summer. Her replacement will be appointed by Circuit Court Judge Brian Rahilly. Resolutions supporting the repair of a downstate dam and supporting dark store tax legislation also passed unanimously.
The next Alger County Commission meeting will be Monday, April 17 at the Alger County Courthouse basement conference room.
