ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, the winners of Delta County’s May 7 recall election attended their first meeting as county commissioners.
New Commissioners Myra Croasdell, Kelli Van Ginhoven, and Matt Jensen joined sitting Commissioners Steven Viau and John Malnar. The board unanimously selected Malnar as chair. Van Ginhoven was named vice chair with all in favor except Viau.
After eight years on the board, Malnar says he is excited for the opportunity to take on the role of chairman.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I’ve been looking to do this for a long time and it’s finally come together. I thought tonight went very positive. We’ve got a new board with three new commissioners, and they did very well also.”
After its last meeting, the former board sent a complaint to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding what then-Commissioner Bob Barron called “a potential confidentiality breach” and discrimination against the county by Delta Conservation District Board Chair Joe Kaplan. With the county administrator verifying there was no breach of confidentiality, the new board voted to withdraw that complaint.