Some believe that mediation could have prevented the suspension of the Kalkaska village treasurer. 

As a result, the ordinance review committee has decided to consider the development of a mediation board that would include people not directly linked to village officials or employees.  The panel would assess problems that arise, especially those that employees and officials might not feel comfortable bringing to the village executives or personnel.

According to village Trustee Damien White, “[the board] could help mediate the situation and bring it before the (full village) council.  That way any problems would stay in house. ”

The president, who could easily be involved in issues that would be handled by the mediation committee, is in support of the idea.  He believes the treasurer’s suspension demonstrated the need for the committee.  He believes the treasurer did not feel comfortable or that she had a way to reach out to someone other than those directly involved in the problems she wanted to address, and was forced to cancel police credit cards.

After the treasurer was suspended, additional accusations were brought up and she claimed that police officials were paid to teach a firearms class at a gun shop and that a former police employees was allowed to possess a village plow truck for personal use.

Everyone involved believes a mediation committee would make it easier to address concerns employees or officials might have before the problem escalates and anyone gets suspended.  Some cite a lack of communication as the reason why this current issue involving the treasurer went so far and that in the future, more open lines of communication could prevent many problems.