ROSCOMMON COUNTY — One more hurdle has been cleared in Richfield Township’s efforts to establish additional off-road vehicle (ORV) routes in their township.

At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Roscommon County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to ORV Ordinance No. 4, Motion 10 from the Oct. 8 Board of Commissioners meeting. The amendment will establish the following all-season ORV routes in Richfield Township: Old 76, Geels Road to Madison St.; Madison St., Old 76 to F-97; F-97, Madison St. to Central Drive; Central Drive, F-97 to the East County Line.

The Roscommon County Road Commission Board, at its Oct. 23 meeting, approved Richfield Township’s request for the above ORV route additions. Two days earlier, at its regular meeting, the Richfield Township Board approved a motion to make such a request to the county. At that time, Richfield Township Clerk Pamela Scott said the board had to approve such a motion before they can make a formal request to the county.

The Board of Commissioners also set dog and cat licenses for 2009 as follows: Senior Citizens — $2 for spay or neutered dog or cat, $10 for intact; All others — $5 for spay or neutered dog or cat, $10 for intact. After March 1 of each year, all licenses will cost $40.

The motion passed by a 4-1 margin, with Commissioner Marc Milburn opposing. Milburn said the fees for senior citizens should remain at $2 for spay or neutered dog or cat and $5 for intact. He contended that doubling the intact fees for senior citizens during these economic times is unnecessary.

In other county business, the board took the following actions:

•Hired Kellie Robb as the Roscommon County Juvenile Detention Center Director, at an annual salary of $35,000, and benefit package available to all non-union county employees, pending a criminal background check and drug testing. Robb’s start date will be determined at a future date.

Commissioner Bob Schneider, a member of the board’s Detention Center Committee, said Robb was selected from among 10 candidates interviewed for the position.

•Discontinued using letters of credit with Chase Bank for the County Landfill and authorize County Controller Cheryl Mollard to proceed setting up a Certificate of Deposit with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in the amount of $305,000. Of that total, $181,441 has been set aside, and the remaining portion of $123,559 will be budgeted in 2009 and will come from General Fund Balance. This will result in a savings of $2,287.50.

•Approved a Letter of Understanding between the Board of Commissioners, Sheriff Francis Staley, and the Police Officers Association of Michigan regarding “Return to Unit from appointment as Acting Undersheriff” for Deputy Ed Stern, and authorized Chairman Larry Mead to sign the letter. Staley said the letter was drafted to protect Stern’s position with the Sheriff’s Department in the event Sheriff-elect Randy Stevenson was not elected as Sheriff during the Nov. 4 general election.