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"We already have loaned them some money and we cut back on the rent we were charging them," District No.3 Commissioner and board Chairman Jack White said. "And then we turn around and say it is not enough. You might be willing to accept it but I canÕt. ThatÕs my opinion." White was joined in casting a dissenting vote on the matter by District No. 8 Commissioner Bernard Blackmore on the issue.

Vice Chairman and District No. 7 Commissioner Laura Stanek said the state gave the county operations of the building department back, but they had to run it by the charging of the fees.

"We have been subsidizing it with funds from the general fund for about two years," she said, adding she did not like the mechanism of increasing the permit fees, but felt there was nothing else the board could do.

"If we donÕt do it, the state is going to come down hard on us," Stanek predicted. "I do not see it any other way. If Antrim County is going to continue running the building department, they are going to have to increase the fees."

District No. 5 Commissioner David Howelman asked how close the building department would come to meeting their budget, without the increase, to which county Coordinator/Planner Peter Garwood said the figures would amount to $647,000 with the increase and $637,000 without.

"You would still have to tighten it up by $10,000," he said.

County building department director Robert Massey said fees are calculated based on the cost of a structure, so one valued at $1,200 would have their fees increased by about $60.

"I believe that Bob has done all he can do for the department," District No. 2 Commissioner Eugene Dawson said. "We have either got to make the department run and increase the fees or we are going to have to give it back to the state."

District No. 9 Commissioner Joe Allen reminded his colleagues the building department might not be able to make any money for at least the next three to four years, due to the dismal state of the economy.

"We are in it for the long haul or we are out of it," he said. "If we are in it, we are not going to be making money for a few years."

"We are not looking for the building department to make money," Vice Chairman and District No. 7 Commissioner Laura Stanek said. "We just want the building department to be able to support itself."

Ò" donÕt think we are not ever going to see that,Ó"Allen said, "but that is just my personal opinion."

Agreeing that the economy has been tough this year was local contractor and District No. 6 Commissioner Michael Crawford. Ò"I think it will take a couple of years before it will start to come back," he said, adding contractors throughout the county were encountering a slow period of work.

Ò" am trying to be as optimistic as I can about the whole deal," he said. "I think we should give it a couple more years and look at it a bit closer. I also agree with Jack too. ItÕs just a confusing issue and itÕs tough, itÕs all tough."