Randy Girard

QUINNESEC — Breitung Township expects a report next month from a consultant hired in January to review the township’s administrative structure after the township board decided in December to part ways with Superintendent Steve Mulka.

Randell Girard, principal of Girard & Associates of Marquette, attended Monday’s township board meeting remotely, saying he’s finishing interviews and expects to offer recommendations in March.

Mulka had served as township superintendent since May 2019, after the retirement of John Gaudette, who took on the role in February 2015 after serving nearly 12 years as a board trustee. Girard’s study comes as the township has experienced a turnover in office staffing in recent years.

Most recently, Deborah Hansen resigned effective Jan. 29 as deputy clerk and business operations coordinator. Girard asked Monday how those duties were being handled and was told Deputy Clerk Savannah Katcham is the new business operations coordinator.

Also, minutes from a Feb. 9 meeting show the hiring of Brooke Walstrom as an as-need consultant for the clerk’s office for 12 months at a rate of $50 per hour.

Girard told the board he is “getting good support from your staff” as he organizes job descriptions and other details.

The board has made no move to replace Mulka but expects input from Girard on defining the township’s needs for a management position going forward.

Girard is a former Marquette Township manager. He has also held human resources positions in the Marquette Area Public School District and Marquette County. Minutes from a Jan. 12 board meeting show he is being paid $75 per hour, plus direct expenses and mileage.

In addition to deputy clerk and deputy treasurer positions based at Breitung Township Hall in Quinnesec, the township has an assessor’s office at the site, along with other support staff.

At Monday’s meeting, Julia Miller, the township’s administrative assistant and code enforcement clerk, said she’s completed training through Michigan State University-Extension to obtain a zoning administrator certificate.

Breitung Township Board consists of an elected supervisor, clerk and treasurer, as well as four trustees. All of the positions are part-time. At a Dec. 22 meeting, annual salaries approved included $16,560 for treasurer; $16,560 for clerk; and $9,200 for supervisor.

There was no opposition on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot as the elected candidates, all Republicans, were Denny Olson, supervisor; Karie Taff, clerk; Heather Lieburn, treasurer; and Brent Johnson, Ben Peterson, Sharon Reuter and Paul Taff, trustees.

In January 2025, both Clerk Karie Taff and Trustee Paul Taff resigned. Hannah Chrivia, who ran for township clerk in November as a write-in candidate, was then tapped by the board to fill the clerk’s vacancy. Michael Day, who was edged out in a five-way Republican trustee primary in August 2024, was named to fill the trustee vacancy.

Both Olson and Reuter were excused from Monday’s board meeting, which was chaired by Johnson in Olson’s absence.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.