County diversity position expected to remain vacant; Human Rights Committee picks up slack

The position of Isabella County diversity coordinator is once again vacant one year after it was filled.

Blossom Hill, who assumed the position in January 2009, resigned last fall to further her education out-of-state. County officials say they have no concrete plans to fill the void at this time.

The county expected to finance the position through a 2 percent stipend from the Saginaw Indian Chippewa Tribe. But the arrangement is no longer in place.

“When we put in to re-apply for the funding, we were told that it wasn’t a priority,” said David Ling, chairman of the county’s Board of Commissioners.

The tribe did not cut the position, Ling said, but, rather, the funding has gone elsewhere. The county’s Human Rights Committee is covering some of the duties a diversity coordinator would handle.

County Commissioner James Moreno said the committee is looking at other options.

“I heard the Human Rights Committee is trying to hire some interns to do some of those jobs,” he said.

Looking for a replacement

Ling said Central Michigan University students are the likely candidates to help fill those intern positions. Students, he said, are a big help.

“They provide a great deal of assistance to the program,” he said. “At this point, there are discussions under way with the university.”

The county board started the HRC in 2008. According to the Isabella County Web site, it is intended to “serve as a liaison between the county and other local diversity and minority organizations.”

Hill was the third person to hold the county’s diversity coordinator position. She was unavailable for comment Thursday.

The position was in limbo for several months when former Diversity Coordinator Sharon Quinlan resigned in fall 2008 amid the renewal of County Administrator Tim Dolehanty’s contract. Ling said Hill, a Central Michigan University alumna, will be missed.

“She worked very hard and did a very good job for the county,” he said. “She provided a lot of great service.”