A hold-up in progress?

It looks like some Monroe County elected officials are challenging the right of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners to put a hiring freeze into effect. The county figures it doesn't have the cash to fill jobs that might become vacant for one reason or another. But other elected officials -- Sheriff Crutchfield among them -- figure they're answerable to their constituents, not the county board. It has the makings of an interesting political power struggle. The sheriff certainly believes he has the interests of the county at heart, but he'd better be careful. Some county commissioners might think he's just trying to throw his weight around or hold the board up for the cash he needs to fill positions. Seems it's been shown in the past, though, that the only obligation a sheriff has in Michigan is to maintain a jail. Things like deputies on the road, records clerks and detectives aren't really required by law. Hope the sheriff manages to stay out of jail on this one. Come to think of it, maybe some county commissioners will be locked up.