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Grand Traverse County official sues after another year without a raise

TRAVERSE CITY (AP) — A 71-year-old elected official in the Traverse City area claims she hasn’t had a raise in eight years because the county wants to force her out of office.

Peggy Haines, the register of deeds in Grand Traverse County, has filed an age discrimination lawsuit. She has been in office since 2000 and was reelected in November, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.

Haines, who is paid $67,000 a year, said she was excluded again when county commissioners in December gave raises to the county administrator, the elected clerk and themselves. She said she took a pay cut eight years ago and hasn’t had a raise since then.

County Administrator Nate Alger declined to comment on the lawsuit.

A register of deeds records all documents related to local real estate, including deeds, mortgages, land contracts and liens. Some elected clerks also serve as registers, which is allowed under Michigan law.

Grand Traverse commissioners considered a merger last year, but it was voted down.

“We feel she’s been discriminated against because of her age and because she didn’t want to merge the two entities,” said Haines’ attorney, Craig Elhart.

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