Pagers might seem too 1990s to the average person, but in Mt. Clemens, they're cutting edge technology that promises to bring more money to its downtown.
Macomb County is installing a pager system for jurors at the Macomb County Courthouse. The new system is similar to those used in restaurants, except powerful enough to reach inside every storefront in downtown. That should free up to 18,000 jurors who can't wait to get out of court each year.
"We're excited about it because it will get more people walking around downtown," says Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority.
Today jurors come into the courthouse, check in and wait to be called. The new pager system will free them to wander the building, cafeteria and the shops and restaurants downtown. Once the pager goes off they have 10 minutes to make it back into court.
Macomb County and downtown businesses raised $20,000 to buy and install the system, which is expected to be up and running later this spring. County officials are tying this new system with changes to its payment system for jurors.
Jurors make $25 on the first day and $40 each subsequent day. That money used to be mailed to jurors a month later, a system that cost the county $9,000 in postage annually. Now the county plans to start paying the jurors in cash on the spot, which would give them spending money as they wander downtown.
"This is going to be a win for our jurors and our business community," says Carmella Sabaugh, clerk for Macomb County.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority and Carmella Sabaugh, clerk for Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
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