Gogebic County Board approves four-year contract for Novascone

BESSEMER — Tom Novascone’s job as equalization director for Gogebic County was extended by four years Wednesday.

The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved a new four-year contract for Novascone.

Novascone will be paid $42,000 annually for the period from April 1 through March 31, 2019.

The salary is the same as for the past year. He will work three days a week in Gogebic County.

Novascone met with the county personnel and negotiations committee on March 11 and said he’d like the four-year contract, which was approved on a 7-0 vote both then and on Wednesday.

In other business Wednesday, the board appointed county board chair Joe Bonovetz, Steve Thomas, Patricia Crabtree and Carrie Braspenick to the Gogebic County Community Mental Health Authority Board on a 4-2 vote.

Jeff Wasley, of Ironwood, and George Peterson, of Watersmeet, opposed the appointments, while Bonovetz abstained, since he was one of the appointees.

Leroy Kangas, of Ironwood Township; Jim Oliver, of Ironwood; Bob Orlich, of Wakefield, and Tom Laabs, of Ironwood, voted for the appointments.

In other business, the board:

—Approved a credit card issuance to Mary Ahnen, district court magistrate, with a limit of $2,000.

—Appointed Robert Sharon to the Department of Human Services Board on a 7-0 vote.

—Approved a six-month raise for Joey Cvengros, an employee in the prosecutor’s office.

—Approved 67 scholarships to students of Gogebic County for $2,500 apiece for the 2015-16 school year from the Dal Pra trust fund.