Ontonagon County's Kiloran steps down

ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon County board Tuesday said goodbye to long time treasurer Dee Killoran Tuesday.

Killoran has worked for the county for 44 years and nine months, 32 of those years were as County Treasurer. Killoran is retiring at the end of the month. The board thanked her for her years of service. In her last report to the board she informed them that her office has finished the last of the foreclosed 30 parcels of land which will be offered for auction and bought the local delinquent tax rolls of $1,340,000. Stepping into the treasurers chair will be Deputy Treasurer Jeanne Pollard, a 23 year veteran of the office. Also on the treasurers staff is Debbie Loukka, an employee for 25 years. Beth Allen will move from the Friend of the Court office to the Treasurers office in May.

The board also congratulated Prosecuting Attorney Jim Jessup who will also be retiring May 1.

Illness hit the county board as only three of its five members were able to attend the session. Board Chairman John Pelkola and member Gray Webber were both ill and unable to attend.

Scott Roehm, representing Northern Initiative in Ontonagon County, informed the board of the situation with the County revolving loan funds. He said that the fund stands at over $600,000 and if it is not loaned out for a project by December 31 the state can claim the funds. He said that after that announcement was made at a recent EDC meeting the group received several calls but added that some mistook the information believing the money to be in the form of grants instead of loans. He stressed that the money is a loan and must be paid back and is not free. He continued that area banks, Northern Initiative and the EDC would partner with prospective businessmen and women to work on a successful project. “Once the money is gone, it is lost,” he said urging the board members to talk to others about the opportunities.

The board approved the request of Jason Oles, with the Ottawa National Forest, to revise the Ontonagon County 5 year recreation plan to enable the Forest Service and county to seek Michigan Trust Fund grants for both the North Country and Iron-Belle trail from Ironwood through Ontonagon County to Belle Isle Park in lower Michigan. Oles said the Ottawa national forest will be converting the existing section of North Country Trail between the Highway 45 parking lot at O Kun de Kun Falls into an American Disabilities Act-compliant trail.

Pat Kitzman, of Matchwood, discussed the recent national story where law enforcement officers have been accused of planting evidence and this cited the need for court-appointed attorneys to have access to greater funds to assist poor accused individuals. He said defendants are not receiving adequate representation from such attorneys when, in many cases they must deal with flawed evidence. He said many law enforcement personnel do not know the laws such as the marijuana laws adequately. “The law must be clarified before prosecution,” he added.

Robert Johnson, complained about a recent seat-belt check point in Bruce Crossing set up by the Michigan State Police. He called the seat belt check point,” a ludicrous way to spend money” and not necessary. He claimed the Ontonagon County Sheriff\s Department should be the primary policy and enforcement entity and the state police serve as back up. He added he wanted to “see less State Police and more Sheriff Department involved in enforcement.” Johnson wanted the board to pass a resolution to that effect. The board indicated it would talk with the sheriff about his objections.

In other action:

The board approved Sheriff Dale Rantala’s request for updating the video recording system at the jail for $799. Heard that the Ontonagon County Park on Lake Gogebic will be open this summer, but some construction will be occuring at the same time.

The County accepted the equalized valuation of Ontonagon County at $325,740,927. The value, according to Equalization Director Rose Slocum, is $825,878 more than last year. Slocum said the industrial class was higher because of the work done on the Victoria dam, while the residential class was also up slightly. Timber cut over was lower and overall the county had just a slight increase in value.