Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — The Ontonagon County Board Tuesday joined the growing chorus of those objecting to the decision of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to cancel the services of the White Pine Electric Plant.
In a letter to the governor, the Michigan Agency for Energy and MISO; the board stated it understands MISO plans to replace "this critical generating resource (White Pine) with a 1998 operating protocol called radial reconfiguration that will provide the same level, or assurance, of reliability that the SSR agreement has." The letter continued, "In fact, we understand the proposed radial reconfiguration will introduce an additional reliability risk, and consequential load loss, that will directly affect the quality and reliability of electric service in our segment of the transmission system."
The board also expressed concern the county was not informed about the abrupt about-face of the reliability requirements and that the proposal was pushed without subjecting it to the close scrutiny and analysis it felt the decision deserves.
Zack Halkola and J.R. Richardson, of the White Pine Power Company, said they have done an independent study and although the radial configuration is compliant, it could create a considerable potential risk during planned and unplanned outages. "It is like going from an A to a C and pretending it is the same," Haukola said.
Haukola said White Pine will ask the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress to select an unbiased party of engineers to look at the state proposal.
"If this was done in another part of the state, it would not be tolerated," Haukola said.
Richardson continued that the proposal is a step back to 1998 that pretends it is just as good.
"At the end of the day, we agree that when new power plants are built we should step down. It's just not that complicated," Richardson said.
The men asked that the county representative on UPCAP, Carl Nykanen, assist with requesting UPCAP to do the study.
Prior to the regular session, the board approved the budget for the next year. The $3,376,816 budget includes $56,000 for a new elevator for the courthouse. The elevator will be out of commission for replacement from Jan. 23 to Feb. 7.
After a second hearing, the board approved the Ontonagon County Master Plan as devised by the Ontonagon County Planning Commission. The board praised the planning unit for its work on developing the plan.
Paul Kitzman, of Matchwood, pressed the commissioners to answer why Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) money does not go to the Ewen-Trout Creek School. He claimed rulings by the courts have mandated that but the county still keeps the funds. He said the county originally agreed to share the funds.
Kitzman said Ontonagon has PILT funds which go to the north-end schools, but the Ewen area has federal funds which the county keeps.
Chairman John Pelkola said the county needs the funds for its own budget.
Ontonagon County Sheriff Dale Rantala informed the board that he has hired retired Michigan State Police trooper Bill Witt as a part-time deputy. He will assist on road patrol, active shooter training and other issues. Pelkola and prosecutor Michael Findley both indicated Witt is a "big asset for the county."
In other action:
— The board appointed Teddy Baird to the Ontonagon County Economic Development Commission.
— The board renewed the Secondary Road Control contract in the amount of $39,831.
— The board also approved the Michigan Department of Transportation Master Agreement and Child Care Fund Budget.
— Rantala reported he transferred the American flag from the old courthouse and had inmates refurbish the pole, which the village then installed.
— The board approved the prosecutor's cooperative agreement contract for five years, at a cost of $97,048, and a friend of the court agreement.
— The board hired Robert Mikesch for audit services.
— It also accepted the resignation of Andy Lockhart from the library board. Lockhart has served on the board since 1983 and been its chairman since 1984.
