Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a resolution bemoaning the high cost of auto insurance in Michigan.
Commissioner Bob Orlich, of Wakefield, who introduced the resolution, said it is supported by State Rep. Scott Dianda, who favors zones that would reduce insurance costs in low-traffic areas of the state.
Orlich said Michigan residents pay nearly three times more per year in auto insurance than Iowa and Maine residents.
Part of the problem is in Michigan, with its no-fault insurance, a vehicle owner pays around $160 per vehicle for catastrophic insurance to provide lifetime medical benefits for crash victims, Orlich said. He mentioned the television commercials where lawyers brag that they can get millions for their clients.
The insurance company pays the entire claim, but is reimbursed by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association for medical costs paid in excess of $545,000.
The Gogebic County resolution was introduced a few months ago, but was delayed, pending the Nov. 8 election.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to legislators, including Gov. Rick Snyder, and newspapers in the Upper Peninsula.
“Maybe this will start a fire,” county board chair Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, said.
In other business Wednesday, the county board agreed to fund a 17.5-hour per week District Court probation position.
The hiring had been tabled.
District Court Judge Joel Massie said the position exists, but has been vacant, and said the employee should be entitled to benefits, although he didn’t know if the prospective worker would seek them.
“We desperately need somebody now,” Massie said.
Among the tasks of the employee are responding to calls at night involving people who are on probation and administering alcohol testing, board members learned.
The board approved allowing the judge to hire a half-time employee, pro-rating the benefits.
Board members also agreed to release the $15,000 Gogebic County Fair appropriation and $2,500 for the Gogebic County Medical Care Facility in Wakefield.
