County board OKs snowmobile purchase

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Bessemer — The Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department will purchase a new rescue snowmobile.

Sheriff Pete Matonich addressed the county board Wednesday and explained how he intended to fund the new machine.

Matonich said the current rescue snowmobile is a 2000 Polaris and it is not dependable. He said deputies need a machine that starts in emergency situations. He cited one incident in which a snowmobile from a passerby had to be used because the department’s machine didn’t start.

The sheriff said he applied for funding for a new snowmobile and while he was told he would receive $5,000 for it, the remaining appropriation of the $17,000 to the department for rescue operations would be cut by that much.

Matonich said a new machine will cost around $10,000 and he has enough money in his budget to cover the additional $5,000. He said he talked with state officials and they agreed to fund the full $17,000 to the department and also come up with the extra $5,000.

The sheriff’s department also has a patrol snowmobile that does not need to be replaced.

Matonich said the department would eventually sell the Polaris and also the patrol sled.

Commissioners agreed the sheriff should purchase the new machine, using the $5,000 grant and the rest of the money from the department budget.