Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Three individuals walk up the steps and into the Memorial Building in Ironwood to vote Tuesday afternoon. The mid-term election ballot contained many federal, state and local candidates and proposals. Officials said voter turnout was steady through the day.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer - Gogebic County voters Tuesday supported a one-mill levy for ambulance services that will raise $523,548 the first year.
Voters backed levying the one mill over a three-year period by a 4,010 to 2,473 margin.
A total of 6,483 votes were cast on the ambulance issue out of 6,689 total countywide, according to initial figures from the county clerk's office. That represents about a 48 percent countywide turnout.
A breakdown of the votes by municipalities was not available Tuesday evening, when the final tallies were released after 10 p.m.
The support came after several town hall-type meetings were held throughout the county, where Jim Lorenson and Jim Loeper explained the importance of the issue.
The next move will be for an ambulance committee to seek bids to provide ambulance service in the county, to be spelled out in the bid request.
The ambulance issue came to a head early in the year when Beacon Ambulance officials said they were in danger of closing their operations at the end of February because of monthly financial losses. Through numerous negotiations and a payment schedule that involved local governmental units in the county sharing costs, Beacon was able to continue services.
Michigan's law merely states a sheriff's department must remove people from roadways and highways, while Wisconsin law requires an ambulance service be provided.
County treasurer Lisa Hewitt and county equalization director Kathy Koval said the $523,548 figure to be raised in the first year of the millage is based on the 2017 county taxable value.
Gogebic County voters said no to legalizing marijauna by a 3,163 to 3,377 margin.
That meant about 200 more Gogebic County voters cast ballots on marijuana than on the ambulance millage.
Gogebic County Board of Commissioners seats were uncontested, as follows: District 1 - Dan Siirila, 817; District 2 - Tom Laabs, 648; District 3 - Jim Byrns, 582; District 4 - Joann Balduc, 667; District 5 - Joe Bonovetz, 736; District 6 - Bob Orlich, 636; District 7 - George Peterson III, 587.
Byrns and Balduc are the newcomers.
In scattered uncontested races throughout the county, Sylvia Mussatti received 142 votes for Erwin Township Treasurer, Lisa Hegbloom received 410 votes for Bessemer Township Treasurer and Lisa Hewitt totaled 5,070 votes for county treasurer.
An Ironwood Township one-mill renewal for road work was approved 709-420, with nearly 55 percent of the township's eligible voters going to the polls.
