Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Ontonagon Township Board approves 2019-2020 budget with park upgrades

ONTONAGON – The Ontonagon Township Board Tuesday approved its 2019-2020 budget which includes a major improvement to the Ontonagon Township Park.

The $549,126 budget includes funds to tear down the late Doug Filppula home, adjacent to the park and restoring those grounds to their natural state. The township purchased the house following the death of Filppula. The township has applied for a grant to help with the project but will plan for the removal of the house regardless.

Ontonagon Township Clerk Bill Chabot said the land will be seeded and a handicap access pad erected. “It will enable handicap individuals to enjoy the Lake Superior view. Picnic tables will also be erected. The area is also near the Legion Cabins which is a popular site in the park.”

The new budget, including the tear down of the Filppula house, includes the completion of the window project at the Memorial Building. Three more windows in the main building will be installed.

Ontonagon Township will join with Carp Lake Township in a county road project to blacktop Townline Road this summer. The 50 percent share of the cost of the project, required by the county, will be shared between the two townships since the road is shared by both townships.

The Township Board learned that its Recreation Plan, which it shares with the village of Ontonagon was approved. The board thanked Village Manager Joe Erickson for his “good work” on the plan.

— Jan Tucker