Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — The Ontonagon County Board of Commissioners Tuesday joined other counties around the Upper Peninsula in supporting Michigan mining.
The action comes in a resolution supporting state House Bill 4227 to create a committee on Michigan’s mining future to ensure a comprehensive plan focused on ferrous, non-ferrous and aggregate mining industry needs.
The proposed committee would be comprised of 15 members with governor-appointed representatives from diverse areas of industry, state departments, environmental groups, tribal members and labor groups to meet the challenges and take advantage of opportunities for the future.
The county, Tuesday, approved a formal agreement with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community to house Keweenaw Bay inmates when needed, at the Ontonagon County Jail. Ontonagon County Sheriff Dale Rantala told the commission that the agreement has the same conditions as in previous years, except this time it’s on paper.
Rantala also informed the board that several of his correction officers will be trying to qualify for deputy school in Marquette on April 12. Jason Clinesmith, Carlo Pantti and Jason Black have interest in attending the school if they pass the physical tests prior to enrollment.
The board agreed to support the efforts of Mi-TRALE to ask for funding for the much needed repairs at Bond Falls. Donald Helsel, in a letter to the county, said the Department of Natural Resources is submitting funding to obtain engineering services and construction funding to make repairs to the concrete stairs and viewing platform structure at the Bond Falls scenic site. He described some of the other areas which do not meet state and federal standards and code requirements. The county will send a letter of support to the DNR for the funds and repairs.
The board approved the action of Equalization Director Ann Marie Husar to appoint Renee Pantti as an appraiser. The board authorized sending Pantti for certification training and pay for travel and reimburse her for the training program itself.
In other action the board:
—Approved a purchase of an ADA compliant assistive listening device for the District and Circuit Court as required by the court when someone involved in the court process has a hearing problem. The cost is $1,338.
—Heard Pat Kitzman cite the historical issues which he claimed show the county should be sharing PILT money with the schools and township, and claimed the county has given him no answers on the issue. Heard from the treasurer, that the county has no authority to forgive the summer taxes on the old Greenland Road building as requested by the village of Ontonagon.
—Approved the remonumentation project on 17 corners in Ontonagon County at $1,100 per corner by Timberline Land Surveying.
—Agreed to release Ontonagon County’s interest in a lien agreement in 2013 under a Community Development Housing Rehabilitation program in the estate of the late Rosemarie Herter.
—Named Mead and Hunt as airport consultants.
—Heard that Karen Morris has completed her probationary period and is now deputy treasurer.
