Township prepares to move forward after supervisor's death

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood Township — It’s a situation no one wants to be in, but Ironwood Township officials are preparing to move forward following township supervisor Steve Boyd’s death.

Boyd died early Thursday morning following a battle with cancer.

The township board has 45 days from last Friday to appoint a person to fill the vacant supervisor position, which township officials said translates to May 19.

“They have to take the oath prior to that (date),” said treasurer Maria Graser.

If the board doesn’t appoint someone, a special election will be called to fill the vacancy.

Boyd first joined the township board in November 2008 as a trustee, being elected as supervisor in 2016. He also spent a career as the Ironwood Area Schools’ band teacher, retiring in 2016.

“He was just amazing. The stories you hear coming from every single person — he helped them in so many different ways,” Graser said. “He changed so many lives.”

“He mentored so many kids in school,” Clerk Mary Segalin added.

“It’s really hard to put into words the impact one man had on an entire community,” Graser continued.

At this time, the board is likely going to rely on recommendations from its members when choosing who to appoint to the position, township officials said.

The township has been consulting its attorney and the Michigan Township Association throughout the process, officials said, to determine what the proper procedure is when making its decision.

According to information from the MTA, the only requirements for the office are that the person be a qualified elector in the township and registered to vote.

Whoever fills the position will serve through the 2020 election, township officials said, which is also when Boyd’s term ends.

Deputy supervisor LeRoy Johnson is expected to continue to serve as acting supervisor until a new supervisor is sworn in, but he won’t vote or run the township board meetings.

Both Segalin and Graser agreed there has been a definite absence in the office since Thursday, but vowed to continue to work to move the community forward.

“We don’t want the momentum he started in the township to end,” Segalin said.