Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — Ontonagon County Equalization Director, Ann Marie Husar had some good news for the Ontonagon County Board Tuesday. Husar said the valuation of Ontonagon County in 2018 has risen by 2.5% over the previous year and the taxable value has increased by 3%.
Husar gave the board the value change in each of the categories in the county, noting that Commercial Property has increased by 4.49% and residential real property by 3.04%. Husar cited the new Dollar General in Ontonagon as part of the reason for the increase.
The largest negative value was seen in the Agriculture Real property which decreased by 6.13%. Husar much of that was changing class which moved into residential property. Another negative growth was in timber cutover value by 2.42%. Industrial Real Property also grew 1.41%.
Total Personal Property increased 7.14%. The total real and Personal Property in the county in 2018 totaled $332,018,667 an increase of 2.5% over the $323,933,146 from the previous year. The board accepted the Equalization report.
At the request of Sheriff Dale Rantala the board approved sending Jason Black and Carlo Pantti to the Northern Michigan Academy to become Sheriff Road Officers. Rantala said both men have signed contracts to pay back the county for the costs if they were to leave the Sheriff’s Department prior to four years after completing the academy. He said Jason Black will need campus housing and Pantti will find his own housing. They both will need uniforms. The total cost for the academy is $9,951.20.
In other action the County Board:
—Accepted the bid of Coleman Engineering Company for mapping services in the county for the calendar year of 2019.
—Purchased under a grant for $15,945 new fingerprint equipment with annual maintenance of $3,495 after the first full year.
—Approved continuing the collection of 51 cents for 911 surcharge on phones as requested by Michael Kocher, county emergency services director. Kocher noted that the Ontonagon surcharge is lower than many counties in the area.
Pat Kitzman addressed the board on the meeting held recently in Ewen and his continuing efforts to move some of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes money to schools and townships. He said the fact that the present commissioners were not the ones who decided to have all the PILT monies to the county is no excuse for commissioners in office now not to “correct a wrong.” He asked the county to compromise on the issue and claimed the past commissioners who decided the issue were not as much in debt as they claimed as the reason for keeping all the monies.
At the close of the session Commission Chairman Carl Nykanen read a statement from the commission. He acknowledged the effort that was made and information that was compiled and presented at the Ewen meeting. He said that the board recognized “as well, the questions and contributions made by elected officials, Greg Markkanan and Ed McBroom and other members of the public. It is the boards intention and responsibility to duly consider all issues brought forward by county residents and townships. We appreciate the orderly discussion that took place and thank everyone to their contributions to this open forum. There is no immediate action to be taken on this issue and the board will retain all presented materials.”