Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
jantuck@jamadots.com
Ontonagon — Visitors to the O Kun de Kun Falls will have a new trail, bridge and improved parking lot to better enjoy the beautiful falls by July 31.
Kenny Wawsczyk, of the North Country Trail Association, informed the Ontonagon County Board Tuesday the 1.4 miles of new trails to the falls is being paid by a DNR Trust Fund grant which will go through the county into the project. The DNR Trust Fund can’t give the grant to the trail association, but can send grant money to the county. The U.S. Forest Service will provide $29,700 to be used as a match. The county board agreed to pay the match of $107,830 to be reimbursed by the trust fund grant. The reimbursements will come as each step of the work is completed.
Clerk Stacy Preiss informed the board there is a need for death investigators in Ontonagon County. She said the University of North Dakota offers a variety of death investigating courses and is used by entities around the country. The basic course would be sufficient and costs $80, to be paid by Ontonagon County, Preiss said. She added the course can be taken over 3 months at the participant’s leisure. The county agreed to offer the training to police, ambulance or medical persons.
“If we can get at least five people to take the course it would be a great asset to the county and assist the new medical examiner, Dr. Jeff Miller,” she said.
The board agreed that the county set a flat fee of $75-$100 per case for death investigator.
Miller — who is shared with Gogebic County and resides in Wakefield — wrote a letter informing the county he is resigning from the post of medical examiner, but is willing to continue doing the duties of that position which requires a physician, including advising the death investigators, determining the diagnoses/circumstances leading to the decedent’s death and completing the death certificate marking. Preiss said Miller will also have to take two or three of the courses, and the cost could be split with Gogebic County.
In other action, the county board:
—Awarded the bid to replace the double metal door in the back of the court house to John D Construction at $2,619.
—Agreed to replace five shower valves in the cells of the Ontonagon County Jail at $12,900.
—Accepted the agreement with the Forest Service and Ottawa National Forest for the sheriff’s department to patrol their campgrounds for $5,839.
—Accepted the contract which provides up to $135,373 of federal funds for transit operations.
—Heard Pat Kitzman accuse the board of not complying with the Freedom of Information Act concerning a statement made by the county on PILT funds.
—Approved the request of Transit Director Melissa Walters to purchase a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and also approval selling the current Transit SUV to the Sheriff’s Department for $1,000.
—And, at the request of Airport Manager Lisa Linna, approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for airport improvements.
