Gogebic MTA members meet in park despite rainstorm

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ramsay - Pouring rain, along with thunder and lightning, did not stop Gogebic County members of the Michigan Townships Association from meeting in the Ramsay Memorial Park for their Tuesday evening meeting.

The local MTA branch meets six times per year and rotates its sessions among the following six membering townships: Watersmeet, Marenisco, Wakefield, Bessemer, Ironwood and Erwin.

The gatherings are fairly casual, with members enjoying a hot supper just prior to information-sharing reports from each township and from other county representatives. It's a friendly setting with a lot of long laughs.

Tuesday's attendees were safely tucked within the park pavilion, where they heard guest speaker Heidi DeRosso of Ironwood discuss emergency concerns within the county.

DeRosso recently took on the dual position of Gogebic County emergency management coordinator and 911 coordinator after Jim Loeper retired from those roles.

According to DeRosso, her office is working with the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region to develop a new hazard mitigation plan.

She said the county's most recent plan expired last October, and the new one is expected to be complete by this fall.

WUPPDR defines hazard mitigation as "an effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters" by identifying "risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters and human-caused events" and then addressing them with "long-term strategies for protecting people and property" from future events.

Local citizens can share their opinions on the plan, which must be approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, via a related online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/GogebicHazMitPublicInput.

John Cox, Gogebic's MTA chair, said residents also can access the survey via the Wakefield Township website, which offers a downloadable hard copy version.

Farewell to Steve Karpiak

Local MTA members also learned that Steven Karpiak, Jr., based in Houghton County, will be retiring from his role as MTA's District 1 representative on June 30. Mary Segalin of Ironwood will take his place.

District 1 covers the counties of Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton and Keweenaw.

Karpiak made clear that he is passionate about trying to maintain as much local control as possible among the state's counties and townships.

"That's what MTA is constantly fighting for is local control," he said, explaining that if the state had its way, it would render control over issues such as gravel mining and home ownership.

Karpiak commended local MTA members in pushing the interests of Gogebic County. "You have a good, organized group here," he said.

Cox thanked Karpiak for his service and told the Globe Wednesday that his guidance has helped the Gogebic MTA to stay informed.

He added that the input received from all local MTA members contributes to the group's aggregate knowledge and cooperation.

Also providing updates at Tuesday's meeting were Jim Lorenson of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners, Phil Strong of the Gogebic County Road Commission, and supervisors from each township.

Swimming hole bids

Bessemer Township supervisor Jeff Randall told MTA members that the past year's renovation of Ramsay Memorial Park is nearly complete, with bidding for a swimming hole and beach area expected soon.

Bessemer Township contributed more than $100,000 for the renovation, with the majority of the cost covered by a grant from the state's Department of Natural Resources.

The park will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Gogebic County MTA members will meet next in August in Ironwood Township.