MTA members retain same leadership for 2020

By P.J. GLISSON

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Marenisco - Members of the Gogebic County Chapter of the Michigan Townships Association voted Thursday evening to reinstate the same officers for duty in 2020.

Remaining in charge are Chairman John Cox, Treasurer Hope Tarnaski, and Secretary Vicky Finco.

Cox noted that next year's service term will run only until Nov. 20 because he does not plan to run again next fall for his current seat as Wakefield Township supervisor.

Although a new MTA chairman must be elected at that time, Tarnaski said before the session that Cox's leadership will be missed. "I don't think he's replaceable," she said.

The meeting was at Earla's Restaurant on the main street of Marenisco. It was combined with the group's holiday celebration, which included a combination of roast beef and fried chicken with several side dishes and dessert.

Festively wrapped holiday gifts also were exchanged as part of a raffle.

Owner Chris Longley served as cook while Evelyn Gunderman and Sheri Hartman worked as waitresses, with all of them adding holiday cheer in Santa hats.

The case for natural mineral water was the topic of guest speaker for the evening Jim Luedtke, a developer of Superior Waters in Marenisco, explained how, when he moved here a decade ago, "I was ready to retire," but then realized he wasn't.

Luedtke said his work resulted in developing a "unique" enterprise that involves an asset particular to this region; "the first true, natural mineral water."

According to Luedtke, most bottled water manufacturers have "always taken everything out of the water instead of leaving it in."

He explained that his company neither adds nor subtracts anything from the water. That way, he said, "the natural status of the mineral water" is not disturbed.

His main objective, he said, is "to get it into a bottle that's properly sanitized."

As a result, he said his company's water is the only certified natural mineral water produced in this country.

The source of water for the Superior Waters brand is a Lake Superior aquifer that Luedtke claimed retains the water's electrolytes, or salts and minerals, as well as its "bio-availability," or ability to allow the body to readily absorb the benefits.

Luedtke also is proud of his company's 100% recyclable plastic bottles that are free of industrial chemicals.

He said he does not use glass because it contains "many types of hybrid glass" that would allow related elements to "leach" into the water. Similar issues exist with aluminum, he said.

The CEO said most of his product is sold to distributors who transport it to local stores such as the Marenisco Mini Mart, Trig's, etc.

By June of 2020, Luedtke expects his water to be sold in every state except Alaska.

"We are so proud to be in this area with this incredible water," he said, expressing gratitude to Marenisco Supervisor Richard Bouvette and other local officials for encouraging him to locate here and for supporting him ever since.

In terms of the near future, he said, "We'll be looking at doing a big addition - possibly a whole new building."

Superior Waters now is located at 601 Fair Ave., which is concurrent with highway M-64.

The MTA generally meets every other month at revolving township locations. The next regular meeting will be in February in Watersmeet.