Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BESSEMER — Gogebic County board chairman Dan Siirila formally issued an emergency declaration for the county Tuesday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I hereby declare that a ‘state of emergency’; exists within our jurisdiction as of March 17, 2020 and that local resources are being utilized to the fullest possible extent,” Siirila wrote. “The county (emergency operations center) has been virtually activated and our emergency operations plan has been activated until such time as the board acts to cease the state of emergency.”
The declaration said the county and its municipalities are experiencing limited access to first responder health and safety resources. It continued that additional staff and resources may be needed to assist with the local health department personnel’s monitoring requirements if the health concerns deteriorates.
Further, the Gogebic County treasurer is “unable to process redemption payments and arrange payment plans with affected property owners by the mandated General Property Tax Act due date of March 31,” the declaration reads.
It cites the need to prevent groups of people from congregating together and the lack of local resources as the reasons for the changes in the treasurer’s office.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency March 10 and President Donald Trump issued a federal emergency declaration Friday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Iron County declared its state of emergency March 16.
—Richard Jenkins
