County Board approves several requests

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved several administrative actions for various departments. 

In the finance, budgeting and auditing committee meeting prior to the regular meeting, the members approved a sheriff’s office request to apply for a hazardous pay grant from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money available through the state of Michigan. The grant would allow all sheriff’s office employees up to $1,000 in reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses.

“It’s on a first come, first served basis and we’d like to get this in as soon as possible,” said Sheriff Pete Matonich at the meeting.

The board 7-0 approved a request from Juliane Giackino, county administrator, regarding service agreement for the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control enforcement with John Pekkala, of Hancock. The new district administrator is working to become SESC certified. She said Pekkala will address any permits that need attention as required by law until then. 

The board approved two actions concerning Gogebic-Iron County Airport. The first was for two contracts with the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Joe Bonovetz, airport board chair, said the MDOT grants are for an interagency program that is being put together regarding cooperative airport awareness efforts, including communications.

The second request was to schedule the county’s fourth quarter appropriations transfer to the airport capital outlay fund and the airport operating fund.

Dan Siirila, board chair, voted against the appropriation request and then noted that airport manager Mike Harma has not presented his requests to the board in person.

The board approved ballot language recommended by the Separate Tax Limitation Advisory Committee for the Nov. 3, 2020 general election.The language of the tax limitation renewal states that the four-year renewal includes Gogebic County at 6.68 mills; Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District (0.32 mills); Bessemer Township (1.63 mills); Erwin Township (1 mill); Marenisco Township (2 mills); Wakefield Township (1.63 mills); Watersmeet Township (1.77 mills) and Ironwood Township (chartered).

The board approved a letter of appreciation to Jake’s Tree Removal, LLC of Marenisco, for donating equipment and labor to remove a tree for the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office. Another letter of appreciation was approved for Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office along with the all volunteer Search and Rescue Services Unit and the Victim Services Unit for their efforts in the recent tragedy involving the death of a Wisconsin woman who slipped and fell into Rainbow Falls.

In other business, the board:

—Approved a capital improvement committee request for a $10,600 bid to Erickson Construction, of Ironwood, to replace the Natural Resource storage garage building roof with a metal roof and snow stops over doorways.

—Heard a presentation from Paul Putnam, director of Michigan State University Extension, 

—Approved a $1 right of first refusal agreement between Beacon Ambulance Service and the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners.