Gogebic County approves land swap

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Commission will have improved access to interior areas of Little Girls Point area properties, following a land swap agreement that was approved by the County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.

The board approved a resolution for the Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Commission to enter a land exchange agreement with Joseph Hilborn, or Wakefield. The county will provide Hilborn with 30 acres of county owned land in Wakefield Township, in exchange for 20 acres of Hilborn property in Ironwood Township.

Greg Ryskey, county forestry and parks director, said the resolution is in support of the county forest expansion project. The uneven exchange is due to substantially more forestland on the Hilborn property, and for the easement access he will allow the county to reach properties through his private land in Wakefield Township.

“The purpose of the exchange is to consolidate lands and secure public access,” Ryskey said. “The county does not currently have legal access to the ownership involved in the exchange.

The county is essentially exchanging lands where it does not have legal access and receiving lands that bring access to areas around Little Girls Point where there is not currently direct access, he said.

The board approved a second resolution from the forestry and parks department for the County Forest Expansion project assessment. The approval allows the department to receive $1,118,200 in grant funds from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for the project.

Lisa Hewitt, county treasurer, updated the board on the collection process for delinquent real property taxes. Changes to the state foreclosure law now allow previous owners of tax foreclosed property to file a claim to equity if a public auction sale is higher than the tax lien due.

Remaining auction revenue can be claimed by persons who held interest in the property prior to foreclosure. Mortgage holders, mortgagees, land contract holders or other property liens holders will have until July 1 in the year of the foreclosure to claim interest in auction proceeds.

The foreclosure process starts with a delinquency notice on March 1 of each year. This is when the local property tax roles are turned over to the county treasurer during a settlement process. The treasurer verifies the unpaid tax amounts and assumes responsibility for collection from real property.

The treasurer’s office has settled with six townships and three cities and purchased the tax rolls with the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund. With adjustments the delinquency total for 2020 is $1,933,338, a decrease of $152,599 from 2019 settlements.

Responding to board questions about moving any surplus funds to the general budget, Hewitt said the $150,000 Iron Belle Trail easement reimbursement from the DNR was moved to the general fund but that outside of case-by-case needs, legal council recommends unused funds remain in the DTRF for potential litigation, tax tribunals, class actions and adjusting to changes with municipalities and state tax laws.

“As of right now I would not say there is a surplus in the DTRF,” Hewett said.

James Lorenson, board chair, asked for a listing of what the surplus is and what is offsetting that surplus in terms of the liabilities for potential litigation. Then it will be possible to see where the liability sits, he said.

The board approved a resolution to oppose legislation that would privatize the state and county public mental health systems. The approval includes copies to the governor’s office and the Michigan Association of Counties.

The resolution from Julie Hautala, CEO of Gogebic County Community Mental Health, was recommended by Joe Bonovetz, the county board member serving on her board. He said several counties oppose the bill that he described as another attempt to remove local control and funding from mental health.

“Right now the county board has local control of how they provide services and what they do and that is an important aspect,” Bonovetz said.

The board approved a resolution from Juliane Giackino, county administrator, opposing the Secretary of State’s ongoing “by appointment only” policy. The board members said it is not convenient or efficient for state offices to continue working in this capacity if it is not necessary.

Bonovetz asked the county administrator to communicate with county municipalities about scheduling a meeting to discuss the potential for an economic development corporation. The meeting would allow the communities to indicate interests and needs in establishing the entity before moving forward with the idea.

“We need to be willing to listen to all units of government about what perceptions they have and what they think the EDC is and what kind of help they need,” Bonovetz said.

Dan Siirila motioned that the board appoint Lorenson to the Community Mental Health Board after reporting that the personnel committee has been unable to make a quorum in order to review applicants and make a recommendation. The board 1-4 declined the action with Lorenson abstaining.

The board members said the intent is to appoint a community member. A personnel committee meeting to interview applicants will immediately follow the next regular board meeting.

In other business, the board approved:

—A state Tax Commission recommendation to approve county assessor Kathy Jo Koval as the designated assessor.

—A $7,150 funding request from the NorthCare Network.

—A $1,575 from the county emergency management and 911 department to be used as obligated matching funds in order to receive a $293,920 federal grant for the county Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant program.