County authorizes building evaluations

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — An assessment of the condition of county buildings will help prioritize future projects for renovation or replacement, according to business at the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday.

The board 5-0 approved a recommendation from the economic development and capital improvements committee to accept a $50,000 proposal from UP Engineers & Architects to evaluate county buildings. Board members James Lorenson and George Peterson were not present.

The board approved up to $15,000 in additional funding to provide an in-depth analysis of the county jail facility. After board discussion the evaluations were clarified to emphasize that the report will prioritize projects and that the jail evaluation was unique as a structurally sound facility that will need replacement as a facility that is no longer adequate for its purpose.

The board approved four recommendations from the finance, budget and auditing committee to include receiving $137,547 in new revenue and expenditure budget amendments for August. Another was approving the uniform guidance and procedures for compliance and reporting requirements of the American Recovery Act funds from the Federal Awards Administration.

The third recommendation approved an increase to the county administrator credit card limit from $2,000 to $5,000. The change was necessary for online purchases and in situations where vendors do not allow the administrator card to be used in combination with a county department credit card for purchases that exceed the balance.

The fourth recommendation approved was to authorize $7,088, which is half of the $14,177 in county liquor fiscal year tax revenues, to NorthCare Network in Marquette. NorthCare provides substance abuse counseling and court ordered addiction counseling.

The board approved an increase of the matching funds previously approved for a county fair board grant application with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The previous maximum grant contribution of up to $4,000 to update lighting and security in the multipurpose building was increased to $7,000 in funds from the building and grounds budget.

The board approved the winter levy and 2021 tax rate request form from Kathy Jo Koval, county equalization director. Koval noted that the county millage for animal control and ambulance are on the ballot this November.

The board authorized co-signing a letter to state legislators from the U.P. Association of County Commissioners in opposing efforts to redesign the state behavioral health system. The letter states that community mental health agencies that are created by each county board under the Community Mental Health Act of 1963 are effective and would oppose changes that do not maintain the “efficacy, responsiveness and integrity of the community-based behavioral health system.”