Iron County to purchase tractor

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

Hurley — The Iron County Board on Tuesday reconsidered a decision to refuse paying for a tractor purchased without board approval.

The board 7-6 approved a $34,000 payment for a Kobata tractor with snow removal, grass cutting and bucket attachments. The board denied the same tractor purchase at the August board meeting when members expressed concern that the finance committee approved the major purchase without the consent of the full board, along with some members saying the purchase was not necessary.

County clerk Michael Saari said that to return or sell the tractor would likely result in a $7,000 loss for the county. Maintenance staff were present to discuss the need to retire the current John Deere tractor and purchase the Kobata tractor with larger attachments to maintain the courthouse grounds and five county-owned buildings.

Board members Scott Erickson, Patrick Hanson, Anne McComas, Joseph Pinardi, Opal Roberts and William Thomas repeated their votes for the purchase. Board members Tanner Hiller, Karl Krall, Brandon Snyder, Thomas Thompson Jr, and Larry Youngs repeated their votes against the purchase. 

Jamey Francis, who was not present at the August meeting, voted against the purchase. Kathleen Byrns and Ken Saari, both previous no-votes, were not present.

Board member John Sendra had voted against in August but voted for the purchase on Tuesday.

The board approved placing $80,000 in the 2022 budget for the sheriff’s office to order two Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The dealership noted that the inventory was short and the waiting list on new vehicles was more than one year.

The board approved the Forestry Department’s request to pursue bids to build new restrooms at the Iron County Fairgrounds. The discussion addressed concerns that the planned prefabricated structures with amenities installed be pre-engineered to avoid additional costs.

Upon hearing that the current county coroner does not plan to run for reelection in 2022, the board discussed the potential of creating a county medical examiner employee position. The coroner currently earns $12,000 per year, according to County clerk Michael Saari, with insurance and benefits currently exceeding that amount.

A medical examiner position would be around an $80,000 annual salary, he said. That does not include insurance, retirement and benefits, he said.

The board took no action on the matter. Board member Tanner Hiller recommended waiting until next May and June to see if candidates file to run for the elected coroner position before considering the alternative employee position or contracting with a neighboring county.

In the forestry committee report, board member Thomas Thompson Jr., said the county stumpage sales as of Monday were $1,540,562.21. This is a 1.5% increase over the $1,517,694 in stumpage sales at the same time in 2020.

The department is waiting to receive just over $4 million remaining in FEMA funds for the Saxon Harbor reconstruction project. There is some concern that a federal government shutdown would delay the payments.

The human services board approved the hire of a social worker aide.

In other business the county board approved:

—The County Library Plan, a requirement of the Northern Waters Library System every five years. 

—The approximately $5,000 cost to repair the electrical system to the county fueling station at the Highway and Forestry Department. The damage from a lightning strike also damaged lighting and alarm systems and the costs were below the county’s $10,000 insurance deductible.

—A resolution for a road use permit for Joe and Eva Sanchez.

—Canceling the deed on a house in the city of Hurley. The original owners paid the taxes, interest and penalties.

—The board took no action on Iron County Resolution No. 2341.