Ontonagon Village discusses debt

ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon Village Manager William DuPont updated the village council last week on the village’s debt to the Michigan Employees Retirement Service.

While the village made a payment to MERS of $60,802 on Sept. 20, DuPont said the the General Fund will not have enough money to continue making full payments.

DuPont is continuing to reach out to legislators for assistance with the problem. He said he has received a call from a representative of U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, and plans to meet with Peters sometime in October. He said he has not heard yet from the office of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan.

DuPont also reported the village received its first wave of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds of $65,418. He said the village plans to use those funds to cover a majority of the costs associated with the Tin Street lift station project.

He also informed the board the village collected just under 89% of the tax roll on Tax Day, which leaves roughly $46,900 uncollected.

DuPont said Acting Clerk Kori Weisinger submitted the final application to complete the lakeshore lighting grant on Sept. 24. He said this project was completed in 2016, but the grant was never completed. The village expects to receive $4,500 in grant funds.

DuPont also noted the village dump area which is used for leaves and small branches adjacent to the snowmobile club is closed. He said the area has been misused and used for large trees and other items not intended for the area. He added the dump has to be cleaned out before it can be opened again.

—Jan Tucker