Gogebic County approves millage requests

By ZACHARY MARANO

zmarano@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved area cities’ and schools’ millage requests at its regular meeting on Wednesday.

Gogebic County Equalization Director Kathy Jo Koval said the county is requesting a levy of 6.6419 mills to be levied against a property tax base of $595,728,765. She said that the property tax base was established through an extensive sales analysis and review. Through analysis of hundreds of sales, the departments assessed properties at 50% of their true cash value.

Koval also reminded the board that the levy is subject to change via the July board of review, the December board of review, poverty exemptions, veteran exemptions and the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

In addition to the millage requests and a tabulation of final taxable values, the equalization department requested that the board approve its Truth in Taxation checklists. Koval explained that a Truth in Taxation shows that an increase in the total existing property value must be offset by decrease in the tax rate levied, so the yield does not increase from one year to another.

The board also passed a resolution in opposition to a proposed Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services rule change. According to the Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice of proposed rule-making on April 20 that, if finalized, would require states to use the same staffing model.

Board member Joe Bonovetz said the county has its own Michigan Works office in Bessemer. The resolution passed by the board says that this rule change would take away local control of employment services and reduce statewide Michigan Works staff from 400 to 100, resulting in longer wait times for job seekers and employers.

“It just won’t be as effective for our rural communities, especially the U.P.,” Bonovetz said.

A copy of the board’s resolution will be sent to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, Governor Whitmer and federal and state legislators.

Gogebic County Sheriff Ross Solberg appeared before the board on Wednesday to let them know that the sheriff’s department will soon launch a Facebook page for their Project Lifesaver program. Solberg said that Program Lifesaver provides enrollees with cognitive disorders — such as Alzheimer’s or autism — who tend to wander with small transmitters to wear on their wrists or ankles.

Solberg said that his department will order 30 wristbands and ankle bracelets. These transmitters will allow deputies and Gogebic County Search and Rescue to locate the individuals in about 30 minutes after going missing, Solberg said. He said that the Iron County, Wisconsin sheriff, Paul Samardich, plans to partner with the Gogebic County emergency services teams as well.

Solberg said he plans to fund this program entirely through grants and fundraisers. He said that the Gogebic Range Health Foundation and Aspirus Hospitals have already raised $10,000 for this program and he plans to raise another $10,000 to get it started.

“We’re pretty excited about the program. It will give our deputies more training in autism and special needs people. I think it’s good for our department as well as our community as a whole,” Solberg said.

The board also heard a request from Gogebic Range Trail Authority president Jerry Nerowski to raise the speed limit on unmarked ORV trails to 35 mph, to bring them in line with a similar change in Iron County. Board chair Jim Lorenson said that he will research what requirements they must fulfill to change the speed limit and the board will discuss and consider approving this change at their next regular meeting in July.

The board also approved a settlement agreement on behalf of the county and Aaron Kangas, resolving Kangas’s petition of the Gogebic County Treasurer for foreclosure of certain parcels of property due to unpaid 2018 taxes, contingent upon receipt of $26,998.36. County Treasurer Lisa Hewitt said this amount was due to excessive proceeds.