Gogebic County Board approves wage increases

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

lholcombe@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved a list of wage increases for elected and appointed non-union employees at its meeting Wednesday evening.

Most of the increases are effective with the new fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Some of the increases included another increase on Oct. 1, 2023. The increases were recommended by the Personnel Committee just prior to the board meeting.

County administrator Juliane Giackino told the Daily Globe with this set of increases done, as well as the union contracts recently settled with other courthouse and sheriff’s department employees, the only set of staff left to deal with are the court employees.

The board heard from County Treasurer Lisa Hewitt that 32 foreclosed properties from 2019 and prior years taxes will go up for public auction on Aug. 30. The board approved a resolution to waive the county’s right of refusal on the properties.

The county’s Land Bank Authority Board met prior to the board meeting and discussed the list of foreclosed properties. The authority board authorized giving a parcel held by the Land Band and located at 401 N. Hemlock in Ironwood to the city of Ironwood, which Hewitt said the city hopes to use as part of a trail with access to the Montreal River.

At the request of County Fair Board chairman and County Board vice chairman Jim Byrns, the county board approved an annual request by the fair board that the county advance funds to cover pre-fair costs related to the fair’s operation. The funds will be repaid by fair receipts as in years past, Byrns said.

After a discussion of how much money the county fair has on hand and the costs associated with putting on the fair, including providing for a carnival, the board approved up to $20,000 for this year, in what county board member Dan Siirila called a line of credit to the county fair.

The board also approved a Michigan Department of Transportation grant for work at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport, including sealing cracks and painting lines and other markings on the taxiway.

The board approved a resolution supporting the U.P. Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) plan for the U.P. Area Agency on Aging services for 2023-2025 across all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula.

Board member Joe Bonovetz, who sits on UPCAP’s board, said that UPCAP has a presence in the community and county citizens benefit from its services.

The board also discussed an ongoing study of the future of countywide ambulance service. At an Ambulance Committee meeting, also prior to Wednesday’s board meeting, Emergency Management Coordinator Heidi DeRosso said the study’s authors — Public Consulting Group — has been conducting interviews with interested parties in the region.

The county board was presented with a written update on the study from the Public Consulting Group. County board member Tom Laabs said he hopes for more concrete details in the group’s final report. Bonovetz agreed the report they received lacked needed specifics and pointed out the final report is due in the fall.

Finally, the county board heard Western U.P. Planning and Development Region officials are looking for nominations for their Oreste “Chip” Chiantello Public Service Award. The award honors the service of the late and longtime member of the Gogebic County Board, as well as WUPPDR board. Organizers wish to honor Western U.P. residents who are active in public service as an elected or appointed official, or as a volunteer, and have made a significant contribution in providing a positive impact in the community.