Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 28 approved holding the 2025 county fair at the fairgrounds during the dates of Aug. 7-10.
The unanimous vote followed a request for that action by Fair Board Vice Chairman Tom Hampston.
The vote was unanimous with no further discussion.
Because of demolition and an unexpected fire in 2023, the county board had voted not to allow the fair or any other major activities to occur on the fairgrounds during this year.
As explained by board chairman James Lorenson, that decision was in relation to safety concerns, as it was unclear when reconstruction would begin.
Hence, a pared down 2024 fair took place instead at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center, with some aspects occurring on neighboring property of Gogebic Community College.
“The fair went over well this year,” said Hampston, who said there were no problems with either of those parties.
“The kids had a good time,” he assured.
Commissioners also authorized filling in the grandstand area and laying concrete as a base for pending portable grandstands at the county fairground. Commissioner Bob Orlich opposed, pointing out that concrete is expensive and could result in a slippery surface.
Commissioners tabled action on bleachers until more information is received.
County treasurer Lisa Hewitt said that progress on pending upgrades to fairground race horse barns is progressing nicely. “We’re at the stage now where we hired a structural engineer to go in and do a study,” she said.
Hampston also asked board members to allow the Fair Board to be more involved in fairground decisions. He said he would like the two boards to work together toward the next 100 years.
During the public comment session, Fair Board member Shelley Suckow also addressed the board.
She voiced appreciation for the county board’s approval of the 2025 fair at the fairgrounds and then backed up Hampston’s request for more communication between the two boards.
Suckow requested “respectful interaction” in which county board and Fair Board members can “get things done together.”
She also strongly recommend having a “horse person” — not necessarily a Fair Board member — to provide input on fairground improvements.
In other news, Commissioner George Peterson addressed a July 30 letter from Bruce Mahler, supervisor of Marenisco Township.
In the letter, Mahler asked how the board can help to compensate the eastern side of the county with expenses relating to senior citizen lunches. He said Marenisco results with deficit of about $11,000 in its senior lunch program.
“I don’t want anything taken away from the senior citizens on the western side,” said Peterson. “I just would like the eastern side included.”
He mentioned eastern-side tax contributions, which will be close to $180,000 from the two townships this year. “It’s a lot of cash,” said Peterson.
Orlich said the county would need only to pay for the cost of food since Marenisco already has a town hall kitchen from which to offer meals.
Peterson said that Watersmeet also has the same advantage and said that James Williams, tribal leader of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, will speak with him about the band’s own senior program, which is now separate from the township.
Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz said that Watersmeet and Marenisco townships both would benefit from establishing a senior citizen center, which thereby would facilitate rights to related funding.
He said he is willing to meet with township officials and a representative of the senior lunch program via the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency.
“It’s not a big problem,” said Bonovetz. “It’s a communication problem.”
Bonovetz also clarified that the existing senior lunch program is not technically a county program.
Commissioner Daniel Siirila added, however, that county millage supports the program.
Commissioners also:
— Approved a bid of $575,900 from Tweet/Garot Mechanical of DePere, Wisconsin, in relation to county jail plumbing improvements, as well as an alternate bid for $19,894 from the same company for an upgrade in the jail kitchen’s air conditioning.
— Approved for Nasi Construction of Hurley an extension of the completion date for window installations in the Gogebic County Courthouse. The new completion date is Nov. 1.
— Approved a call for bids to increase the height of three of the county’s storage unit doors, so as to better accommodate Search and Rescue equipment.
— Approved a payment of $7,676, from July liquor tax revenues, to NorthCare Network of Marquette, for expenses in addressing substance abuse in this region.
— Approved a resolution recognizing Sept. 8-14 as Suicide Prevention Week.
Unless otherwise indicated, all votes were unanimous with all members present.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. in the Gogebic County Courthouse.
