ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, the Delta County Board of Commissioners held its first regular meeting of the year. As the commissioners were given their roles on various other boards and committees throughout the county, a debate began about the merit of certain assignments.
Since he was first elected last May, Commissioner Matt Jensen has served as the liaison between the County and the Delta Conservation District. He was set to continue as liaison in his new term, but Commissioner Kelli Van Ginhoven asked to take over the position.
Jensen was willing to give Van Ginhoven the title of Conservation District liaison. However, he noted that the County’s relationship with the District changed in January of 2024, when the Conservation District ceased to oversee Delta County parks.
“In the past… we had an appropriation to them,” Jensen said. “Without having an appropriation, do we really need to have the position at this time?”
New Commissioner Christine Williams responded that the board maintains liaison position for other organizations. She also cited “thousands of acres of land” still enrolled in Conservation District programs.
Fellow recently-elected Commissioner Patrick Johnson, who previously served on the board for eight years, said although the County has a “big chunk” of land in the Conservation District, other people who have land in the District do not act as liaisons.
“It kind of makes sense to me that the parks are no longer there, so we really don’t have a dog in that fight,” he said. “As a previous liaison… it almost seemed like you really didn’t need to be there.”
“So why do we have a liaison to, like, the Road Commission?” asked Williams.
“That’s a good question,” Johnson answered. “Maybe we don’t need one.”
After some more discussion, Van Ginhoven again stated her desire to serve as Conservation District Liaison.
“Unless it comes forward on an agenda where we no longer want to have a partnership or a liaison, or if they request having no longer interest in us being ther, I would like the opportunity.”
With Jensen agreeing to give the liaison position to Van Ginhoven, no further action was taken based on the board’s discussion. Williams was named the alternate liaison.
