Updated on: 11/28/2023
IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – At the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners meeting:
1. Northpointe representatives will attend the next meeting on December 11.
2. Commissioner Stevens moved to approve the KITES OVER AWESOME LAKE ANTOINE event on March 8 and 9, 2024, at Lake Antoine Park.
3. Commissioner Kramer explained the date change due to Pine Mountain ski jumps and plans for a welcoming show with lighted kites and fireworks. Lake Antoine Park Parnters seeks to raise $9,000 in funding to support the expansion of the Kites Over Awesome Lake Antoine (KOALA) event by 2024.
4. Commissioner Degenaer reported $1,800 raised by the fair board for the Salvation Army.
5. Commissioner Ann Martin expressed concerns about proposed library board bylaw additions, emphasizing the need for county board approval.
6. Commissioners Stevens and Kramer criticized the library board’s proposed rules as an attempt to suppress free speech, suggesting a legal opinion before making decisions.
7. Commissioner Wender proposed drafting a letter to the library board expressing concerns.
8. Bay West’s Dr. Hughes will introduce the millage request for the Iron Mountain campus on December 11.
9. Future VSO office meetings will be at the new Kingsford location.
10. Various committee openings were announced, and three applications are out for the fair board.
11. The commissioners approved language for the senior millage renewal, including two proposals for funding senior citizen programs in Dickinson County.
12. An amendment to the GELC UNION regarding paid sick leave was approved.
13. Quarterly payments for senior citizen centers were approved.
14. County Controller Brian Bousley provided updates on the airport hangar progress and the need for CUPAD board members.
15. Commissioner Stevens emphasized the urgency of addressing mental health and suicide issues, especially for veterans, stating:
“I just wanna get something out that’s important. I’ve talked about suicide – In the last meeting and veteran suicide – and I got this in an email just today. I think this board, and all boards, need to continue to work on our state and federal legislators that mental illness is the most serious problem that we have in the United States right now. On average, 127.2 suicides are happening every day in the U.S. 17.5 per day of veterans, which is higher than the rate of 127. It’s an epidemic in America, and I’m gonna continue to harp on this, and I know this board has had a lot of meetings on this. And I think we have to continue to harp on this, and we have to get a handle on this. We’ve had meetings from county commissioners, I’ve been to meetings in Washington DC, I’ve been in meetings in Lansing. We know the problem, but it seems to be we’ve got to do more. I’m gonna continue to harp on this. It’s a serious problem, and I think we all know it.”
16. Concerns were raised over a local drop-in center, The Forever Friendship Drop-In Center in Kingsford, that supports adults at risk of suicide, losing funding that may involve the center having to close its doors.
Commissioner Kramer stated: “The mental health issue: our drop-in center for young adults 18 and over is threatening to be closed. They are threatened with losing their funding, and that’s a big deal because they have a contract, and they have to go through a certain agency in order to get their funding from the state. But this agency is shutting down their funding. I will pursue this, I can’t be more specific, but it’s a challenge, and they’re scared to death that they’re gonna not be able to provide mental health support for adults who don’t necessarily qualify for CMH services, but are at risk for suicide, depression, and anxiety. And so we need to have that center here.”
16. Concerns were raised about the state’s control over local energy decisions, with a suggestion to pursue an ordinance.
17. Commissioner Kramer shared concerns about a green energy bill, emphasizing the need for local decision-making powers.
18. Commissioner Degenaer acknowledged state control but emphasized the county’s right to establish zoning and plans.
19. Students from Iron Mountain High School attended, and commissioners noted that Iron Mountain students consistently show up to local commission meetings. Commissioners encouraged the school to challenge Kingsford High School to attend meetings and get involved in politics. Iron Mountain students were asked to come up with their top 5 concerns and report back to the commissioners.
