ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This week, commissioners from all 15 U.P. counties traveled to Harris for a biannual gathering.
The Upper Peninsula Association of County Commissioners (UPACC) Conference brought local officials together at The Island Resort & Casino. Commissioners heard from state legislators, UPCAP, and other organizations about the top priorities in their communities.
“We received information from InvestUP on economic development throughout the entire Upper Peninsula,” said Joseph Derocha, Chairman of the Marquette County Board of Commissioners and conference emcee. “We also had a presentation from the U.P. Health System, along with a presentation on green energy with the solid waste that gets generated throughout the U.P. There was a lot of great information for county commissions to absorb.”
Friday’s key topics included resources for veterans and programs available through the Department of Natural Resources.
“Also about 911 conductivity throughout the U.P., which is a very important part of public safety,” Derocha said. “It’s very important that the county elected officials have a collaborative effort with the legislature, along with the people that are holding these informational gatherings for us.”
Among those in attendance were all five Delta County commissioners.
“The conference is a good way to network and to work with other commissioners throughout the U.P.,” said Delta County District 3 Commissioner Myra Croasdell.
In addition to building those partnerships, Croasdell was most interested in learning from state leaders about the newest legislation affecting civilians.
“The legislation had come through to give us updates of the bills that are going to be passed, the lame duck season,” she said. “MACC came in with their updates, so it was a lot of updating and keeping us informed.”
For all commissioners, the UPACC Conference gave them new ideas, potential solutions, and topics of discussion to take back to their county boards.
“It is really an extraordinary conference,” said Croasdell. “You take a little piece of this and a little piece of that.”
“We want to make sure that the services that are provided to our constituents or our shareholders—taxpayers—that we’re doing our due diligence for the people we serve,” Derocha said.
The Upper Peninsula Association of County Commissioners will meet again in the spring.
