HOUGHTON COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – Throughout the year, countless hours of public learning sessions for community inputs have been in place, all to prepare for this weeks special election.
This includes long awaited votes in the Houghton County Jail Proposal and Copper Shores’ Elder Nutrition Millage Proposal.
By close to 500 votes, the Copper Shores’ proposal passed, and its Meals on Wheels program is already working on an expansion process for the months and years to come. This will include an immediate address to the current waiting list in Houghton County, eliminating the likelihood of a waiting list in the future.
“We were very humbled by the community’s expression of support,” said Copper Shores CEO and President, Kevin Store. “We feel that the elder community in Houghton County has said their peace on this, and we’re going to do everything we can to fill that obligation, and make sure that we live up to what we said we would do with this program.”
Across Portage Lake, the Houghton County Jail Proposal did not pass. Out of over 8,000 votes, at about a 1,000 vote difference, the Houghton County Jail will have to continue under its existing operations.
Sheriff Joshua Saaranen says even with yesterday’s outcome, the extensive community input was appreciated.
“While I’m disappointed that it did not pass, I look forward to continuing working with the public, showing what we have to work with here at the Houghton County Jail,” said Saaranen. “We had a good voter turnout, even though the millage did not pass. I just thank all of the voters that came out, whether they were for the new jail or against it, there were a lot of good opinions either way.”
Houghton County’s third proposal, covering the Canal View Operation Tax Renewal Millage, passed by about 2,000 votes.
