The Houghton County Board of Commissioners held a
Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, in the 5th
Floor Conference Room of the Courthouse, City of
Houghton.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Paul
Luoma, at 5:00 p.m. After the Pledge of Allegiance the
following commissioners responded to roll call: Edward
Jenich, District 1; Dennis Barrette, District 2; Anton
Pintar, District 3; Scott Ala, District 4; and Paul
Luoma, District 5.
A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette and
seconded by Commissioner Ala to approve the minutes as
presented of the March 11, 2008 meeting. The motion was
carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded
by Commissioner Pintar to approve the agenda as
presented. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
Public Comment
The Warden of Baraga Maximum and Camp Kitwin, along
with other staff, were present to answer any questions
or inquiries that were raised by the commissioners
regarding the two facilities.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded
by Commissioner Ala to approve paying the bills of
voucher #107644 thru #107744 for a total of $99,727.64.
The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Jenich, Ala, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
Correspondence Nothing was addressed
Reports Standing committee
Commissioner Barrette reported to the Board on the
following. Copper Country Mental Health, Houghton County
Airport, his attendance of the Western Lake Superior
Area Maritime Security Committee meeting for Eastern
Lake Superior and the Upper Peninsula Port Area
Committee at the Coast Guard Station, and the Western
U.P. District Health Department meeting.
Commissioner Pintar reported to the Board on the
following. Houghton-Keweenaw Conservation District, the
Houghton County Planning Commission, and Western U.P.
Michigan Works Administration Board meeting.
Commissioner Ala reported to the Board on the
following. BHK Head Start, Portage Lake Multi Rec., and
Houghton County Fair Board.
Commissioner Jenich reported to the Board on the
following. Western Upper Peninsula Planning &
Development Region (WUPPDR), Law Enforcement Committee,
Keweenaw National Historical Park, he announced the
quarterly Department Head meeting will meet 4-21, he
spoke at the Calumet Women’s Club meeting, UPCAP,
Commissioner Jenich addressed the Board regarding the
extensive renovation project plan of the Houghton County
Medical Care facility. The renovation will be of the
ground floor/east wing. The total cost of the renovation
is estimated at $2,000,000.00.
Commissioner Luoma reported to the Board on the
following. Tri County Corrections, Houghton County Road
Commission, and Houghton County Building Department.
County Officers
Kathleen Beattie, Houghton County Treasurer, gave an
update to the Board. She said they foreclosed on 19
parcels. There will be a four county auction consisting
of Houghton, Baraga, Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties held
in Houghton County on August 13 of foreclosed
properties.
New Business
1. Proposals for administration of soil erosion
permits. Commissioner Luoma announced that the County
received two bids to administer Houghton County’s soil
erosion permits. Commissioner Jenich made a motion,
seconded by Commissioner Barrette to table the
discussion until a Drain Commissioner is appointed to
determine if that person is certified or will be
certified to issue and review soil erosion permits. The
motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
2. Request for approval of union contracts.
a. Houghton County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Commissioner Barrette made a motion to approve the
Deputy Sheriff’s Association Contract. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The motion carried by a
voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
b. Houghton County Correctional Officer’s
Association. Commissioner Pintar made a motion to
approve the Correctional Officer’s Association Contract.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala. The motion
carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
c. Houghton County Courthouse Employees. Commissioner
Jenich made a motion to approve the Courthouse
employee’s contract. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by a voice vote.
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
3. Wage & benefit increase for appointed/elected
officials. Eric stated the appointed/elected officials
have in the past received the same that was granted to
the courthouse union. The union negotiated a bump in
retirement benefits from B3 to B4 in lieu of a wage
increase for 2008 and negotiated a wage increase for
2009. Eric recommended the difference in cost from a B3
to B4 which was estimated at 2.39% be given to the
appointed/elected officials for 2008 and the same raise
percentage that was negotiated for 2009 be granted to
the appointed/elected officials. Commissioner Ala made a
motion to approve the benefit increase for the
appointed/elected officials and include in the motion
that the appointed/elected officials also be awarded the
identical amount of reimbursement for medical insurance
as the courthouse union if they choose to wave the
insurance. A discussion followed and it was determined
the Commissioners would not be eligible for the increase
until 2009. Commissioner Ala amended his motion to say
the elected and appointed officials, effective October
1, 2008, would receive the same insurance opt out
payment as the courthouse union employees, excluding the
commissioners, who would not be eligible until January 1
of 2009. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar.
The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Ala, Pintar, Jenich, Barrette, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
4. Request for approval of non-smoking policy for
county owned buildings. Commissioner Ala made a motion
to accept the policy as presented. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by
the following vote.
YES: Ala, Pintar, Jenich Barrette, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
5. Request for wage upgrade. Eric stated that Judge
Goodman requested a wage reclassification for Tracey
Stipe, the Family Court Administrator and Deputy Probate
Register. He recommended an increase from an M/P3 to an
M/P 06 or M/P 07. Eric stated the Personnel Committee
met regarding this and recommended an increase to an M/P
05 at the 3rd year rate. Commissioner Jenich
made a motion to upgrade Tracey Stipe from an M/P 03 to
an M/P 05. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala.
The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
6. Request to join action against the Michigan Public
Service Commission. Eric stated the Michigan Public
Service Commission (MPSC) has lowered Houghton County’s
rate for funding for 911 services which would result in
approximately a loss of $55,500 annually. The County
applied for a rate of $1.26 which was based on the
accurate number of phones in Houghton County. The State
estimated there are 93 phones for each 100 residents.
Using the factor of .93 the State has set our rate at
$1.10. Eric requested the Board to have Houghton County
join the 19 other counties in their hiring Attorney
Douglas Van Essen, of Silver & Van Essen, to begin a
class action suit against the (MPSC). Commissioner Ala
made a motion to have Houghton County join the suit. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion
carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
7. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Board Appointments
– Two positions. Commissioner Jenich made a motion to
appoint Stephen Dennis to fill the 3 year position and
to appoint Gene La Rohelle to fill the position ending
this year. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala.
The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
8. Request for proclamation. Kathleen Beattie asked
the Board to recognize Cheri Poynter who will be the
2008 – 2009 President of the Michigan Chapter of
Business and Professional Women, by supporting her
through a proclamation. Commissioner Barrette made a
motion to approve the proclamation as presented. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The motion
carried by the following vote.
YES: Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
9. Adoption of new equalization values. John Partanen
passed out the complied 2008 Equalization Report. The
report showed the State Equalized Values for 2008, the
Taxable Values for 2008, and Changes to State Equalized
Values between 2007 to 2008, and changes to Taxable
Values between 2007 to 2008. He requested the Board to
adopt the values and apply the 2008 equalization factors
as listed to Calumet Township, Elm River Township,
Franklin Township, Laird Township, and Stanton Township
in order to bring the assessed value to 50.00% of the
true cash value. Commissioner Ala made a motion to adopt
the values as presented and apply the 2008 equalization
factors to the units as requested. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by
a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
10. Appropriations
a. U.P. RC&D Council 2008 dues - $300.
b. Western U.P. District Health Department -
$10,671.50
c. Western U. P. Planning & Development Regional
Commission - $2,459.00
d. Western U.P. Substance Abuse Service Coordinating
Agency -$2,405.50
Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve the
budgeted appropriations as listed. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by
the following vote.
YES: Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
11. Deficit elimination plans. Eric said they
received the letter from the State asking for Houghton
County’s plan to eliminate their deficits as stated in
the audit. He said this year there are three.
- The first is 2006 Delinquent Property Tax Sale
Deficit. Commissioner Jenich made a motion to
approve the 2006 Delinquent Property Tax Sale
Resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Barrette. The motion carried by the
following vote.
YES: Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
- The second is the Houghton County Airport Water
and Sewer Fund. Commissioner Barrette made a motion
to approve the Airport Water and Sewer Fund
Resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Ala. The motion carried by the
following vote.
YES: Barrette, Ala, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
3. The third is the Houghton County 2007 Department
of Veteran’s Affairs Fund.
Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve the
Department of Veteran’s Affairs Fund Resolution as
presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Barrette. The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
12. Request for letter of support. Adams Township
Volunteer Fire Department and First Responders are
asking for a letter of support in regards to a FEMA Fire
Fighter Assistance Grant they have applied for. A motion
was made by Commissioner Pintar and seconded by
Commissioner Ala to send a letter of support. The motion
carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Public Comment
Lisa Mattila asked if it was public information
regarding the union contracts. If the Morley Study was
used in determining Tracey Stipe’s upgrade, and if the
raise increase is retroactive to January 1.
Neil Hayrynen asked how the smoke free policy will
affect the cigarette ashtrays by the doors. Are there to
be signs posted regarding distance?
A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Barrette
and seconded.
_____________________________________
Paul Luoma, Chairman
_____________________________________
Mary Schoos, Clerk
[BACK]
