The Houghton County Board of Commissioners held a
Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at 5:00 p.m.
in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the
Courthouse, City of Houghton.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Paul
Luoma. 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.
Commissioner Barrette made a motion to approve the
minutes of the May 12, 2009 Regular Meeting. The motion
was seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The motion carried
by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Commissioner Pintar made a motion to approve the
agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Ala. The motion carried by a voice vote.
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Public Comment None
Commissioner Luoma announced the Public Hearing for
the USDA Rural Development Grant Application was open.
Eric Forsberg stated the application for the Rural
Development Grant will be on behalf of the ambulance
service to purchase a new ambulance. The Mercy EMS Inc.
is jointly owned by Portage Health and Aspirus
Hospitals. The match required will be paid by the
hospitals. Eric stated it will not cost the County
anything. There being no further questions, Commissioner
Luoma announced that the Public Hearing was closed.
Commissioner Jenich made a motion to approve paying
the bills submitted of vouchers #112580 through #112657
for a total of $62,055.28 along with the late bills of
$32,373.96 for a total of $94,429.24. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by
the following vote.
YES: Jenich, Pintar, Barrette, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
Correspondence None
Reports Standing Committee
Commissioner Barrette reported to the Board on the
following: Copper Country Mental Health, Houghton County
Memorial Airport, reported on sessions attended at the
U.P. Association of County Commissioners Spring
Conference and the Western Upper Peninsula Planning &
Development Region meeting.
Commissioner Pintar reported to the Board on the
following: Houghton – Keweenaw Conservation District,
attended the U.P. Association of County Commissioner
Spring Conference and reported on the sessions he
attended, the Houghton County Planning Commission,
Michigan Works, and Copper Country Trail Committee.
Commissioner Ala reported to the Board on the
following: Portage Lake Multi Rec, Houghton County Fair
Board, and the Great Start Walk A Thon.
Commissioner Jenich reported to the Board on the
following: Health Department, Department of Human
Services, Keweenaw National Historic Park, and Law
Enforcement Committee.
Commissioner Jenich stated the Department of
Corrections did an annual inspection of the jail and
they need to purchase 2 cameras and recorders for the
cell area. The door must be closed between the
administrative area and the cell block area.
Commissioner Jenich made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Pintar to purchase the necessary cameras
and recorders at the cost of $2,997. The motion carried
by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Commissioner Jenich continued his report stating
budget meetings with Department Heads are scheduled for
July 7 and 8.
Commissioner Luoma reported to the Board on the
following: Houghton County Road Commission.
Commissioner Jenich made a motion to send a letter to
the Governor endorsing keeping the Camp Kitwen Facility
open. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala. The
motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
County Officers
John Partanen, Houghton County Equalization Director,
stated that the County millage reduction fraction
calculated to be 1.005, resulting in no reduction in
millage for 2009. The Allocated Millage of 6.3 was
passed on August 5, 2008. John said there was no
reduction in the Road or Medical Care Millage for 2009.
Kathy Beattie, Houghton County Treasurer, stated the
Houghton County Land Bank Authority has been approved. A
five member board will have to be formed. The Board is
made up of the County Treasurer, one township
representative and 3 at large members.
Roy Britz, Houghton County Undersheriff, stated that
the deficiencies that were noted at the jail inspection
will be taken back to the inspector’s superior and then
they are given to the Attorney General. This will force
Houghton County to be more compliant.
New Business
1. Amended Inter-local Agreement to establish an
Upper Peninsula State Fair Authority. A motion was made
by Commissioner Barrette and seconded by Commissioner
Jenich to approve the amended Inter-local Agreement to
establish an Upper Peninsula State Fair Authority as
presented. Included in the motion was to appoint Jim
Gail to represent Houghton County. The motion carried by
a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
2. Request to replace Houghton County Arena roof with
offer to pay for half. Dave Wiitanen made an offer to
pay for half of the cost of replacing the roof on the
arena if the roof is replaced with a Duro-Last Roofing
System. He requested a bid from Lake State Roofing
Inc... The bid was for $15,000. A motion was made by
Commissioner Ala and seconded by Commissioner Jenich to
waive the County’s policy of bidding out any job over
$5,000, and take Dave Wiitanen’s offer of paying for
half of the cost of the new roof, awarding the job to
Lake State Roofing Inc... The motion also included a
ceiling of $10,000 of County total expense if the job
went over bid. The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Ala, Jenich, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
3. Request to purchase advertising in Houghton County
Plat Book. Commissioner Pintar made a motion to purchase
an advertisement in the Houghton Count Plat Book at the
cost of $700. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Ala. The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Pintar, Ala, Jenich, Barrette, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
4. Morley Review Committee – results and
recommendations. Commissioner Barrette explained how the
review committee did the study for the appointed and
elected salary classifications. A discussion followed
with a motion made by Commissioner Barrette to accept
the recommendations of the study and approve the
proposed raises listed to take effect October 1, 2009.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The
motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 4.
NO: Ala 1.
5. Resolution regarding sale of Airpark Lot #21.
Commissioner Barrette made a motion and it was seconded
by Commissioner Ala to approve the resolution as
recommended by the Airport Committee and authorize the
sale of Lot 21 of the Houghton County Airpark. The
motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Barrette, Ala, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
6. Approval of agreement for drug screening services.
A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by
Commissioner Pintar to approve the agreement of Drug
Screens Plus to be Houghton County’s third party
administrator. The motion carried by the following vote.
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
7. Request for authority to award FIA building
roofing bid. A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette
to form a committee of Commissioners Luoma and Ala and
Houghton County’s Building Inspector to review the bids
received for the FIA building roof and to award the bid
to the lowest bidder. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried by a voice vote.
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
8. Appropriations
a. Western U.P. Substance Abuse Services Coordinating
Agency - $29,242 (1/2 of liquor tax)
b. Michigan Township Association dues $336.00.
A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette and
seconded by Commissioner Jenich to approve the
appropriations as listed. The motion carried by the
following vote.
YES: Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
9. Travel Requests
a. MAC Summer Conference
A motion was made by Commissioner Pintar and seconded
by Commissioner Ala to approve the travel request for
the MAC Summer Conference. The motion carried by a voice
vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Public Comment
Dave Mattila questioned if the wage study included
the Commissioners.
A motion was made by Commissioner Ala to adjourn.
There being no objection the meeting was adjourned.
_____________________________________
Paul Luoma, Chairman
_____________________________________
Mary Schoos, Clerk
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