The Houghton County Board of Commissioners held
Public Hearings / Regular Meeting on Tuesday, July 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.
Commissioner Luoma announced the Public Hearing for
Truth in Taxation was open. Cheryl Patrick, from the
Houghton County Equalization Department was present.
Cheryl explained that the County must hold a public
hearing and adopt a resolution to be able to levy the
maximum millage rate which is 6.0839.
Commissioner Luoma asked for public comment. There
was none
Commissioner Luoma announced the Public Hearing for
Truth in Taxation was closed.
Commissioner Luoma announced the Public Hearing for
Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund / Keweenaw Scrap
Metal LLC Loan was open.
Commissioner Ala spoke regarding the loan. The
project and loan was approved by the Houghton County
Revolving Loan Board who unanimously passed a motion to
recommend the Houghton County Board of Commissioners to
approve the loan.
Commissioner Luoma asked for public comment. Kathleen
Beattie, Houghton County Treasurer, stated Keweenaw
Scrap Metal owes $13,000.00 for 2006 taxes and $6,700.00
for 2007 taxes. She asked that the taxes be paid before
the loan is approved.
Commissioner Luoma announced the Public Hearing for
Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund / Keweenaw Scrap
Metal LLC Loan was closed.
The July 15, 2008 Regular Meeting followed.
A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette and
seconded by Commissioner Ala to approve the minutes as
presented of the June 10, 2008 and June 17, 2008
meetings. The motion was carried by a voice vote. Ayes
5, Nays 0.
A motion was made by Commissioner Pintar and seconded
by Commissioner Ala to approve the agenda as presented.
The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Public Comment None
A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded
by Commissioner Pintar to approve paying the bills of
voucher #108696 thru #108796 for a total of $104,796.23
along with the late bills submitted of $186,062.33 for a
total of $290,858.56. 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: A meeting with GIS Planning Committee, Local
Emergency Planning, MDOT update on local projects,
Copper Country Mental Health, Houghton County Airport,
and Personnel Committee regarding Morley study upgrade
for Elected and Appointed positions.
Commissioner Pintar reported to the Board on the
following: Planning and Zoning Workshop, Western U.P.
Michigan Works Administrative Board, Planning
Commission, Western U.P. District Health Board, and
Houghton - Keweenaw Conservation District.
Commissioner Ala reported to the Board on the
following: Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund, BHK
Headstart, 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), Keweenaw National Park,
Medical Care Facility, Houghton County Commission on
Aging/TRIAD, Finance Committee, and an UPCAP workshop.
Commissioner Luoma reported to the Board on the
following: Houghton County Road Commission and Houghton
County Transfer Station.
Commissioner Luoma made a motion seconded by
Commissioner Ala to hire Travis Engineering to do a
sight/building study for Houghton County to start the
process for a new Transfer Station. The cost of doing a
preliminary engineering study was estimated as not to
exceed $8,000.00. The motion carried by a voice vote.
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
County Officers
Kathleen Beattie, Houghton County Treasurer, stated
the tax sale will be held on August 13, 2008 at Michigan
Tech Union Building at 12:00 noon. The properties can be
looked at on the Internet at
www.tax-sale.info.
New Business
1. Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund application –
Keweenaw Scrap Metal LLC.
A motion was made be Commissioner Pintar and seconded
by Commissioner Ala to approve the Houghton County
Revolving Loan to Keweenaw Scrap Metal provided the back
taxes due are paid. The loan amount is $25,000.00, a 10
year amortization, with a 2 year balloon at 7.0%. The
motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Pintar, Ala, Jenich, Barrette, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
2. Houghton County Revolving Loan Fund – Request for
extension. A motion was made by Commissioner Ala and
seconded by Commissioner Barrette to approve the
requested extension by GS Engineering. The extension
would extend their loan balloon two additional years,
until August 18, 2010. At that time the entire balance
would be due. The motion carried by the following vote.
YES: Ala, Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
3. 911 Authority agreement. A motion was made by
Commissioner Barrette and seconded by Commissioner Ala
to agree to establish an Upper Peninsula 911 Authority
with all counties in the Upper Peninsula. The motion
carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
4. Truth in Taxation. A motion by Commissioner
Barrette and seconded by Commissioner Jenich to adopt a
resolution of the total operating millage rate of 6.0839
mills for the year 2008 in Houghton County. The motion
carried by the following vote.
YES: Barrette, Jenich, Pintar, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
5. Request for resolution – U.P. Area Agency on
Aging. A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and
seconded by Commissioner Pintar to approve the
resolution as presented for U.P. Area Agency on Aging FY
2009 Area Plan/Annual Implementation Plan. The motion
carried by the following vote.
YES: Jenich, Pintar, Barrette, Ala, Luoma 5.
NO: None 0.
6. Request to pursue legal action against State of
Michigan. Eric Forsberg said Houghton County was named
fiduciary of the 2006 Homeland Security Grant. He stated
that the County was to receive 3% of the grant,
amounting to $54,000.00. Houghton County has received a
portion of that and was asked to refund it. He is asking
that Houghton County proceed with legal action against
the State to recover the fees owed for administering the
grant. A motion to allow Attorney David Mechlin to
proceed with legal action against the State was made by
Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner
Barrette. The motion carried with a voice vote. Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
7.Appropriations
a. WUPPDR - $2,459
b. Western U.P. District Health Department -
$10,671.50
A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette and
seconded by Commissioner Jenich to approve the budgeted
appropriations as presented. The motion carried by a
voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Public Comments None
Announcements None
A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded
by Commissioner Ala to adjourn. There being no
objections, the meeting adjourned.
_____________________________________
Paul Luoma, Chairman
_____________________________________
Mary Schoos, Clerk
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