The Houghton County Board of Commissioners held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, in the 5^th 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 of the November 13, 2007, Regular Meeting. The motion was carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.

Commissioner Barrette requested an addition be made to the agenda, #7 Mic Fees for Covington Grant Radios. Commissioner Pintar requested an addition, # 8 Emergency Preparedness. A motion was made by Commissioner Ala to approve the agenda with the additions. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar. The motion carried with a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.

Public Comment

Jean Butler was present and stated she has a lot in Tamarack City. In 1977 a detour was put through it. It is a 75 by 100 lot. She said there is no documentation that there is an easement on the property. She wants to sell the property and can not because of the detour. Commissioner Barrette said that the County Attorney and Osceola Township Attorney are looking into the matter. He will notify her in Tennessee when he hears something.

A motion by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Ala to approve paying the bills of vouchers # 106214 thru # 106297 along with the late bills presented for a total of $99,207.95. The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Ala, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 5.

NO: None 0.

Correspondence: Commissioner Luoma read a list of correspondence that was received.

Reports: Standing Committee

Commissioner Barrette reported to the Board on the following: Houghton County Airport, Western U.P. District Health, and Torch Lake Township Reassessment Meeting.

Commissioner Pintar reported to the Board on the following: Houghton Keweenaw Soil Conservation District, and Copper Country Trails Advisory Board.

Commissioner Ala reported to the Board on the following: Michigan Works, BHK Headstart, Portage Lake Multi Rec., and the Houghton County Fair Board.

Commissioner Jenich reported to the Board on the following. WUPPDR, Houghton County Medical Care, KEDA Corp., Keweenaw National Park, Commission On Aging, UPCAP Board Meeting, and Houghton County Finance Committee.

Commissioner Luoma stated all the meetings he attended have been covered already.

County Officers

Eric Forsberg stated the donation boxes are being put out into the community for the Trail Rescue Fund. The proceeds will go toward maintenance of the rescue sleds and to purchase additional sleds.

New Business

1. Dave Storm, Douglass Agency, update on workers compensation coverage. Dave Storm representing Citizens Management Incorporated was present to give an informative presentation. Citizens Management Inc. is the company the County’s workers compensation coverage is through.

2. Request for Transfer Station fee increase. A motion by Commissioner Barrette to raise the household garbage fee from $60 to $65 a ton and the construction garbage rate from $70 to $75 a ton. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala. The motion carried for a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.

3. Request from Village of Laurium for letter of support. A motion by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Barrette to send a letter of Houghton County’s support in favor of Laurium Village efforts to obtain an enhancement grant. The motion carried by a voice vote.

4. Board appointments to Houghton County Department of Veteran’s Affairs. A motion was made by Commissioner Pintar to take the Veteran’s Affairs Board recommendation of appointing Elmer R. Liimatta to fill the position vacated by James Pintar, on the Houghton County’s Veteran’s Affairs Board. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Jenich. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5. Nays 0.

5. WUPPDR request for resolution of support. A motion was made by Commissioner Jenich and seconded by Commissioner Ala to approve the resolution as presented regarding the County’s support of the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission’s application to the Economic Development Administration for planning funds. The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Jenich, Ala, Barrette, Pintar, Luoma 5.

NO: None 0.

6. Request for sale of individual lots from Block 26 & request for right of first refusal. A letter of intent was sent to the County to purchase lot 9 & 10 of Block 26 to build a home on. The commissioners were in agreement that the cost of constructing a road way between Pewabic and Quincy Street would have to be looked at to allow access to lots 1 through 5 if the County was to sell the lots individually. A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette, and seconded by Commissioner Jenich to approve the Right of First Refusal as presented between Houghton County and Marie Kellan. The motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.

7. Mic fees. Commissioner Barrette stated that the 911 Advisory Committee recommended that they pay for the $200 mic fees for 110 new radios. He explained it has been budgeted for. A motion was made by Commissioner Barrette to approve the recommendation and cover the fees for any new radios that were purchased before December 31, 2007. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ala. The motion carried by the following vote.

YES: Barrette, Ala, Jenich, Pintar, Luoma 5.

NO: None 0.

8. Emergency Preparedness. Commissioner Pintar asked Jack Dueweke how Houghton County would prepare for extended periods of power outages. Jack answered any questions that were presented.

Public Comments

Phil Musser spoke on GE Aviation. They are putting a design center called University Development Center (UDC) in the SmartZone Power House Building. They are planning on hiring 50 students.

Commissioner Jenich made a motion that a thank you letter be sent to Joseph Battisfore and James Pintar for serving on the Houghton County Veteran’s Affairs Board. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Pintar. Motion carried by a voice vote. Ayes 5, Nays 0.

A motion was made by Commissioner Ala to adjourn. There being no objection, the meeting adjourned.

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Paul Luoma, Chairman

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Mary Schoos, Clerk