Coming Soon: Expanded Keweenaw Co-op in Hancock

Despite delays, the wait is nearly over for the Keweenaw Co-op's much-anticipated move to downtown Hancock. The new location, slated to open later this year, will offer customers a significantly enhanced shopping experience with nearly double the retail space and a wider selection at the deli.

Curt Webb, Keweenaw Co-op’s General Manager, checks the status of the Co-op build on May 18. Photo by Denise Hansen.

The Co-op has received overwhelming community support, with more than $1 million raised, but that hasn’t stopped the project from facing significant delays. The construction has faced challenges due to unforeseen circumstances, including supply shortages in the wake of the pandemic and changes in state elevator regulations. Those regulation changes required a mid-project reconfiguration of the elevator design that set the project back months. Now, the problems have been ironed out, and the construction is back on track.

HVAC work is underway in the Co-op’s new retail space. Photo by Denise Hansen.

“We understand the responsibility ahead of us to make sure it works to provide food access to everyone in the Keweenaw,” said Denise Hansen, sales and operations manager at the Co-op. “That’s what we do.”

Produce enthusiasts will be greeted by a prominent section showcasing fresh fruits, vegetables, and even flowers as soon as they enter the store. 

“We’re doing what we do best, and we’re doing more of it,” Hansen said

An open kitchen will allow customers to witness the preparation of pizzas, sandwiches and more firsthand, emphasizing the focus on fresh and healthy offerings. The expanded deli section caters to those seeking quick and convenient meal options. 

“We are the place people come for sandwiches,” Hansen said. 

The deli will feature a wider selection, including custom orders, hot and cold pizza, pre-made salads, and bowls. Kombucha will be on tap alongside coffee and cold beverages.

Seating will also be significantly increased, with 30 seats inside at tables and window counter stools. During warmer months, additional outdoor seating will be available. Parking will improve as well, with the new location offering 50 dedicated spots, including three handicapped spaces, compared to the current store's roughly eight off-street parking spaces.

The new facility will also significantly improve working conditions for employees. A dedicated loading dock for receiving shipments is one thing the co-op has never had before.

Other improvements include a more efficient, unified kitchen location, walk-in sales coolers and a more private break space. The new coolers for drinks, dairy, and other products allow employees to stock from the rear rather than being in the aisle. Not having the store spread across three floors will also make a big difference for the workers, according to Hansen.

The Co-op's move downtown signifies a major step, not only for the business itself but also for the surrounding area. Co-op officials believe the new location will be transformative. 

“We are very fortunate to have found a location that works for the business as well as the community,” Hansen said, noting the proximity to businesses for walking lunches and the revitalization of a previously unused space. 

The increased visibility from nearby highway traffic is expected to benefit the business, and the easy access and convenient location compared to the current store situated outside the city center are seen as advantages. 

“We’ll be the first grocery store off the bridge,” Hansen pointed out.

The new store will be at 610 Quincy Street in Hancock.

Editor’s note: This article was modified after posting to include the Co-op’s new address.

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Big Annie’s Likeness is Coming to Calumet

“Big Annie” Klobuchar Clemenc stands tall in Calumet’s proud history. A labor activist in the early 20th century, she drew women out of their traditional roles and helped shape the labor movement in the U.P.  Soon Calumet will have a life-sized statue downtown honoring her. 

A local artist, Jerome Patryjak, created a piece of art that will be used as inspiration for the sculptor to design the statue. A sculptor will be selected once the Big Annie Statue Committee has reached their fundraising goals.

The Big Annie Statue Committee recently awarded Patryjak a $500 grant funded by the Keweenaw Community Foundation to create a conceptual rendering of the Big Annie statue. The committee is planning a June 22 fundraising gala at the Calumet Theatre, where the artist’s rendering of the statue will be revealed. 

Sara Fletcher with the Keweenaw Community Foundation awards local Calumet Artist Jerome Patryjak with $500 for a conceptual rendering of the "Big Annie" Statue. Photo courtesy the "Big Annie" Statue Committee.

WHO WAS BIG ANNIE?

Anna Klobuchar Clemenc was known as Big Annie because she towered over most other women, standing six foot two inches tall. Although her brother Frank described her as “mild and well-mannered,” she turned out to be a firebrand when it came to supporting the role of women outside the home and fighting for economic and social justice. It made her both a hero and a pariah in her time. 

In 1913, miners on the Keweenaw Peninsula held a labor strike protesting their hazardous working conditions and extremely low wages. During the strike, Clemenc, only 25 years old at the time and herself the wife of a miner, founded a Woman’s Auxiliary of the Western Federation of Miners in support of the miners’ cause. She marched with the strikers daily, often waving an American flag on a 10-foot pole as a reminder of every citizen’s fundamental rights.  

Clemenc was arrested and jailed twice for her activism.  The first time, she and five other women stopped a man from going to work whom they thought was a non-striker. They were arrested after fighting with deputies. She also served a 10-day jail sentence for previously assaulting a non-striking miner. 

Clemenc and the Women’s Auxiliary planned the historic Christmas Eve party at Italian Hall, which turned into a mass disaster after someone falsely shouted “fire” and 500 children and 175 adults stampeded to get out of the building. Seventy-five people died, most of them children. Carrying her flag, Clemenc led the funeral procession for the victims. 

Her legacy was mostly forgotten for decades, until the Michigan legislature declared on June 17, 1980, as Annie Clemenc Day, describing her as “one of Michigan’s most valiant, yet largely forgotten and unrecognized women.” 

ARTIST’S CONNECTION TO CALUMET

Patryjak’s grandmother and grandfather both emigrated to Calumet from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in the late 19th century. They raised a family there, moving from town to town as he followed work in the mines.  

When the mines started closing, they moved to Detroit, where Patryjak was born and raised. He worked there for most of his life, though his family visited Calumet occasionally, and he has fond memories of the Keweenaw. 

During the isolation of the COVID pandemic, Patryjak realized that he wanted to live in a more beautiful place filled with what he recalled as “wonderful people.”  So he moved to Calumet, opened a studio on 5th Street, began volunteering at the Calumet Art Center and joined the boards of the Copper Country Associated Artists and the Keweenaw Heritage Center.

Patryjak’s interest in Big Annie began when he started looking into the history of the Italian Hall disaster. He learned about Big Annie’s role and wanted to know more about her.

“I was interested in her very human story,” said Patryjak.  “I believe my grandmother knew Annie when she was young.”

Among the items Patryjak’s mother left to him was a crocheted table piece with a note that said it was a gift to her mother from Annie’s mother, Mary Klobuchar.

The artist was also interested in what drove his grandparents to leave a European empire to seek opportunity in America and become citizens instead of subjects. To him, Big Annie personifies their drive.

“She was a leading figure for self-determination, respect and community over corporation,” he said.

Now, Patryjak has brought Big Annie back to life on his drawing table. The Big Annie Statue Committee can’t wait to see what a sculptor does with his rendering.

Edit: Paragraph 2 was edited for wording after this story was posted.

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Welcome to the Brand New Copper Beacon: What We’re Doing and Why

Today marks the relaunch of a new and improved Copper Beacon. Let me tell you about its history, mission and plans for the future. 

A teleconference between the volunteer relaunch team: Josh Vissers, Laura Smyth, Jennifer Donovan, Juxta Sprague, and Lily Venable.

Just as there is no perfect person, there is no perfect media. We all, mostly, try our best. When I taught media studies, I would start each semester with a lesson on propaganda and faulty logic, because deceit, self-interest, and manipulation are as old as humankind. But so is seeking truth, helping community, and a need to communicate with each other. So, along with propaganda, I would talk (probably a lot) about personal bias—how to recognize it and move past it. One mistake we often make, both as media “consumers” and media “producers” is believing we are without bias. That’s not humanly possible. But recognizing our own biases, our own blind spots and prejudices, is not only possible, it is essential, both in a democracy and in a news outlet.

Joshua Vissers started this online news source, now called Copper Beacon, as an exercise in delivering local news to a rural community without the undue influence that can come from relying on advertising revenue.

(Read a short history of the publication here: https://www.copperbeacon.org/about-us).

It is the ideal of every journalist I have ever met not to be thwarted in what they cover and how it can be covered by the commercial necessities of their news outlet. Investigating stories, writing stories, editing stories, getting good visuals to help bring stories to life…all of this is expensive, and the tried-and-true model in American journalism has been advertising. Subscriptions in this model help, certainly, but primarily to give advertisers a sense of the readership they can reach if they pay for an expensive advertisement. The potential conflicts of interest are ever-present and obvious.

This publication has never sought or accepted advertising. We rely on subscriptions, though we now are seeking other local and national, non-commercial sources of funding. 

Copper Beacon has  been and continues to be hyper-local. We cover four counties: Baraga, Ontonogan, Houghton and Keweenaw. With the view that journalism is a community service and not a product, we value local knowledge. 

As I was working on this article in my Hancock office in late April, I decided to get out and enjoy the sunshine and clear my head. Walking down Quincy St. I found myself in the middle of the setup process for this year’s Puppy Parade. How perfect. I leave my office to clear my thoughts and immediately am immersed in an important and lovely community project. Students from Hancock High School were creating the route all along the sidewalk with chalk, leaving inspiring messages and colorful pawprints. The coordinator for the Puppy Parade, Rachel Lamppa from Copper Shores Community Health, chatted with me about the artwork the students were making and her passion for helping survivors of sexual violence. Officer Olsen was on hand, helping with the artwork and looking after the students. I had walked out of my head and into a community event outside my door. I encouraged the students to consider writing an article for the Copper Beacon about their experience on this project. Citizen journalism recruitment on the fly.

Victim advocate Rachel Lamppa with Hancock Police Officer Olsen at the Copper Shores Puppy Parade.

Rather than attempting to cover the entire U.P., Copper Beacon chose a deeper focus on truly local issues, and our plan is to grow through the development of local journalists and citizen journalists. 

One big accomplishment that the publication has achieved so far is obtaining a 501(c)3 status. Being a non-profit will help us with our mission: Copper Beacon will deliver high-quality journalism featuring diverse voices and deep research to the residents of Houghton County and the surrounding area. With ethics, accessibility, and media education held as core values, we will lead the way for the modernization of news production in the Upper Peninsula.

Yes, that’s a big mission, but what’s the point in a small one? Together, we don’t need to do this instantly but rather can build on past achievements and develop new local talent. We have a dedicated local board to help guide the way. We are actively seeking input from residents for stories that could use greater coverage, and we will be training local writers to take a leap into this important project: local news.

We’re currently an all-volunteer staff, although freelance writers are paid contributors, but one of the goals we have as a non-profit is to develop foundational funding sources from both inside and outside the region that will allow us to develop more opportunities for paid writers and also to engage and educate local communities on the importance of local news coverage. Money coming into our non-profit organization brings funds into the local economy rather than sending money out of the area through advertising revenue to a national or international corporate parent company. As Joshua said to me in a recent phone conversation, corporate news ownership is “a straw for sucking money out of the community.” And that straw seems to get bigger with each passing day. 

So, moving forward, we will keep the community events calendar going on a weekly basis along with smaller news items as they arise. The primary change will be to take a monthly deep dive into one specific topic of importance in the community and cover it in-depth. Look for story topics to be announced in the next few weeks and contact the editor if you would like more information about writing for (or learning to write for) the Copper Beacon. We’re excited about the future of this news outlet. Taking my cue from the students who were enthusiastically chalking up Quincy St. before the parade, I can tell you that we do this work with a deep commitment to the well-being of the whole community, and also an appreciation of good chalk. 

Edit: This article was corrected for typos after posting. “Office” was changed to Officer and “conversion” changed to “conversation”.

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Michigan Tech fires deans of two largest colleges, offers no explanation

(Left) Janet Callahan, Michigan Tech professor and former Dean of the College of Engineering and (right) Professor David Hemmer, former Dean of the College of Sciences and Arts.

Editor’s Note: A correction has been made to this article. We implied that David Hemmer said both interim deans learned of their new positions through public announcements, but he was only sure of one. We apologize for any confusion this has caused.

Editor’s Note (2): Another correction has been made to this article. We inadvertently suggested Janet Callahan told us she was given no explanation for her dismissal, but in fact another source, David Hemmer, was speaking in plural, and to our knowledge does not have authority to speak on Callahan’s behalf. We sincerely apologize.

The deans of both the College of Engineering, and the College of Sciences and Arts at Michigan Technological University were fired June 26. According to written statements made by one of the two fired deans, they were informed of their pending termination by Michigan Tech provost Andrew Storer on June 20, and offered a chance to renounce their tenure and resign from the University entirely for three months salary. Both declined the offer. The next day, the Office of the Provost announced that both faculty members would “transition from their leadership roles in the College of Engineering and the College of Sciences and Arts” and that interim deans would be stepping in to fill their vacancies.

One of the two fired deans, David Hemmer of the College of Sciences and Arts, said the two were offered no explanation for their abrupt dismissal and that it was conducted in a manner to “increase our humiliation”. At time of reporting, both former deans are still employed at the University as tenured professors.

Hemmer authored a letter to the Board of Trustees expressing his “shock and disgust at the events that [had] transpired”. Transcripts of the letter soon made their way to social media, where they were shared by students and faculty of the University. Copper Beacon has verified the authenticity of this letter, the full text of which can be read in the card below.

• Dean David Hemmer’s Letter

  Members of the Board of Trustees,
  
  I am writing to express my shock and disgust at the events that have transpired this week. Late in the day on Tuesday June 20, College of Engineering Dean Janet Callahan and I were separately informed that we were fired, effective Monday June 26, that interim deans had already been selected, and that the announcement would be in Tech Today a short 12 hours later. No reason or explanation was given. We were individually summoned to Provost Andrew Storer’s office, asked to leave an ongoing retreat with other campus leaders, in a way very likely intended to increase our humiliation.
  
  We were encouraged to submit letters of resignation. We both refused. Despite both being tenured full professors, we were encouraged to renounce our tenure and resign entirely from the university in exchange for only three months’ salary.
  
  Provost Storer immediately called my direct reports (Department Chairs and college staff) and told at least two of them that I had “resigned.” He told several others that I had “stepped down”. Both are, of course, false.
  
  The Provost’s office submitted an article in Tech Today for Wednesday morning that was designed to further humiliate us. Indeed, our entire set of accomplishments as deans was summed up in one line: “Janet and David played important roles over these past five years, especially during the pandemic, and we thank them for their service.” This cursory summary is an insult to all that we both accomplished over five incredible years of leadership. It feels like an intentional slap in the face to both of us.
  
  It is particularly puzzling given that we were both renewed one a year ago with strong support from faculty, staff, department chairs and students. Indeed, I was recommended for renewal “unanimously and unequivocally” by an evaluation committee of more than a dozen colleagues. In a meeting on May 24, 2022, President Koubek told me he thought I was a “strong leader” and would “make a great Provost or President someday.”
  
  Earlier that same Tuesday, Dr. Storer called Physics Chair Dr. Ravi Pandey and said there “might” be some leadership changes in CSA and asked if he was willing to serve if necessary. Ravi agreed. When we met on Thursday, Dr. Pandey told me that my firing came as a complete shock to him, as did the announcement in Tech Today that he would be the interim dean, his having not even agreed on terms yet. He was not entirely sure he would take the position, but he has already been publicly announced. What a hasty and bungled transition!
  
  I fully understand that deans serve at the pleasure of the Provost and President, and that Dr. Storer has every right to select his own leadership team. The usual and customary way across academia to remove a dean or provost is to quietly let them know they have one year left. This allows them to announce their resignation early, have a proper national search, look for an administrative position at another institution if they desire, and preserve some measure of dignity with little or no suggestion that they were fired. The way Dr. Callahan and I were terminated would typically be reserved for some emergency, or in cases of serious misconduct. Frankly, Dr. Callahan and I were both relieved the other was fired, which makes it clear to everyone that this is the result of a misguided Provost (or President) cleaning house, and not misconduct on our part.
  
  Despite many faculty being away for the summer, and perhaps not paying attention, the outpouring of support and anger I have received has been enormous. More than 100 faculty and staff from across the university have contacted me, and their response was uniformly one of disgust with Provost Storer, bafflement with how and why this decision was made, and fear for the future. This includes a substantial portion of the academic leadership on campus. Comments include “shocked and saddened”, “This isn’t how we operate at Michigan Tech”, “stunned and disappointed”, “the provost is a dictator”, “insane”, “baffled” and on and on. What could possibly be the reason to fire experienced deans of the two largest colleges? Colleagues have called for a vote in the University Senate to censure the Provost, or a faculty vote of no-confidence in his leadership. I am admittedly angry and of course biased, but I do not see any way his provostship survives this decision. Dr. Storer has completely lost the trust and confidence of the large majority of faculty. I encourage the Board of Trustees not to take my word for this, but to poll the faculty yourselves. Talk to department chairs. Seek feedback from the administrative staff as well as to the functioning of the Provost’s office over the past year.
  
  This decision has created fear and uncertainty on campus. Firing the deans of the two largest colleges sends a clear message that the academic side of the house is in crisis. What is the crisis? Did it not exist a year ago? How will having interim deans eventually replaced by inexperienced deans solve it? The campus rumor mill is bubbling over and people are truly afraid of what is coming.
  
  The way this was handled will make it impossible to recruit strong external candidates to fill what will now be three vacant dean positions this coming year. MTU already has difficulty recruiting external administrators. In the past few years we have had failed chair searches in MEEM (even with hiring a search firm), Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and Chemistry. Our recent national CFO search dragged on for almost a year and ended with the hiring of an original member of the search committee. We will have open chair positions for next year at least in Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, and Computer Science. We will be running national searches for at least three deans (CFRES, CSA, COE). Any qualified and savvy external candidate for these chair and dean positions will investigate what happened to Dr. Callahan and me, and the answer will not be encouraging. We risk losing star faculty members as well. MTU has already lost an unusual number of our leading faculty in recent years, and more than one of our current superstars has told me this decision will send them to the job market.
  
  The timing of this decision is horrible as well, with a capital campaign underway and next year being the critical ABET accreditation year in COE. Both Dr. Callahan and I are in the midst of working with donors and foundations on large gifts. Dr. Callahan was in California meeting important donors last week, as well as meeting with her external advisory board. Neither Bill Roberts nor anyone in the advancement office was told of this decision. No plan for contacting alumni and donors was implemented. Perhaps it is expected that Dr. Callahan and I should let our donors know what happened?
  
  Finally, I was a semifinalist for the Provost position and interviewed with the search committee. At least five members of the committee have personally told me how strong my interview was, and that multiple members wanted to advance me to a campus interview (yes, search committees leak like sieves). Having the new Provost fire one of his competitors for the position only a couple months after earning it himself sends a horrible message, independent of the actual motivation for the decision.
  
  The last five years have been great ones for MTU. We survived the pandemic in a strong financial position with growing enrollment. New academic buildings and dormitories are being planned and constructed for the first time in more than a decade, a capital campaign is underway, marketing and recruiting efforts are modernized and working. Dr. Koubek often celebrates this momentum in his public remarks. This capricious decision has completely negated that narrative. The perception now is that MTU is a university in crisis, at least within Academic Affairs, and that senior leadership is not up to the task. The repercussions of this decision will hurt our recruiting for many years.
  
  I am proud of what my team and I accomplished over the past five years. By every metric (enrollment, research funding, fundraising, student retention, etc.) my deanship has been an unequivocal success. I take great pride in my work. I will return to the faculty in Mathematical Sciences and continue to work hard for the success of our students and our university. I carefully negotiated my contract in ways that protected me from just this scenario. I will be ok. I fear MTU will not.
  
  David Hemmer
  

In his letter, Hemmer asserts that the provost behaved in a manner designed to humiliate and insult both faculty members.

“It feels like an intentional slap in the face to both of us,” Hemmer wrote.

Michigan Tech Provost Andrew Storer.

Hemmer also accused provost Storer of conducting a “hasty and bungled transition” that led to at least one of the interim deans learning of their new jobs through a public announcement on the University’s daily newsletter.

Hemmer continued by noting an “outpouring of support and anger [from] more than 100 faculty and staff from across the university” and offered many quote snippets to highlight faculty bafflement, fear, and disgust with the provost’s decision. Hemmer added that “Colleagues have called for a vote in the University Senate to censure the Provost”.

As the University Senate seldom meets during the summer, it is unclear when this measure might be considered or how likely it would be to pass.

Hemmer concluded his letter with a series of concerns about how this decision would impact the University’s ABET accreditation, the current capital campaign, or the ability for the school to recruit and retain faculty in the future.

“I carefully negotiated my contract in ways that protected me from just this scenario. I will be ok. I fear MTU will not,” Hemmer wrote.

The University in response to an inquiry about the former deans being fired without explanation offered the following comment.

“Thank you for reaching out. Regarding your questions, the University does not comment on personnel matters beyond the announcements made elsewhere.”

The second faculty member, Janet Callahan did not respond to a request for comment at time of publication.

The College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) is the second-largest college under MTU’s umbrella, home to approximately 1/6th of their students. The college also supports several notable departments including the Biological Sciences, Humanities, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, and ROTC.

David Hemmer, the former CSA dean, holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Chicago and worked for the University of Buffalo as chair of mathematics prior to coming to Michigan Tech. Hemmer replaced retiring CSA dean Bruce Seely in 2018 with much praise from the former provost Jacqueline Huntoon.

Hemmer is being replaced by interim dean Ravindra Pandey who holds a PhD in Theoretical Solid State Physics from the University of Manitoba. Pandey also serves as Chair of the Physics Department.

The College of Engineering (COE) is the largest college by far. More than half of Michigan Tech’s total student population study under one of its programs including the Biomedical, Chemical, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Geological Engineering departments in addition to other programs such as Material Science and Manufacturing.

Janet Callahan, the former COE dean, holds a PhD in Material Sciences University of Connecticut at Storrs and worked for Boise State University as chair of the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering before coming to Michigan Tech. Callahan replaced retiring dean Wayne Pennington in 2018 with praise from the former provost Jacqueline Huntoon as well.

Callahan is being replaced by interim dean Audra Morse who holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University. Morse also serves as Chair of the Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Departments.

If you’re interested in republishing this story, please email us at editor@copperbeacon.org.

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Ontonagon's budget, former-manager woes deepen; New management team seeks to make corrections

The Ontonagon Village Council held a budget workshop on March 4th. Budget matters were discussed at some length, but the most distressing items were discoveries that have been made in the wake of the termination of the village manager’s employment.  These were, in part, as follows:

•  The Deficit Elimination Plan did not have an approved budget for the Marina Fund. An approved budget must be in place by March 26, 2021, and if the Treasury Department doesn’t have this, the village could lose 25% of its State revenue sharing money (about $35,000).

•  CRLGG Grant: This is the COVID-19 program money. There was a deadline of Jan. 18, 2021, to submit the closing certification for this grant and this was left undone.  An email that was sent to and received by former village management detailing the issue and a new deadline of March 5, 2021, was summarily ignored.  The village office staff has now completed this obligation and submitted it on March 1, 2021. If this had not been caught in time, the village would have had to pay back $8,000 of the CRLGG grant.

•  MERS Payments:  The village currently owes $125,749.54 in back payments.  Village management had received notice of this on Jan. 25, 2021, explaining that a payment was due on Oct. 20, 2020.  The council had also been sent this letter, but this information appears to have been withheld.

•  ACT 51 Street Financial Report: Village management received an email communication from Laura Loomis which was received on Dec. 4, 2020, stating that a report was due on Dec. 31, 2020.  This was ignored.

•  Paddlecraft Landing Grant: This project has been rife with criticism from several persons in the community.  The village spent about $110,000 on this development. This was a DNR grant, but the village was not reimbursed because the grant closing documents were not completed. Numerous emails were sent to village management from October of 2019 to April of 2020 requesting completion of the grant documentation.  The village office staff has now been in contact with the MDNR and $46,000 is still available to finish this project and they have agreed to reopen the grant as it has  been allowed to expire.

• Lakeshore Lighting Grant: The MDNR advised the village that there is still $4,500  available for the Lakeshore Drive lighting grant. This will be followed up by village office staff.

•  Marine Dredging Grant: There was a shortfall in the marina fund because the paperwork for this grant has not been completed.  The audit received by the village in December of 2020 made this information available but there had been no attempt to correct the matter.  The grant expired on Dec. 31, 2020.  Thanks to  Acting Clerk Cori Weisinger, the deadline has  been extended to Dec. 31, 2021, and the village is entitled to recoup $174,681.

• MDNR Grant for re-culvert and proposed footbridge over the slough (Rose Channel):   This was a pass-thru grant from the DNR with no cost to the village at all.  Village management had not responded to information requests from the DNR and this is due on March 12. The village would have lost this grant if George Madison of the MDNR had not contacted the village after learning that the village manager had been discharged.  This project is again viable.

•  Past Due Water Bill:  A large commercial water customer is said to owe the village over $100,000. Tanya Weisinger had brought this matter to village management’s attention in 2017, but nothing was done  to resolve this issue.

Clerk William DuPont  added that in following up on other information that is  becoming available, it appears that ignored emails and other notices, that that were received and opened, were not reported to the village council. It appeared that information may have been withheld or concealed.

Clerk/Treasurer DuPont commended Kori Weisinger and Tanya Weisinger for bringing these and other matters to the attention of the council. Council then took the necessary step to change the village management.

The village council met again on March 8 via telecom at 6 p.m. The first order of business was to swear in the new trustee which was accomplished and the new member of the council was officially “seated.” Mike Rebholz took the oath. Mike Mogan was not on the call.

Before addressing the agenda, the floor was opened for public comment.

Sue Lockhart, a non-resident, responded to the invitation to speak. She asked how missed payment to MERS could have been missed? She charged that President Smydra should have known about this as he signs all the checks.  She asked if there are interest and penalties on unpaid bills, and she also asked about the lawsuit with Hilton Marine.  She pressed the inquiry of how all of these items could have been missed. Lockhart suggested that it may be discovered that there is actual money missing.  She felt that she has warned the council of many of these things that have come to light but that the Council rejected her warnings.

Smydra responded by stating that the Village President does not, in fact, sign any checks so that Lockhart’s charges and the previous statement were untrue.

Robert “Skip" Schulz interrupted and was declared out of order as he had not given his address. Schulz complied with this requirement and then Smydra asked Schulz if he was speaking as a village resident or as an employee of the Daily Mining Gazette. Schulz’s response was unintelligible. Schulz now charged that Smydra has misinformed the public about Jessica Huntzinger being sworn in. Huntzinger defeated Schulz in the November 2020 election. Schulz's outburst then became emotional, and, as his allotted time was over, he hung up. President Smydra addressed the charge that Huntzinger was not legally sworn in after her election. Documentation was provided to the effect that Huntzinger was indeed sworn in. It was also pointed out that for the months these allegations were being made on social media and other places, no one had ever actually approached the village to determine if Huntzinger had been sworn in or not.  It would appear that this matter is now at rest.

Under “unfinished business” on the agenda; the continuing issue with the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) related to the pension obligation for former Ontonagon Memorial Hospital employees.

The village has past-due payments to MERS in the amount of $125,749.54 which was due on Nov. 20, 2020. Village Treasurer William DuPont stated that in his opinion, this information was withheld from the council.  Clerk/Treasurer DuPont advised the council that he feels it is imperative to make the November payment as soon as possible and he also recommended that the council increase the budgeted amount of MERS payments from $400,000 to  $440,000 for the fiscal year ending on March 22, 2022.

Treasurer DuPont felt that the MERS issue is of primary concern and feels that payments must be made promptly to demonstrate to the State and pension fund that the village is doing what it can to meet this obligation.

Staffing Changes

In view of the dismissal of the village manager, it was recommended that William DuPont be appointed interim village manager. This was moved by Rebholz and approved on a roll call vote.

Kori Weisinger, who was serving on a contract basis to assist in the transition to a new clerk/treasurer, is to be moved to the status of a temporary employee.  Her rate of pay will decrease as a result of this change in status. This was moved by Marks and this was carried. 

Tanya Weisinger, who has been serving as payroll clerk and water clerk will have a change in title and commensurate responsibilities to become the office manager.  There is no increase in wages. This was moved by Marks and carried on a roll call.

President Smydra added that with a new administration in the village office, things such as overdue payments will not happen again.

Rich Ernest, President of the Downtown Development Authority reported that at a meeting of the DDA a number of projects were listed to be considered. The most visible projects will be concentrated on:

•  The Lakeshore Park; grading and preparing the ground for setting up volleyball courts. $2,500 needed.  Grass should be planted in early May.

•  Railroad yard site improvement; A general clean-up and disc and grade work.  $2,500 would cover this cost.

•  Several downtown buildings need to be addressed. Siding is falling off the buildings creating a hazard for pedestrians. Specifically, the old Hawley House Hotel and an adjacent bar are of concern.

•  Street signs that need replacement or updating. Several street name signs are entirely missing or unreadable.

•  A community cleanup is being planned to clean the sidewalks, de-weed the curbs, unbridle the trees that are being restrained by the iron grates, etc.

•  The floating docks on Rose Island have been out of the water for two years, for no good reason. They should be back in the water before Memorial Day. President Smydra said that the Department of Public Works crew will examine the docks in preparation for getting them back in the water, and putting out the benches and tables.

• Lights on the Elmer Weber Nature Trail boardwalk on Rose Island are broken and need to be repaired to light the walkway.

•  The street extension that was to be done by 2019 leading to Lakeshore Park near the VFW post should be started. Smydra said that Street Funds can be used for this.     

Ernest also mentioned the need for volunteers. Those wishing to help may contact Ernest at the DDA. 

•  2020-21 Budget Approval: Treasurer DuPont (now Interim Manager) asked for the budget to be approved, subject to amendments. This was moved by Rebholz, supported by Hopper, and carried. This will be submitted to the State of Michigan.

•  Announcements: A letter was received from McDonald and Wolff regarding the termination of Joe Erickson. This was referred to the Personnel Committee.

Ontonagon Village Council increases millage rate to 15

The Ontonagon Village Council met, via telecom, on March 22. Under unfinished business on the agenda was the matter of the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) obligation. It was reported that the village made a payment of $21,441.31 on March 16 which covered the payment that was due on Oct. 20, 2020.  The total amount past due is $104,308.23, and the intention is to continue “chipping away” at this past due amount. The past due amounts break down as follows: Nov. 2020, $32,350.08; Dec. 2020, $36,541.12; and Jan. 2021, $35,417.03.

The village was advised that this matter is now being referred to the MERS Legal Department for legal action, and late fees will be applied. Interim Manager William DuPont had a meeting on March 10 with the MERS representative to discuss options to reduce the payments. These could include freezing the current plan and negotiating different retirement options as well as possible buy-outs.

The council, among other business items, moved to the next needed step:

•  Resolution 2021-09: Authorization of the 2021-22 Tax Levy:  This item was considered absolutely necessary and is a first step in addressing the MERS obligation. After all available alternatives had been considered, the village council  adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14(1) of Act 621 of the Public Acts of 1978,  the Interim Village Manager, as the Chief Administrative Officer, has prepared and presented to the Village Council with a balanced budget; and

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2021, the Ontonagon Village Council approved a general appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2021-22 authorizing the expenditures of the Village funds; and

WHEREAS, the millage rate necessary to raise revenues for Village operating and debt retirement purposes:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Village Treasurer is hereby authorized to levy and collect the following millage rates for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year:

GENERAL FUND OPERATION & DEBT: 15.00 Mills

TOTAL: 15.00 Mills

This is a tax increase from the current 11 Mills to the maximum millage allowed without a referendum vote.  This resolution (tax increase) had to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the village council present and voting, which in this instance would require four out of the six council members present to vote for approval of the resolution.

It was moved by Trustee Sarah Hopper, supported by Trustee Mike Rebholz to adopt the resolution. The actual vote was unanimous in favor.

 •  Resolution 2021-10, Deficit Elimination Plan: This resolution was to address a deficit fund balance in the Marina Fund of $119,023. This deficit was reported in the recent auditors findings. The Michigan Department of the Treasury requires a deficit elimination plan to be in place and filed with the department.

The deficit was the result of a MDNR grant that was obtained to pay for the Marina Dredging project. Due to an oversight, the final grant report was not submitted on time, however, the MDNR agreed to extend the deadline and the grant funds recouped present a balance of $35,453 as of March 31, 2022.  Simply put, completion of the grant “paperwork” resolves the cause of the deficit.  The Deficit Elimination Plan will be submitted to the Michigan Department of the Treasury.

It was moved by Trustee Elmer Marks Jr, supported by Trustee Don Chastan to adopt the resolution and carried on a roll call vote.

•  Resolution 2021-11, Authorization of General Appropriations for April 1, 2021-March 31, 2022: This is the budget authorization, based on a millage rate of 15 mills. Without listing each fund, the bottom line is a total of $3,422,321 in General Fund revenue with $3,248,650 in total  expenditures.

It was moved by Hamm, supported by Chastan to approve the General Appropriations Resolution, and was carried....this constitutes the budget adoption for the forthcoming fiscal year.

The Council adopted a final resolution, designating March 31 as Jan Tucker Day in the village.

VILLAGE OF ONTONAGON

RESOLUTION NO. 2021 – 12

A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE MARCH 31, 2021 AS ‘JAN TUCKER DAY’ IN THE  VILLAGE OF  ONTONAGON.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has been a long-time resident of the Village of Ontonagon and has established herself to  be a beloved local personality, and

 WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has served for 60 years as a local newspaper reporter, relating local news stories to the residents of the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has worked diligently as part of the Labor Day Committee for over 57 years to ensure the success of the Labor Day celebration in Ontonagon, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has been an active member for over 50 years of the Ontonagon County Cancer Association that provides funding and support for local and                   Ontonagon County individuals and families living in Ontonagon County who have been afflicted with cancer, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has demonstrated her love and commitment to her community with her membership, in company with her friends, neighbors, leaders, and problem-     solvers in the community who see a world where people unite and take action to            create lasting change, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has demonstrated her personal values by serving her faith           community as a CCD instructor and as an Eucharistic Minister for Holy Family Catholic Church, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has enthusiastically been a part of  the Ontonagon Area High School Scholarship Committee that provides support and educational opportunities to our community’s younger citizens, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker participated in many other community activities and organizations that included the Ontonagon Golf Club and the Women’s Club, and

WHEREAS, Jan Tucker has spent 57 years as a local radio personality providing recipes, commentary on local and national events, and personal insight on virtually every topic known to mankind, and is retiring from this unique service on March 31, 2021.

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Village of Ontonagon Council of Trustees declares that March 31, 2021 shall be designated as ‘Jan Tucker Day’ in the Village of Ontonagon.

 •  At 6:43 pm Council went into a closed session to discuss client/attorney matters regarding former Village Manager Joseph Erickson. Council returned to the open session at 7:11 p.m..

President Tony Smydra called for a motion to rescind the council’s termination of Joseph Erickson and this was forthcoming and carried.

At this point, President Smydra, acting on his authority as Village President, suspended Joseph Erickson, with cause, with pay, and declared the intent of taking up the matter of providing Erickson with a hearing and to afford the council the opportunity to consider his employment status. The meeting was adjourned at this point. It was 7:13 p.m.

Ontonagon Village approves sidewalk dining, sewer line correction

At their May 10 meeting, the Ontonagon Village Council approved Syl’s Cafe for sidewalk dining this year again. Last year the outdoor dining saw good use and the restaurant wants to offer it again this year. Approved dates are May 25 to Sept. 6.

 Interim Manager William DuPont presented a brief report and update, in part, as follows:

•  The documents for the forthcoming audit are due on June 1, and the interim manager foresees no problem in gathering this information on time. The audit is expected to be completed by July 1. DuPont reaffirmed that his priority is to have the village’s financials where they need to be. Council can expect to receive relative financial statements by July 1 and every month thereafter.

•  One more auditor’s finding, as reported in the 3/31/2020 audit has been addressed but DuPont reported; “We are still bogged down in issues that we have  frequently uncovered but once we get through these, we will make solid progress.”

DuPont added; “I feel good about the direction the village is heading and we will do our very best to resolve any outstanding issues.”

It was moved by Councilor Donald Chastan to approve the Interim Manager’s report and carried.

The Village of Clinton had sent a letter dated March 10 inviting the Village of Ontonagon to become a participant in a class action suit against the mandate of the State of Michigan to require municipalities to pay for replacement of specified water lines on private property. They claim this is contrary to General Law Village Charter.

If the legislature is unwilling to change the law(s) involved it may be necessary to take legal action against the State of Michigan. Ontonagon was asked to pledge $2,500 as a share in the legal costs of such a suit.  At issue was whether or not it is legal for one municipality to donate to another community to carry on litigation of this nature.

In the opinion of the Michigan Municipal League, this would be quite legal and further more the MML  would like to see this matter considered by the courts. The village was advised, however, to consult with its local attorney if there is any uncertainty in the regard.

A recent  communication from the Village of Clinton updates the matter in their taking a “different route.” Further action was tabled until matters develop further.

Two bids had been received for installation of the new lift station on Tin Street, as follows:

Northland Electric, $125,531

FA Industrial Services, $187,166

The review of the bids by GEI (engineers) found that both bidders satisfied the requirements. It was recommended that the contract for the 2021 Tin Street Lift Station be awarded to Northland Electric.

It was moved by Councilor Mike Rebholz to accept the Northland Electric bid for the amount listed and this was carried.

A proposal by GEI was considered, in response to the questionable installation of sewer service for the Kulis residence on Gorman Avenue.  The project had been authorized by the former manager but was not supervised by a certified engineer and the property owner whose parcel the new sewer line was to serve had serious doubts about the installation. After investigating the situation, the interim manager recommended correcting the problem.  GEI Consultants presented a proposal to provide professional engineering services to install 300 feet of 8” sewer main. This is for the design work only and not for the actual construction. The project could total up to $15,000.

It was moved by Trustee Elmer Marks to make matters right by approving the GEI contract for the Gorman Avenue sewer line installation and this was supported by Sarah Hopper and carried.

The US Coast Guard will be holding a free boat inspection on May 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the marina pavilion.

Rebholz reported that he has applied for three sizeable grants:

  -Marina Travel Lift: $373,725.00

  -Turnout gear washing for the fire department    $  16,134.00

  -Rescue truck also for the fire department, $227,995.00