New administrator's first meeting, jail property annexation finds a road forward, Secure MI Vote discussion, more
Houghton County Commissioners, Oct. 12, 2021
Editor’s Note: I goofed the beginning of the video up a little, but it evens out after a couple of minutes and I caught my mistake. Luckily, I had two cameras there!
Meeting Highlights
Click the underlined headlines to see the video, or other underlined text for more information and sources.
Public comment erupts over Secure MI Vote
The public comment started with two residents standing to speak in support of a resolution opposing the Secure MI Vote petition initiative. The second resident was interrupted by several people before trying to continue and being told her time to speak was over by Chairperson Al Koskela.
Another resident stood and also expressed his concern about the possible legislation, and said that “we all know what the game is”, and said that the bill would be approved into law by the Republican-controlled legislature without a statewide referendum or the chance for a governor’s veto.
“This is an attempt to make an end-run around a legislative process,” William Keith said and asked the commissioners to take a principled stand against it.
Later in the meeting, Commissioner Gretchen Janssen and Commissioner Glenn Anderson supported the resolution to oppose the Secure MI Vote petition. Anderson specifically opposed anything that made absentee voting more difficult for the elderly population.
However, upon voting, the commissioners were split 2-2, Commissioner Roy Britz being absent. Without at least three votes, the resolution failed.
One citizen implored people to read the legislation.
So I did, and here’s what I found.
The bill does require the last four digits of the elector’s social security number to be part of the registration application, but I don’t see anything that requires it to be on the outside of an envelope. I guess that’s up to whoever designs the applications.
It quite drastically changes the ID requirement. Whereas the previous law allows a person to be identified through a comparison of signatures or offering other information that matches the voter registration list, this law adds a photo ID requirement for all voters.
Excerpt from the proposed legislation.
Where previously being unable to complete the ID requirements meant that you had to sign an affidavit and then your vote was challenged according to the standing practice, the new law requires them to fill a provisional ballow that will be segregated from other ballots and only processed if the voter returns to their local clerk with qualifying ID within six days.
The proposed law also establishes a fund to pay for IDs if an applicant claims hardship and signs a form that is yet undeveloped.
While these requirements may not seem extreme for many of us, people in larger cities, well known to be Democrat “strongholds” are worried the new ID rules could swell already long lines at polling places beyond any capacity they have to manage.
The law entirely bars any person employed by the state from sending unrequested absent voter ballot applications. Those applications must include a driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of a social security number, or the applicant must visit the clerk in person to present photo identification.
In some places, the bill changes the word ‘elector’ to ‘individual’, but in others, it changes the word ‘voter’ to ‘elector’. I don’t know why.
It also contains a clause that prohibits private funding to run elections, but it also prohibits “in-kind contributions” from individuals, which many are concerned means volunteering will no longer be lawful. I have to agree the wording is vague enough to be interpreted that way.
There were many complaints about election clerks being overworked during the 2020 election. How much harder will it be without extra outside grant funding, and maybe without volunteers? I might have to ask an election clerk.
Fifth Street fire update from Commissioner Tikkanen
Commissioner Tom Tikkanen said the 5th Street fire cleanup is “virtually completed”, and that the EPA may even be interested in helping clean up a fire site on 7th street, too.
Tikkanen said the effort of governments and representatives at all levels came together to make the cleanup possible.
Commissioner Glenn Anderson later added that Tikkanen himself was also a big part of the cleanup effort.
Transfer station and recycling update
Commissioner Tom Tikkanen said that the County Clerk’s office is accepting applications for a transfer station manager, which is also going to start accepting card-based payments next week.
Recycling at the transfer station is going to be available Monday through Friday during the normal transfer station hours (but not Saturday), and later hours are being planned for some weekdays soon, too.
From May through September, 12.5 tons of recycling have moved through the transfer station.
Tikkanen also plugged an upcoming event organized by the Copper Country Recycling Initiative which will feature two speakers.
Tracy Purrenhage has decades of experience managing public and private sector solid waste and recycling programs, and Brad Austin is the Director of Operations at the Marquette County Waste Management Authority, which is where Houghton’s recycling goes.
The meeting is at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 21, at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton.
New county administrator greeted - Elizabeth Bjorn
There wasn’t much of an introduction, but Chairperson Al Koskela did greet the new county administrator, Elizabeth Bjorn, and thanked outgoing administrator Ben Larson for 14 months of work. Other commissioners and county employees later added to their thanks and listed some of what Larson helped the county accomplish; recycling at the transfer station, union negotiations, sale of the old transfer station, and budgets for the transfer station and marina.
Sheriff Saaranen’s first update to the board
Sheriff Josh Saaranen said the Sheriff’s Department is still working to fill the positions left open after the late Sheriff Brian McLean’s death and his own promotion to Sheriff, and picking up projects after Sheriff McLean’s sudden passing.
Jail property annexation may move forward soon
The Houghton-Portage Township Board has agreed to temporary annexation so that the county can move forward with the land purchase and plans to build a new jail, but wouldn’t agree to a permanent annexation until a millage is passed. If the jail isn’t built and the property is sold off again, the township wants to retain it if taxable.
Commissioner Glenn Anderson pushed to close the purchase before Administrator Larson’s last day on Oct. 22. The board has already approved the purchase.
Postponed one week to Nov. 16.
This is a bummer for me because now it conflicts with my coverage of the Calumet Village Council. The county surely takes precedence, but I don’t like missing one, especially so soon after starting coverage there.
I’ll try to squeeze both in, but it may not be possible.
County administrator resigns, mine cave-in on KRC test course, board protests PLLB work pace
Houghton County Board, Sept. 14, 2021
Meeting Highlights
Click the underlined headline to be taken to the video segment
Commissioner Tikkanen update on the transfer station
In a brief update, Commissioner Tom Tikkanen shared with the board that about 10 tons of refuse have been diverted from the landfill into the new recycling option at the county transfer station. Later, he also informed the board that the EPA was moving in to clean up the contamination in Calumet from the major fire earlier this year. He thanked all the parties who contributed to the effort, which is an unusual arrangement made for the benefit of the surrounding community.
Commissioner Anderson update on 2020 census
Commissioner Glenn Anderson shared a breakdown of the 2020 Houghton County census, showing that 8 of 14 townships in Houghton County grew, and acknowledged the county marketing effort to get a complete count. The county commissioner districts may be changing as a result.
Jail construction hits another hurdle
During Commissioner Roy Britz’s update, he said the trustees of Portage Township did not want to approve the annexation of a strip of property into the city of Houghton to facilitate the county’s new justice center plans. They’re concerned that if the plan falls through as it has before, they could lose valuable taxable property to the city. They said they’d approve the annexation if the jail project is completed. A more complex, conditional agreement will have to be made.
Mine discovered at Houghton County Memorial Airport
Commission Chairperson Albert Koskela revealed that a mine had been discovered on county property after it had caved in, then turned it over to Dennis Hex, airport manager, for more details. The mine was discovered on the Keweenaw Research Center test course, which is leased from the county. It’s being investigated and the estimate is the shaft is 500 feet deep. The airport is currently looking for funds to cap it or fence it in. Hex also said the airport was doing well currently, and a Sun Country Airlines charter will be coming to the airport in November, with bookings already open.
County Administrator Ben Larson submits his resignation
County Administrator Ben Larson submitted a letter of resignation, (notably withheld from the board packet released to the public on Monday). The board accepted the resignation, with Chairperson Koskela dissenting with a laugh. They also moved quickly to post the job opening and hold interviews to give Larson as much time as possible to train in his replacement. The deadline for applications was set for Sept. 28, the applications will be reviewed at the special meeting at noon on Sept. 29 (originally for the public hearing on the budget), and interviews will be held on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
Larson declined to interview in-person with me, but did offer this written statement further explaining his resignation (hyperlink added):
It is good for my family as it will allow for me to get back into a game that I love. That game is sales and business development. REL, Inc. President Josh Loukus and I had a great talk late last week about a way that I can get back into the game, and he convinced me how I could help him and his company to move forward and possibly grow if I am successful. They have given me a great offer to join them, and, as hard as it is to walk away from a great job at the County, I am happy and satisfied with my decision to do so. I have given everything that I have to my position with the County on each of the days that I came in. I took over for a great leader in Eric Forsberg when he handed the keys to me, and I am hoping that I can do the same for my successor. The County is in great shape, we have survived an interesting pandemic year, we have initiated some great new efforts and have changed a couple of things that I thought were worth doing, we have made some needed changes at our two enterprises with investments that happened at our marina and transfer station, and we have a great team in place across the County. All of the ingredients are here for someone to step right in to take over from me, and for the next person to have their own success. I have offered to stay until October 29th, and the commissioners are happy with that and agreed. I will now work super hard to get a group of solid candidates for my Commissioners to consider, and, if we can get the right person here soon I am happy to tutor, mentor, and teach them the many things that they will need to know and learn to find their own success.
Letter of support for PLLB raising restrictions
Administrator Larson introduced a draft letter asking for restrictions on when the Portage Lake Lift Bridge will raise for pleasure craft. Several local government bodies and organizations are working together to try and get 1-hour bans on raising for non-commercial craft during rush hour traffic. The board unanimously approved sending the letter. Later in the meeting, the board approved a motion by Commissioner Glenn Anderson to implore MDOT to prioritize finishing the current bridge construction, bid future projects for 24-hour work, and refer the issue to the bridge committee for them to consider emergency procedures and the potential for a second bridge to eliminate the bottleneck.
Board of Canvassers members re-appointed
Barb Manninen and Becky Bruin-Slot were re-appointed unanimously to their position on the Canvassing Board. This is the board responsible for canvassing and certifying elections in the county. Reappointing them signals tacit approval of the job they did during the 2020 election by the board.
“Orphaned” overlook maintenance funding tabled
A request for money to update and maintain the MDOT overlook on Quincy Hill. Opinions on the matter differed, with some of the board saying it was an asset to the county’s tourism industry, while others said they couldn’t see support in their district for investing there. Eventually, they agreed, 4-1, to seek the opinion of the attorney to see if giving money for such a purpose was allowed.
This Friday at 4 p.m., county commissioners and Hancock City Council members will be touring the county arena in Hancock. There is an ongoing discussion about whether to sell the arena to Hancock.
During public comment, Roger Sullivan stood to “drop off” his resume for county sheriff, which was not submitted before the deadline for applications. He proceeded to conduct a self-interview during which he made non-specific allegations of corruption in the county.
After Sullivan’s five minutes expired, Mike Mangan stood to address the board about establishing wind energy in Houghton County. He said he was knowledgeable about wind energy and had seen “devastation” wrought by them in Wisconsin. He recommended the county make a formal declaration that wind rights are locally, publicly owned. He also said he believed wind power could be beneficial to the area if it was done through local decisions, not out-of-area developers.
Annexation initialized, permit application expense increased, and election audit effort introduced
Houghton County Board, Aug. 10, 2021
Meeting Highlights
During the committee reports, Commissioner Gretchen Janssen highlighted WUPHD’s naming as a Community Health Champion by the Gogebic Range Health Foundation for their work during the pandemic.
Commissioner Glenn Anderson expressed his shared frustration with MDOT’s management of the bridge construction and the traffic disruptions it has caused. He also attended a conference for the Michigan Association of Counties where he learned more about the possibilities of the American Rescue Plan and also discussed with County Administrator Ben Larson the settlements coming out of the Purdue/Sackler opioid class action suit. The county is part of the suit but doesn’t know how much or when the money will be coming, Larson said.
Commissioner Tom Tikkanen reported nearly 8 tons of recyclables shipped through the Houghton County Transfer Station and other details, including the potential need for a compactor down the road. He also updated the board on the cleanup work ongoing in Calumet, after the major fire there earlier this year. A change in leadership in the village briefly hung up the procedure, but Tikkanen says all levels of government are working together toward the hazard cleanup and hopes to see it done this year yet. What happens after the cleanup is still undetermined, but Tikkanen says they’re pushing for redevelopment.
The board approved the purchase of a formerly leased excavator used at the transfer station.
The board also approved the resolution to annex a piece of property into the City of Houghton.
The map Administrator Larson refers to. The small triangle is within the City of Houghton, but the blue rectangle is not. Houghton County is requesting that the City of Houghton annex it so it will be part of the county seat and can then house county facilities (like a jail) under state law.
The board also voted 4-1 to increase fees at the building department to match the state rate charged in surrounding counties. Chairman Al Koskela was the dissenting vote and said he felt the building department was getting by fine on the previous rates, and that the taxpayers shouldn’t have to shoulder more fees. Administrator Larson said the increased fees would be useful for the cost of moving the building department into a digital system instead of paperwork, and Commissioner Anderson pointed out the fees can only be used to support the building department, and could be lowered again in the future.
The board also approved the documents for the Enduring Gift Fund that the county is instituting for fundraising.
During public comment, one Adams Township resident stood to give an update on behalf of the Guardians of the Keweenaw Ridge, which opposes wind turbine development in Houghton County. Commissioner Tikkanen also encouraged residents to continue pursuing zoning ordinances at the township level.
Another citizen informed the board of her efforts to perform a privately-funded election audit. She’s FOIA’ing for ballot access township by township (which is legal, with some restrictions) and crowdfunding for the costs (which are significant). Her page is on GiveSendGo and has currently raised $110 of her $7,000 goal, from anonymous donors. Her stated goal is to check the count of the software, but she also said she wants to check for other problems.