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Houghton County board approves deficit plans, purchases and a series of appointments
Summary
At its Dec. 10 meeting the Houghton County Board of Commissioners approved multiple deficit-elimination plans, equipment purchases, a $10,000 cash advance to WUPPDR, several appointments and routine appropriations. Most votes were unanimous.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10 approved a package of deficit-elimination plans, equipment purchases, and appointments in a meeting dominated by routine fiscal and administrative business.
The board adopted the following deficit-elimination resolutions and budget actions by recorded or voice votes (all motions carried 5-0 unless noted): Solid Waste Transfer Station Deficit Elimination Plan (Resolution #2024-021); Passenger Facility Charge Fund plan acknowledging an internal deficit (Resolution #2024-022); Twin Lake Special Assessment District plan (Resolution #2024-023); MI Indigent Defense / Treatment Court fund plan (Resolution #2024-024); and Jail Commissary deficit-elimination plan (Resolution #2024-025). Administrator Chelsea Rheault spoke to each fund’s shortfall and proposed corrective steps such as fee increases, transfers from the General Fund, reduced capital spending or recovered reimbursements.
Procurement and equipment approvals included a mobile app purchase for the Sheriff’s Office (OCV, LLC) for $16,189.50, pump grinders for Materials Management ($12,758.70), a UPEA professional-services contract for generator research ($7,000), tasers for the Sheriff’s Office ($6,495.40) and vehicle outfitting for sheriff department cars ($49,150.00). Undersheriff Jon Giacchino confirmed the tasers were a budgeted 2025 item.
The board also approved a $10,000 cash advance to the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) to cover upfront grant-application costs; WUPPDR is to repay the County when grant funds are received. The board approved a $27,415.82 monthly appropriation to Copper Country Mental Health Services and reappointed or appointed several members to local boards, including the UP State Fair Board (Steve Palosaari) and the Copper Country Mental Health Services Board (Linda Pelli).
Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the minutes): - Bills approved: $1,188,831.80 (roll call; YES: Anderson, Janssen, Tikkanen, Keranen, Britz). - Resolution #2024-021 (Solid Waste Transfer Station): adopted 5-0. - Resolution #2024-022 (Passenger Facility Charge Fund): adopted 5-0. - Resolution #2024-023 (Twin Lake SAD): adopted 5-0. - Resolution #2024-024 (MI Indigent Defense / Treatment Court): adopted 5-0. - Resolution #2024-025 (Jail Commissary): adopted 5-0. - OCV, LLC mobile app purchase: approved $16,189.50 (5-0). - Pump grinders: approved $12,758.70 (5-0). - UPEA contract (generator research): approved $7,000 (5-0). - Tasers: approved $6,495.40 (5-0). - Vehicle outfitting: approved $49,150.00 (5-0). - WUPPDR cash advance: approved $10,000 (5-0).
The meeting minutes record no roll-call dissent on these items. Several items included brief staff explanations of the fiscal need or operational rationale; the minutes do not record prolonged debate or amendments to the proposals. The board adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
