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Houghton County commissioners adopt routine resolutions, approve contracts, payments and an appointment
Summary
At their Oct. 14 meeting, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners adopted annual administrative resolutions on retirement and health-plan compliance, approved multiple vendor payments and contracts, authorized appraisals and an RFP for county properties, awarded a snow-removal contract, and appointed a member to the Land Bank Authority.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 adopted several routine administrative resolutions, approved vendor payments and contracts, and took actions on property appraisals and service bids during a 6:00 p.m. meeting at the courthouse in Houghton.
The board unanimously adopted Resolution #2025-026 approving amendments to the county’s eligible governmental 457 retirement plan and authorized an authorized representative to execute plan documents, a standard annual housekeeping action presented by Administrator Rheault. Commissioners also adopted Resolution #2025-027, electing the county’s annual exemption under 2011 Public Act 152 (the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act) for the 2026 plan year. The board approved Resolution #2025-028 clarifying allowable expenditures from the County Concealed Pistol Licensing (CPL) fund and directed the County Clerk to account for the portion of staff time charged to that fund.
The board approved paying bills totaling $2,324,807.94. Motion to approve came from Commissioner Joel Keranen and was seconded by Commissioner Glenn Anderson; the roll call vote recorded all five commissioners as voting yes.
On procurement and property matters, commissioners authorized staff to prepare an RFP for business surveys and appraisals of the Houghton County Marina and Canal View (the county’s medical care facility). The County Held Properties Committee had recommended obtaining appraisals to evaluate options; Chair Tom Tikkanen and Administrator Rheault will prepare the RFP.
The board accepted a snow-removal bid from Ziemnick after receiving two proposals; the award was approved unanimously. Commissioners also approved a postage machine lease payment of $22,059.45 recommended by Administrator Rheault, and approved payment of $747 for 2026 dues to the National Association of Counties.
The board appointed Tim (Timothy) Gasperich to the Houghton County Land Bank Authority following review of two applications. Commissioners approved a county resolution supporting disaster assistance for townships affected by recent rain damage and acknowledged that the Road Commission has requested FEMA reimbursement of more than $2 million.
Appropriations listed in the agenda included payments to Copper Country Community Mental Health ($27,415.82) and the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce ($440.00); the board approved those two payments and voted to table a $48,410 payment request for Michigan State University Extension until its director, Paul Putnam, can attend the November meeting.
The meeting also included several clerical and procedural updates: building department permits and maintenance work were reported, an upcoming tour of a county-owned property on Sharon Avenue was announced, and a moment of silence was observed for former controller Glenn Pyhtila. The board adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
What’s next: the board instructed staff to prepare the RFPs and to bring the MSU Extension item back in November with the director present.
