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Votes at a glance: Houghton County Board approves hires, purchases, appointments and appropriations
Summary
During its March 10 meeting the Houghton County Board of Commissioners approved a range of motions — including a Brownfield Plan, personnel hires and appointments, procurement of RFP services for Sharon Avenue, E911 equipment purchases, and several appropriations and payments — with most measures adopted unanimously among members present.
At its March 10, 2026 meeting the Houghton County Board of Commissioners approved the following motions and actions (vote tallies as recorded in the meeting minutes):
Approval of bills: The board approved payment of $1,672,537.41 (YES: Keranen, Janssen, Britz 3; NO: None).
Start Small minutes amendment: The board amended the February 10 minutes to correct ARPA funding language to show $41,000 (motion carried Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Hire — Building Department Inspector: The board approved hiring Joel Wattson as Building Department Inspector (voice vote Ayes 3, Nays 0); motion moved by Commissioner Janssen and seconded by Commissioner Keranen.
Amendment to Reciprocal Easement Agreement: Adopted as presented (voice vote Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Hamlin Brownfield Plan (Resolution #26-03): Adopted (YES: Janssen, Keranen, Britz 3; NO: 0; ABSENT: Tikkanen, Anderson 2). (See separate article for details and hearing comments.)
E911 purchases: The board approved $27,500 for Fire Department pagers and $8,000 for 800 MHz batteries as requested by the Houghton County E911 Advisory Board (Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Deputy Finance Manager position: The board authorized the Administrator to hire a full-time Deputy Finance Manager; motion carried with Janssen and Britz voting yes and Keranen voting no (YES: Janssen, Britz 2; NO: Keranen 1). Administrator Rheault described audit-related workflow changes that prompted the request.
Tri-County Public Defenders payment: Approved for $76,041.27 for February 2026 (voice vote Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Appointment — 97th District Court Administrator/Magistrate: The board appointed Keith Anderson (voice vote Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Sharon Avenue properties RFP: The board awarded the RFP to OHM for $20,000 (YES: Janssen, Keranen, Britz 3). Other bids: Traverse Engineering Services PC $21,500; UPEA $34,750.
Travel and training: Approved $1,310 for Building Department staff member Chad Hammerstrom (voice vote Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Appropriations: Approved $20,000 to the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance and $13,707.91 to Copper Country Community Mental Health (Ayes 3, Nays 0).
Tabled matters: The board tabled consideration of a proposal to bring Amtrak service to the Upper Peninsula and tabled resolutions related to House Bills 5152 & 5153 and a resolution opposing preemption of local control for data centers/battery storage facilities.
Motions were generally moved by Commissioners Janssen or Keranen and seconded by the other; voice votes or recorded aye counts are noted above as recorded in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
