Michigan budget includes long delayed flood relief funds

The Republican legislature and Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer have agreed to a state budget that will finally make the Copper Country whole after 2018’s Father’s Day Flood. The Keweenaw ATV Club got word from Representative Greg Markkanen that roughly eight-million dollars are earmarked to repair the Lake Linden trail. Used year-round, the route is tucked between M-26, the Portage Canal, and Torch Lake. It connects Hancock with snowmobiler havens like the Dreamland Resort.

Houghton County Road Commission Engineer Kevin Harju was nervously excited last week about the budget.

The county borrowed money to complete the projects already. The funds in this year’s budget reimburses the area and allows local governments to avoid a long-duration loan. Keweenaw Report reached out to Representative Markkanen’s office Wednesday morning and they confirmed the good news. The budget was signed by the governor just before noon.