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The newly reconstituted Baraga County Parks and Recreation Committee has its first members. At last night’s county board meeting, commissioners Lyle Olsen and Dan Robillard were appointed to the committee, along with residents Will Wiggins, Polly Schaefer and Tristan Leaf. Commissioners indicated that additional members would be welcomed, especially someone to represent Arvon Township.
The new committee will oversee an expansion in Baraga County’s recreational land holdings, including the purchase of property in Covington Township. State officials have recommended that $2.7 million from the DNR Trust Fund be allocated to assist with that purchase. The recommendation still needs to be approved by the legislature.
The county board also endorsed a resolution encouraging the state to continue to allow commissioners to attend meetings remotely. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Open Meetings Act was temporarily amended to allow remote participation, as long as a quorum was physically present at the meeting. That provision expires at the end of the year. The resolution asks that it be continued for counties with populations of 75,000 or fewer. Ironically, the provision applied to last night’s meeting. Commissioner Lyle Olsen participated remotely, because he was ill. Commissioner Brad Dakota was absent, because of illness.
