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Wednesday morning’s virtual breakfast hosted by KEDA, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, and the Tourism Council featured County Administrator Ben Larson giving a presentation on recreation projects. Larson talked about the joint efforts between various municipalities and the county to coordinate on a cohesive image. The Father’s Day Flood washed out bridges and trails, notably on the way to Lake Linden north of the portage. Larson touched on the efforts to convert the Douglass-Houghton Falls into a state park. He said that COVID restrictions had caused momentum to fall by the wayside over the past year. Working to reignite progress, Larson talked about fixing a potentially dangerous situation just east of Houghton.
At Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, the body approved buying the First Apostolic Lutheran Church building and six-acre lot on Sharon Avenue. It is in very preliminary stages, and the future use is yet to be determined. Right now Larson and the county attorney are working to get a copy of the property deed and other paperwork, so they can draft a purchase agreement. Larson cautions that nothing is official until the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.
There are several possibilities for the property if the county does take control. A jail would have to be constructed, but the sheriff’s department could be relocated to the current church structure, after modifications. Larson said one of the grander plans involves the building of a larger Justice Center complex, which would also shift District Court to the Sharon Avenue location. All of that is preliminary in nature.
Larson says altering the border between Portage Township and the City of Houghton would also be required.
Larson says the county is still planning to open the marina in Hancock by early May.
