Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
The Father’s Day Flood caused widespread damage last June and local officials are looking at ways to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.
Houghton County Drain Commissioner John Pekkala explained how drainage districts work to the County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday.
A drainage district is a local governmental entity organized for the primary purpose of draining lands.
Pekkala said the Drain Code Public Act 40 of 1956 indicates the process of initiating a drainage district would have to begin at the local level by a township, city, or village or by the landowners themselves.
After the district is established, then the county becomes involved with providing funding for the district, perhaps through a special assessment affecting the residents within the watershed.
There are many benefits for establishing a drainage district. The district provides a funding mechanism for maintaining the drainage system and is required to receive certain grant monies.
Pekkala said he was contacted by the Department of Agriculture immediately after the flood offering grant money to help in the recovery effort but Houghton County was not eligible because there are no drainage districts in the county.
Local drainage systems were built and maintained by the mining companies but have not been kept up to date since the mining era came to an end.
In other business, the county continues to try and settle a dispute with Northcare Network, which distributes funds sent by the county for substance abuse programs, including the treatment court.
The discrepancy dates back a few years when the Western Upper Peninsula Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency was in operation, providing a similar service.
Northcare contends that $37,000 paid to the agency should have gone to them and recently notified the county they would be withholding that amount from the county when they distribute funds.
County Administrator Eric Forsberg responded by stating his intention to withhold sending those funds, which come from revenue the state generated from liquor sales, to Northcare to begin with.
Commissioner Roy Britz is working with Northcare Network to try and resolve the issue.
Houghton County Memorial Airport Manager Dennis Hext says the airport received a $30,000 grant to do terminal modifications to the baggage area.
The modifications will move the baggage area to a more private location for TSA workers to conduct inspections.
Work is scheduled to begin in early March and be completed by the end of April.
County Treasurer Lisa Mattila presented the annual report from the Houghton County Land Bank Authority.
The land bank began 2018 with 38 parcels of land and sold 12 properties throughout the year.
They also acquired an additional six properties during that time to bring their total number of properties to 30 at the close of the year.
Finally, the county board approved changes to the scope of work regarding the reconstruction of the marina.
The county originally intended to have some floating docks installed but it was decided those funds would be better spent on replacing the dock.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is providing a grant of $292,500 for half of the cost of the project, with the county covering the remaining cost.
