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There is an opening on the Houghton County Board of Commissioners after the board voted to advertise for applications to fill the seat for District 4.
Board Chairman Al Koskela stated that Commissioner Scott Ala effectively vacated his seat because he does not reside in his district, pay homestead taxes in his district, and his listed address on West Houghton Avenue has been rented out to another party since January.
The board voted unanimously to suspend all compensation from the county to Ala dating back to May 2nd, which Commissioner Tim Palosaari said was the date Ala’s Florida driver’s license was issued.
Ala issued a statement Friday morning saying, “I am not, have never been, or ever tried to become a Florida resident nor have I ever registered to vote anywhere else but the great city of Houghton, MI.”
Ala was not included in the special meeting held Friday at the courthouse.
Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Lorenz told that board that as of June 5th, the state of Michigan was informed that Ala has a Florida driver’s license and voting status.
Ala previously said he wanted to be allowed to retire at the end of June but the board did not consider the request since it was deemed that he already resigned by moving out of his district.
The county will now accept applications to fill the seat until the November election. Applications must be in prior to the county’s next regular meeting, which was moved to Tuesday, June 19th.
