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Two more deteriorating Baraga County buildings will meet the wrecking ball this summer.
At last night’s county board meeting, commissioners agreed to front the demolition costs to the county’s Land Bank. A state grant will cover the expenses, but will not be released until the work is complete.
One of the two buildings is a commercial structure on M-38 in Baraga that most recently housed Da Shack restaurant.
The other is a home at the corner of North Main Street and Tuttle Avenue in L’Anse.
Both were purchased by the land bank, and are deteriorated to the point where rehabilitation is not feasible.
Last summer, the former Sidetrack Bar in Baraga was razed via the same process. That now-vacant lot will be offered for sale this year.
Commissioners celebrated the recent, long-awaited closing on 1,184 acres of land along the Sturgeon River in Covington Township. The land was purchased with the help of a $2.7 million grant from the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund. It will be jointly administered as a preserve by the county and the Superior Watershed Partnership. A ribbon cutting to mark the change of ownership will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00. County officials are hoping for additional grants to fund a study of how the land can best be used.
The board awarded a contract to Michael Whitman Construction to replace the roof on the Sheriff’s Department pole barn, at a cost of $21,800. That will be covered by American Rescue Plan Act funds. Some ARPA money was also allocated to upgrade computers and software for the Probate Court. Shelley Lloyd was appointed to the county’s jury commission. She will serve as a Republican representative. The county Democratic Party did not submit any nominations.
And, the county board will have a new leader next year. Current board chair Gale Eilola confirmed that he will not stand for reelection in November. Eilola has represented District One on the board for 32 years.
