Houghton County will add a Finance Manager to the administration team. Last evening the county commission approved moving accounts payable and human resources duties from the clerk’s office to the administration team. County Clerk Jennifer Kelly said she believes the clerk’s office can handle the additional responsibilities, but the decision was up to the board of commissioners. County Commissioner Glenn Anderson shared that from his perspective moving those duties under a single position will allow the clerk’s office to focus on other duties such as organizing the early voting center, preparing election ballots, issuing licenses, etcetera. Commissioner Joel Keranen clarified that the plan would simply move the duties from one officer to another.
“And it’s appropriate for us to do that. And again nobody is taking labor away from you. And in fact, it would enhance your operations. I mean you would have more time, more staff work to do. You certainly will use the capacity that you’re freeing up.” – Glen Anderson, County Commissioner, Houghton County
“And I do appreciate that. Correct.” – Jen Kelly, County Clerk, Houghton County
“So that’s my question, we’re just, we’re taking not people away from this office.” – Joel Keranen, County Commissioner, Houghton County.
Well, not as of yet Joel. – Jen Kelly, County Clerk, Houghton County
And we’re not saying that. Responsibilities are leaving one office and going to another office, correct is that what we’re saying? So, to me, it seems like your staff is there now. Would they have more time to do early voting? – Joel Keranen, County Commissioner, Houghton County
Well of course they would. – Jen Kelly, County Clerk, Houghton County
The other things we’re talking about. – Joel Keranen, County Commissioner, Houghton County
Of course, they would. They would definitely, finally be able to help me with some stuff. I’m happy about that. I’m just saying that even the document I was provided today. It says, and my colleagues have been very strong to me saying, for this to happen it should be under a comptroller. A comptroller and administrator are different. So if we’re saying that this woman is correct. It says we should have a comptroller. So whether you want to make her (Administrator Rheault) a comptroller/administrator as long as we do it right. I’ve been waiting four to five years for this to finally be taken, legally, out of my office. – Jen Kelly, County Clerk, Houghton County
Houghton County will post a notice to search out a Finance Manager. In addition, the county will begin looking for a new drain commissioner. John Pekkala plans to retire later this year. Houghton County will post a notice for that position opening and seek to hire the new drain commissioner before Pekkala’s retirement in May.
Once you have a list of candidates, that (role) will be chosen by the clerk, prosecutor, and our probate judge per state statute. And your meeting, Jen, which is public, is coming up on April 10th? – Tom Tikkanen, Commission Chair, Houghton County Commission
April 10th, 1 o’clock. – Jen Kelly, County Clerk, Houghton County
On April 15th the Houghton County Commission will call a special meeting to learn about design plans for a new jail site. The county has worked toward developing a new jail site over several years. Including work in 2024 with the city of Houghton and Portage Township to move the future jail site’s property into the county seat.
“We heartedly encourage the community to attend this meeting. It’s going to be exciting, there’ll be a presentation of two different proposals. And we want to move forward with that and make sure that we work with area groups to disseminate this information. And get further input as quickly as possible. It is conceivable we could shoot for putting this on the August ballot. That’s being a bit ambitious, but it’s possible.” – Tom Tikkanen, Commission Chair, Houghton County Commission.
Houghton County residents will have several millage requests to consider in 2025. Including millages for municipal services such as fire departments and street repairs, school districts’ proposals/renewals, and Canal View’s renewal.
Canal View will be coming to the public in August for renewal. Again renewal, of their 2.25 mills. That will be a four-year term. And it’ll be on the August ballot for 2.25 mills. – Roy Britz, Commissioner, Houghton County Commission
Commissioners also heard from the Copper Shores leadership team, who hope to ask the county to collaborate to further fund Meals on Wheels in the region.
In 2022 the Portage Health Foundation took on managing the Copper Country Senior Meals Program, reforming Meals on Wheels under its branch of the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. While the program has made progress in feeding seniors in the community, demand for services continues to grow.
The organization has been in existence in Houghton County for over 30 years. People and seniors have been getting home-delivered meals for that long. We currently have eight routes in Houghton County and Keweenaw County. And four, what we call meet-and-eat sites, where seniors can come together, eat lunch, and socialize. We serve currently about 300 seniors every day with home-delivered meals and at the meet-and-eat sites. These meals are a lot more than just a nutrition service though. What they do is provide seniors with about one-third of their nutritional needs they have. That includes a hot meal, sides, fruit and vegetables, and milk. Kathleen Harter, Program Director, Copper Shores Meals on Wheels
Harter shared that from the most recent Meals on Wheels survey one in four seniors reported the program’s meal was the only nutrition they received every day. In areas of the country where Meals on Wheels serves rural residents, regular visits from delivery drivers offer a source of nutrition, comfort and a strong sense of security.
Operating an essential program such as Meals on Wheels requires a large amount of funding to support delivery drivers, sourcing ingredients, paying kitchen cooks, and employing coordination staff to manage routes and field calls from seniors requesting a meal.
I want to express that the foundation is not looking to evacuate its obligation, or the commitment that we’ve made to this program. For those of you who are not aware. This is not unique to our meals program. This is happening across the country. You turn on any news outlet, and most of the (Meals on Wheels) programs are struggling with financial support. The interesting thing is that out of the 83 counties in Michigan, five do not have an Elderly Nutrition millage. And we have two right here, Houghton and Keweenaw counties. – Kevin Store, Executive Director, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation
Copper Shores Executive Director Kevin Store shared that the county would manage to collect the funds from taxpayers and act as an auditor of the program. Copper Shores will continue to invest within the Meals on Wheels. Further stabilizing and enhancing Meals on Wheels so that the program can have a larger impact and feed more seniors in Houghton County.
“We’ve made huge investments in infrastructure, capital improvements. But quite frankly, as most of the agencies are finding, the rising costs are at a point that, that (the foundation) can’t be the sole support of the program. Or that our foundation is focusing on. So we are looking to the county for support with this. And we are asking the commission to function as that vessel in the event the millage was supported by the community. – Kevin Store, Executive Director, Copper Shores Community Health Foundation
Commission Chair Tom Tikkanen expressed that adding another millage to the ballot may increase voter fatigue across polling places. He added that while he does see the impact Meals on Wheels provides to the community, Houghton County leaders have worked for quite some time to accomplish a jail project.
You put the county and the residents at quite a disadvantage by asking this to be put onto the ballot this particular year. I think I’ve been straight with you previously. It’s simply we have such a crying need for a new jail. This is not something new. There have been two previous attempts to build this new jail. Time is ticking. Our people are working in horrific conditions, next door. It’s going to be an expensive project. We as a county have diligently moved to acquire property on Sharon Avenue. Because the last time the initiative failed voters felt we did not have a large enough site down here. We’ve worked diligently to get that site assembled in the city of Houghton, thanks to the city’s support on this. My great concern is that we’re asking so much of the voters, the property owners of Houghton County. I’m not saying this to upset people, I’m as heartfelt as the next person. I understand the conditions that we have. One other consideration, or question I have is, you mention Keweenaw County. And this would be used in Houghton County, that’s fine. But have you approached Keweenaw County to foot their share? – Tom Tikkanen, Commission Chair, Houghton County Commission
The County Commission tabled further discussion around the potential Elderly Nutrition millage until commissioners can understand potential legal obligations. The Elderly Nutrition millage would seek to capture a millage rate of 1 mil for four years. If placed on a ballot in 2025 and passed by voters it would reappear for consideration in 2028.
Copper Shores Community Health Foundation will pay for an attorney bill charged to Houghton County for services related to removing the Elderly Nutrition millage request from the May ballot. Originally the foundation considered asking voters in the spring. However, leadership felt best practices would include further discussion with the county commission before moving forward.
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