Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Nykanen elected chairman to Ontonagon County Commission Board

By JAN TUCKER

[email protected]

Ontonagon – Carl Nykanen, Ewen, was elected the new Ontonagon County Commission Board Chairman for a two year term, at the commission reorganization meeting Wednesday.

Nykanen, who has served on the board for six years, replaces John Pelkola, Trout Creek, who was defeated in the November election by one vote.

John Cane, Ontonagon, was reelected Vice Chair.

Nykanen thanked the board members for their vote of confidence. He said his aim for the next year is to "do our very best for the county and stay within our budget constraints."

Cane and the newly elected David Nykanen were not at the session Wednesday. Dave Nykanen, who is the brother to the new chairman, was ill and unable to attend.

In the short, less than 30 minute session, Commissioner Gray Webber, reported that at a recent Health and Human Services meeting he learned that Ontonagon County was in the top ten of the 83 Michigan Counties for "handling the needs of residents." Webber said Ontonagon County received 98 out of 100 points.

The county board also:

-Will meet the third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.

-Designated Citizen's State Bank, Range Bank of Ironwood, Lake Superior Credit Union, Settlers Federal Credit Union and First Merit Bank as depositories.

-Names the Otonagon Herald and Ottawa Shopper as local publications.