Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted last week to approve a resolution of support for Highland Copper Company.
The resolution notes the company’s pending Copperwood project in Wakefield and Ironwood townships.
Mike Foley of Ironwood, who is the newly appointed project manager of the Copperwood site, was present during the meeting.
“Nice to have you on board,” said Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz.
“I look forward to pushing this past the finish line,” said Foley regarding the Copperwood Project, which he described as “a necessary asset to the county.”
The resolution hails Highland as a “positive partner with the region” with a plan for “safe, modern and responsible mining” and a commitment to “regular engagement with local and regional communities.”
The resolution also describes the prospective operation as an “environmentally sound copper mine that will maximize employment and will provide expansive economic benefits to the western U.P.”
In other news at the Oct. 25 meeting, board members also:
—Voted to approve the Gogebic County apportionment for 2023, per the request of Kathy Koval, the county’s equalization director.
—Voted to receive and file information from Howard Sandin of Ironwood regarding the economic and social impact of nonprofit arts and culture in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as presented by the U.P. Arts and Culture Alliance.
—Voted to receive and file an October report on local extension activities from Paul Putnam, All votes were unanimous with George Peterson absent.
In a separate meeting of the board’s Finance, Budgeting and Auditing Committee — which occurred directly before the board meeting — Bonovetz reported that state revenue sharing hereon will be locked into a permanent fund, thanks to legislative action.
“That was a big win for us,” he said regarding the news from the U.P. Association of County Commissioners, on which he serves.
Under the new system, Bonovetz said this means that the county will know in advance what allotment it will receive versus the prior situation in which it was necessary to wait until state legislators decided how to apportion funds.
The county board’s next meeting will take place on Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. in the Gogebic County Courthouse. The second November meeting has been moved back a week to Nov. 29. There will be only one regular board meeting the following month on Dec. 20.
County Clerk Ramona Collins said the adjustment in dates will help in processing year-end financial needs while also avoiding clashes with holidays.
