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 that commits to a multi-county approach to materials management planning.
The action followed a report by Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz, who is this county’s representative on the commission for the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region in Hancock.
Jerald Wuorenmaa, WUPPDR’s executive director, told county commissioners several months ago of the state-driven movement to upgrade each county’s MMP. At that time, he suggested that the county consider joining forces with other western U.P. counties as it works toward a new plan.
“All six counties felt it was important that we join forces,” said Bonovetz as he recalled the latest WUPPDR commission meeting to Gogebic County commissioners.
“I don’t see any reason why we’d want to go out on our own,” added Bonovetz regarding the creation of an MMP.
He then made a motion to approve a resolution to establish a “county approval agency, multi-county approach, and designated planning agency for materials management planning under Part 115, Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended.”
The resolution explains that Michigan enacted Part 115 “with the intent to modernize the Solid Waste Management statute.”
The resolution further says that the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, as of Jan. 8, issued a call for each county with a population under 250,000 to create an MMP and to submit to EGLE a related notice of intent within 180 days of that call.
In addition, the resolution says that, if the county wishes to become part of a multicounty MMP, it must provide EGLE with “an associated interlocal agreement that identifies the process.”
The resolution declares that Gogebic County’s county approval agency will be the Gogebic County Board and adds, “Gogebic County intends to prepare a multicounty MMP in conjunction with Baraga, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties … as soon as practicable.”
It adds that Gogebic County’s designated planning agency will be WUPPDR, with Wuorenmaa being the contact person.
As defined by the state, materials management planning includes the management of solid waste, along with attention to the broader interests of recycling.
Michigan.gov notes that each county now has its own solid waste management plan “that focuses on ensuring adequate disposal capacity and assures that all non-hazardous solid waste generated in the county is collected and recovered, processed, or disposed at facilities that comply with state laws and rules.”
The state website adds that “MMPs will transition this framework to a more materials management focus.”
It also assured that existing solid waste management plans will remain in effect until the required new plans are established.
In other news in the March 13 meeting, commissioners voted to allot $3,000 for youth activities within the following school districts: Ironwood Area Schools, Watersmeet Township School, and the combined interests of Bessemer Area Schools and the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School.
The action followed a request by Dion DelFavero, one of the assistant coaches with the Gogebic Miners high school baseball team, whose members are drawn from both Bessemer and Wakefield-Marenisco.
DelFavero requested support to help purchase new uniforms that he estimated will cost $5,000.
“The ones we’ve had we’ve had for 6 years,” he said, adding that they undergo “rough” use due to players sliding in the dirt.
Board Chairman James Lorenson suggested including all area schools in the allotment, and Bonovetz made the motion to allot $3,000 to each of the three noted school groups.
DelFavero expressed appreciation for the board’s help.
“We’re also doing fundraising to offset the cost,” he said of the uniforms, for which $1,000 has been saved so far.
DelFavero, who added that 28 kids have signed up for Little League this year, also mentioned the support of the team’s Booster Club and noted that school funding has facilitated equipment purchases.
Commissioners also:
—Voted to approve a request from the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency to place on the August ballot the renewal of the millage — 60 cents per $1,000 of property value — for the county’s senior program. In a March 6 letter to the county chairman, GOCAA Executive Director Kerri Duff said that the millage would fund the program for four years from 2024-2027. She added that the millage “supports programs such as nutrition, Meals on Wheels, in-home care, snow shoveling, lawn mowing, senior tax credits, and much more.”
—Voted to receive and file a March 7 letter of thanks to commissioners from members of the Penokee Range Little League in relation to the county board’s recent vote to allot $6,000 to the program. The league includes members from Hurley, Ironwood, Bessemer, Wakefield and Marenisco.
All votes were unanimous with all members present.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on March 27 at 5 p.m. in the Gogebic County Courthouse.
