Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer — Gogebic County has joined a class action lawsuit for the past three fiscal years, seeking additional payments from the federal government for payments in lieu of taxes.
After Wednesday’s county board meeting, county treasurer Lisa Hewitt noted the county receives about $600,000 annually in PILT money, so the suit could mean a great deal to the county.
The suit seeks to recover money the county is owed for the past three years.
The county was required to join the suit by Sept. 14.
Kane County, Utah, originally contended the government has been shorting the counties on PILT money.
The court ruled the PILT Act obligates the federal government to pay full amounts calculated in a formula, even though Congress failed to appropriate sufficient funds to do so in fiscal years 2015 through 2017.
The court granted summary judgment in favor of the class action suit.
The specific amounts owed have not been determined.
There is no cost to the county to participate in the suit.
In other business, board members agreed the county board should be represented on meetings on the possible closing of the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco and a permit for the Copperwood mine near Wakefield.
Board members stressed the importance of State Rep. Scott Dianda and State Sen. Tom Casperson in lobbying for the Marenisco prison to remain open, given its economic importance to the county.
After considerable discussion about an item that was not on the agenda, the board agreed the county will begin its own Facebook page. County information technology officer Brandon Tauer said he would seek the assistance of department heads in starting the Facebook page.
Of the seven board members, with chair George Peterson absent, only Jim Oliver, of Ironwood, said he is on Facebook.
The board also agreed to apply for two airport grants, with one seeking $10,000 for advertising, to be matched about 10 percent from the county.
The board agreed to advance $30,000 to the fair board to be used for this year’s fair.
