Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
LEROY KANGAS, of Ironwood Township, foreground, attends his last meeting as a Gogebic County Commissioner on Wednesday. He did not seek re-election and Dan Siirila will represent the township next year. Also shown are commissioners Tom Laabs, of Ironwood, center, and Bob Orlich, of Wakefield.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer - Leroy Kangas concluded a 28-year career as a Gogebic County Commissioner Wednesday by announcing a new road commission board member.
John Matonich, who serves on the Michigan Natural Resources Board, was the interview committee's choice among four candidates for the position, Kangas said. The board then unanimously voted for Matonich.
Matonich will fill the term of the late Don Bennetts, of Bessemer, who died earlier this year. The term extends through 2020, county board chair Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, said.
Matonich, brother of sheriff Peter Matonich, has moved to Lake Gogebic and will now sit on the five-member road commission board that is separate from the county board.
The county board earlier reappointed Robert Sharon to the Gogebic County Department of Health and Human Services Board.
Bonovetz presented Kangas with a plaque and praised him for his dedicated service to the county, including two terms as board chairman.
"You have been an influence for all of us who have worked with you and will continue to be," an emotional Bonovetz said.
Kangas said when he first ran for the county board, he planned on serving only one term, but that turned into 28 years. Before the meeting, he said he never had any opposition for his seat in an election.
Former county commissioner Dan Siirila, who moved from Ironwood to the township district that Kangas represents, will fill the seat at the corner of the table beginning Jan. 1.
The county board will meet next Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. for a 2017 reorganizational session.
