Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Township to hold forensic audit presentation

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood Township — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday to allow Plante Moran employees to present the results of the township’s forensic audit to residents.

While the audit’s results are expected to be discussed publicly for the first time at today’s restitution hearing in Gogebic County Circuit Court, Wednesday’s meeting will likely be the first time many residents have the opportunity to hear the details of the case against former treasurer Jyl Olson-DeRosso.

“(The forensic auditor) will be presenting her findings tomorrow morning at the restitution hearing, and we would like to have the opportunity to have everybody in the township hear that as well,” Township Supervisor Steve Boyd said at Monday’s board of trustees meeting. “So the purpose of that meeting on Wednesday ... would be just to have her present that and take questions on the forensic audit.”

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the township hall.

Olson-DeRosso pleaded guilty or no-contest to 10 counts related to forgery and embezzlement which occurred while she served as treasurer in March.

She pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery, one count of embezzlement by a public official, one count of using public money for her own use and one count of diversion of taxes or public money by a public official. She also pleaded no-contest to charges of refusing to over records to a successor and removal or destruction of public records.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on the charges May 14.

In other action at Monday’s meeting:

—The board heard a presentation from Jim Lorenson — a member of Gogebic County’s emergency services and ambulance committee — on the state of emergency ambulance service in the county. Lorenson updated the board on the framework of an agreement to change the amount the county pays for service in wake of declining revenue for Beacon Ambulance Services. Lorenson said a long-term solution was needed but the basics of a short-term deal had been reached to prevent ambulance service to the western part of the county from being interrupted. Under the proposed agreement outlined at Monday’s meeting, the county would split a $185,000 cost with the various municipalities other than Watersmeet — which already contributes to its own ambulance service. The money would be charged at a per-capita rate of $1.57 per person per month, meaning the township would responsible for approximately $13,850 to ensure service could continue.

While Beacon’s financial issues over the past few months prompted the county to assess the state of its ambulance service, Lorenson said distances and response times were also a problem — particularly in the eastern portion of the county where service in Watersmeet is coming from Iron River or Ontonagon.

—Mike Carey, a Republican candidate running for the 38th District in Michigan’s State Senate, presented to the board regarding why he was running for office and what he hoped to accomplish.

—The board approved spending $1,600 for a key-fob lock system for the township’s fire hall.

—The board approved advertising for a seasonal worker for the summer.

 
 
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