New Iron County Airport - Chapter 2

Dateline June 23, 2009. Iron River, Michigan

The Iron County Commission met today. In a fairly
routine meeting they agreed to allow the Township
Association to use Pentoga Park for their annual
picnic and meeting free of charge by a vote of
three to one. Commissioners Black, Brunswick, and
Wills voted to allow the free use of the park.
Commissioner King voted no and Commissioner Lind
was absent.

The same issue was discussed approximately one year
ago and the Township Association was denied free
use of the park. This time after a somewhat lengthy
discussion, they decided to allow its use at no
charge.

Other items discussed were:

The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development
Region will be holding their annual convention in
Iron County on Sept.21, 2009 at a still undecided
location.

Some discussion was held concerning the fact that
Houghton County has at least three incubator projects
underway and Iron County has none.

The commissioners voted to take no action on a
resolution forwarded to them by the Director of
the County Medical Facility supporting health care
reform. The implication was that the subject was
too complicated.

The new tenant of the Cooks Run Trout Hatchery did
send in his check per the agreement , but they have
not received the insurance policy which was part of
the agreement. On advice of civil attorney Tinti
they decided to set a deadline for its receipt.

They appointed commissioner Brunswick to the U.P.
State Fair Board.

Also, on the advice of civil counsel Tintil and EDC
Director Melchori they decided to draw up a contract
with the governmental units of the county outlining
their agreement to cooperate with the funding of the
EDC program and its director.

This reporter was told that he misreported the total
number of people attending the special meeting held
at Iron River Township Hall to gather support to
oppose the state's plan to close the prison camp in
the township. This reporter reported approx. 40
people in attendance, EDC director Melchori claimed
the figure was 60 +.

And finally on a suggestion by EDC director Melchori
and the county Chair King a motion was passed to
appoint a committee to study an airport feasibility
for Iron County.

Ben Smith publicly reported the existence of this
news organization to the Iron County Board.

Ben Smith

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Editor's comment:

We gladly report corrections to errors, or even possible
errors, that we publish.

I have previously commented on the need to simplify
the Economic Development Corporation's Mission Statement
to stick to creating jobs for county residents. The
fact that the Iron County Board commented, with a
negativity (in MY opinion) on the Houghton
incubator projects is unfair to the EDC given the broad
discretion the board itself has granted to the EDC. I
recommend that our earlier published Mission Statement
be formally adopted.

"If the mission statement stuck to "increasing job
opportunities for our residents" I'd be a whole
lot happier." (April 18, 2009) and apparently so
would the County Board.

Projects like Disk Golf need to be undertaken by Parks
and Recreation instead of the tourism negative projects
like a fee charging boat wash complete with enforcement
patrols by police officials.

Bill Vajk