CRYSTAL FALLS—Because of a cash flow problem from the federal government to the state to the county, Iron County may be looking at borrowing money on a short term basis.

At the Iron County Board’s April 22 meeting, Commissioner George Brunswick said he sat in on a meeting with the auditor where the cash flow problem was discussed.

Iron County doesn’t get its funding until July or August, but there are mandates the county must follow, so it may need to borrow money to pay for them until the funding comes through

“We’re not the only county doing this,” Brunswick noted. “There needs to be a change in how the money is distributed; the county hasn’t received revenue sharing funds for several years, and won’t be receiving any again until 2014.”

Commissioner Fran Wills agreed.

“This is nothing new,” said Wills. “The school districts have been borrowing short term for years, until their funding comes through.”

Brunswick noted everyone will be getting their funds, but it may be spread out over the year instead of all at once.

He suggested bringing in a consultant to look at the idea of a central dispatch, saying he would like to hear from an unbiased person if it is workable.

Chair Rosalie King noted the person they have in mind has put together central dispatch for other cities. He would look at, if other counties are unhappy with dispatching in Negaunee and would use Iron County instead, along the costs of such a proposal.

Sheriff Robert Remondini suggested taking care of “what we’ve got first,” and then look at bringing other counties in.

“We have followed a trend of stand-alone dispatch in Iron County,” he noted, “and it’s already in place. Let’s make ours strong first.”

The County Board then looked at Pentoga Park rates. Civil Counsel Steve Tinti presented a park ordinance and a resolution for setting rates. The ordinance discusses 24 rules governing the use of the park. The resolution for setting rates describes the various parcels in the park, sets day-use fees, camping fees and boat launch fees.

The board took no action on the ordinance so Sheriff Remondini can review it, and sent the resolution back to the Parks & Recreation Committee for its review.

An easement request by Blaise Andreski is still being discussed. At the board’s last meeting, it was agreed to grant Andreski a license, but not an easement, to cross county land in order to access his property. However, a motion was never made to sign the license, so it hasn’t been granted.

John Faccin, chairman of the Parks and Rec Committee, noted, “When the proposal came to the committee, we weren’t given all of the information on the proposed route. There are differences in the proposed Andreski license and the Donald Choquette easement, located in the same area. Choquette paid all costs incurred by the county and paid for a survey, but none of that was put in the Andreski language.”

Faccin asked the county to either review, rethink or send it back to the Parks and Rec Committee, now that the group has all of the information, before it’s signed.

Commissioner Larry Harrington noted there is another difference, because the proposed Andreski route is longer than the Choquette route.

Wills wondered why, because there are similarities, the county agreed to grant Choquette an easement but not Andreski. Tinti explained one involves a longer piece of property.

“There are other subtle distinctions, and you need to take the time to deal with and solve those issues. In many instances, the county issues a license to use property, and from a legal standpoint, this will be relatively easy to resolve.”

In other business, the County Board approved a request by the Economic Development Corp. Board to “secure Michigan Automatics in the best interest of the county, to foreclose on a property and obtain the collateral in order to recoup the county’s Revolving Loan Fund investment.” Tinti has been assisting the EDC in the matter.

The board also approved a request by Sheriff Remondini concerning an old ambulance. Remondini explained he had been advised by Search and Rescue Chief Mike Goriesky that they want to dispose of an old ambulance that was donated to them, and asked to sell it to the Alpha/Mastodon Fire Department for $1. The ambulance served the Search and Rescue well, he said, but it no longer has use for them.

It was agreed to allow up to four courthouse employees to attend a one-day training session for an E-Team. Commissioner Bob Black explained E-Team was designed by emergency managers and first responders to aid in the task of managing major incidents and disasters.

E-Team will be overseen by Steve Gagnea and facilitates decision making and allows a quicker, more effective response by enabling users to easily gather, analyze and share information. This is a computer based system, Black explained.

Two resolutions were presented at the meeting.

The first was from Lake County and concerned water diversion out of the Great Lakes. The County Board supported the resolution.

The second resolution was presented by Marquette County and concerned right-to-work legislation. King, Harrington and Wills supported the resolution while Black and Brunswick were opposed.

The board also reviewed informational matters that didn’t require action. One was a letter from Kenneth Tribley, assistant deputy warden of Camp Ottawa, asking the county’s interest in the public works program. The rate is $37.50 per day per prisoner for a 10 hour crew. This is in addition to mileage, he noted. At this time, Tribley wrote, he cannot give a definite date when the crews will be re-instated or how many. He is simply trying to get an idea of how many agencies would be interested in a full-time year-round crew.

The board received a letter from Tinti concerning a county ordinance on invasive species. He wrote in reviewing the statutory authority for a county to adopt ordinances, it is his professional opinion that a county is without the legal authority to adopt an invasive species ordinance and/or a lake and river access ordinance that affects real estate that is not owned by the county. However, townships, villages and cities would have the authority to adopt a uniform invasive species ordinance and/or a lake and river access ordinance.

Tinti felt a uniform ordinance approach for all townships, villages and cities lying in the county is necessary to property address these issues.

The board agreed to increase the county board credit card limit from $2,000 to $3,000 because of the timing when the bills arrive.

Turning to monthly reports, Commissioner Black said Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency has several weatherization, housing rehabilitation, and low interest loan programs available. Last year DICSA spent about $1.6 million on Iron and Dickinson county housing rehab projects.

County Clerk Joan Luhtanen reported residents can now be put on a permanent absentee voter list, and applications will automatically be sent to them. Absentee ballots are now available for the May 6 school election.

County Board meetings in May will be held on Tuesday, May 13, and Tuesday, May 27, both beginning at 1:30 p.m.