Iron County Board of Commissioners approve MSU appropriation for 4-H

By Quinn Illi
CRYSTAL FALLS – The Iron County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to renew funding for Michigan State University to oversee the county’s 4-H program at its March 12 general meeting.

Over the past couple months, funding for 4-H has been questioned by the board. This year, as in years past, Iron County has provided $25,000 to Michigan State University for the purpose of supporting the local 4-H clubs. This year, where that money is actually going was called into question by the Board.

“This board is not against 4-H … Just like any other department, we can’t just give money out, we have to know where it’s being spent,” said Mark Stauber, board chair. “That’s what we were trying to get and we did get some documentation.”

At last month’s board meeting, Stauber had asked MSU District 1 Director Paul Putnam to provide more detail on where those funds went.

“Years past [Putnam] would come to us when we worked on our budget for our fiscal year and this past year, he didn’t come,” Stauber said. “In regards to that, I know, at our last meeting, we asked for a budget…  I’m going to request that Paul is at our budget hearings when we do them next fall.”

Before a decision was made by the board, members of the public and 4-H volunteer leaders spoke in support of 4-H citing how youth membership is on the rise in the years since the pandemic, as well as mentioning the many skills and lessons that are taught to their members, and even going so far as to recite the 4-H pledge. 

“4-H is a wonderful organization that gives the youth opportunities to better themselves and the community around them,” said Alexis Noggin in a letter presented at the meeting. “I met my best friends to this day thanks to this program, and made countless memories.”

“4-H has been a tradition for over 110 years in Iron County, and there’s a good reason for that program lasting this long,” said Carol Callovi, a 4-H club leader. “It is because of the dedication of many volunteers and of the County Board for our youth.”

“This is my 28th year in 4-H, and I love it,” said Lynn Aho, a club leader who helped start the Pacesetters Club. “[We] have formed valuable relationships with hundreds and hundreds of Iron County kids, relationships that still evolve today. We are proud to say that generations of our Pacesetters kids have passed down our experiences to their own kids … My granddaughter joined our club last fall.”

In making the decision to continue funding for 4-H, members of the board themselves gave words of support to club leaders.

“I know that [the 4-H Leaders] work very very hard, “ said Commissioner Patti Peretto. “You guys do a great job and that’s why we’re going to [continue funding]...”

The Iron County Board of Commissioners also addressed the following matters at its March meeting:

• Iron County Sheriff, Ryan Boehmke told the board the Sheriff’s Department would be submitting a proposal to the West Iron County School District for the school resource officer position. Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Weesner held the position from 2018 until he was replaced earlier this year. Boehmke also shared that the office had posted openings for part-time correctional officers and updated its camera system.

• The deed for the Alpha Schoolhouse has been turned over to the developers following the creation of a development plan.

• The County is still seeking funding to help with the damages caused by the 2023 spring flood.

• Brian Fabbri was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission leaving one vacancy on said commission and two vacancies on the Authority on Aging Board.

The Iron County Board of Commissioners meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. in the Iron County Courthouse. The next meeting will be held on April 9. More information is available at ironmi.org.