-
News
By Allison Joy
CRYSTAL FALLS – County funding for 4-H services is being re-evaluated once again, as the board of commissioners tabled reinstating funds for the organization at its Feb. 13 general meeting.
The county funds go toward Michigan State University, which oversees the Iron County 4-H program. In its 2020 budget, the county slashed its contribution from $38,500 to $15,000. The Covid-19 pandemic followed, forcing 4-H to shutter most operations. By the time funding was reinstated in 2022, many participants had aged out of the program and the organization found itself in a rebuilding period.
Anne Kretschmann, the MSU Iron County 4-H coordinator, reported to the board in February that there were currently over 50 local youth participating in 4-H activities, facilitated by 23 volunteers across six different clubs.
Chairman Mark Stauber has been critical of the value of county funds going toward MSU coordination services, which pencils out to $25,000 annually for a coordinator like Kretschmann to work 12 hours per week in Iron County. Stauber pressed Kretschmann on her role in Iron County 4-H activities, and also acknowledged that his wife serves as a volunteer leader with the club.
“As I heard it from everybody talking … you were helping out when you could, but it wasn’t MSU that advertised this as an MSU event,” he said to Kretschmann regarding a recent craft fair, expressing frustration that the university did not advertise events in Iron County. “…What I’m trying to actually get at is that the leaders do the bulk of the work.”
Greg Scott is the president of the Iron County 4-H Council, and he also serves as leader for one of the shooting clubs.
“4-H is a volunteer-led organization … with the structure provided by MSU [for] vetting volunteers, doing background checks, doing training,” Scott explained when addressing the board of commissioners, adding that Kretschmann was a “tool in our toolbox.”
In the end, commissioners agreed to request a more detailed budget from MSU regarding what services are provided in exchange for the $25,000 annually in county funds.
“Every other department or agency that we make a commitment of money to, out of our budget, we would request it from them,” Stauber reasoned.
The motion to table the reinstatement of 4-H funds for MSU coordination was approved unanimously via a voice vote.
The Iron County Board of Commissioners also addressed the following matters at its Feb. 13 meeting:
• The board was able to approve four appointments: Seth Miatech to the Parks and Recreation Committee for a three-year term, Georgi Tomasoski and Diane Renaud-Smith to the Authority on Aging Board for a three-year term each, and Steve Gagnea to the Jury Board for a six-year term. The appointments leave two vacancies remaining on both the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Authority on Aging Board.
• The board approved projects to be paid for with money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act: $7,000 in ARPA funds to purchase a new water heater for Pentoga Park (any additional funds needed would come from the courthouse building and grounds fund); and $1,480 toward the Fair Association to cover the remaining roof repair insurance deductible.
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 March 12. More information is available at ironmi.org.
Quinn Illi contributed to the reporting of this article.