Dickinson County Board Chairman Henry Wender, third from left, receives a resolution of appreciation from the Dickinson County Road Commission. Wender has served as the county board’s liaison to the road panel for several decades. The resolution cites his dedication and commitment to the road commission and Dickinson County citizens. From left are commission members Allan Bilski, Jim Carey, Dave Brisson, Quintin Olson and Dale Johnson. Wender, who will be leaving the county board in 2025, has logged 35 years of board service, the majority as chairman. (Dickinson County Road Commission photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Work is underway to develop a multi-county plan for expanded recycling and composting in Dickinson and five other central Upper Peninsula counties.

Under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in December 2022, each Michigan county is required to adopt a materials management plan to replace its solid waste plan. Regional collaboration is encouraged.

Dickinson County agreed earlier this year to join Delta, Alger, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties in forming a plan. Utilizing state grant funds, the Escanaba-based Central Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission, or CUPPAD, is serving as the counties’ designated planning agency.

Curbside recycling and/or convenient drop-off sites are among the state’s waste management goals. The law sets a goal to reach a 30% recycling rate in Michigan by 2029 and 45% thereafter.

Under CUPPAD’s direction, a Materials Management Planning Committee has been created to develop a plan regulating solid waste disposal, recycling access, and composting activities. On Monday, the Dickinson County Board unanimously appointed Steven Coron of Iron Mountain to a four-year term on the committee. Coron manages GFL Environmental Inc.’s solid waste processing facility in Quinnesec.

Christina DuBois of Suamico, Wis., general manager for GFL in northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, was also an applicant.

According to CUPPAD, the plan would not require participation from all residents, but would require that recycling options be accessible to all residents in some form. That might be through drop-offs, haulers providing additional services or other options determined through the planning process and the work of local agencies.

The entire plan must be completed and approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy by June 27, 2027.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Adopted the 2025 county budget and general appropriations act. There were no comments received during a public hearing. The millage rate to support the budget remains at 6.1323 mills, or $6.13 per $1,000 of taxable value. The general fund budget totals $13.28 million, up 5.3% from 2024.

— Appointed Mindy Meyers, executive director of the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, to a term on the county’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority through July 31, 2027.

— Appointed Commissioner Joe Stevens to the Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! Local Elected Officials Board for 2025.

— Heard Megan Rose, Dickinson County Library director, thank departing Commissioner Ann Martin for her dedicated service for a number of years as a liaison to the library board.