DAN HARRINGTON

IRON MOUNTAIN — Newly elected Commissioner Dan Harrington of Breitung Township will chair the Dickinson County Board in 2025 as Republicans hold a 5-0 majority.

Harrington is the owner of U.P. Propane in Iron Mountain, along with Wide and High Whitetails in Channing. In a statement during the 2024 campaign, he said he’s a fiscal and social conservative and against “the crazy woke agendas coming out of both Lansing and Washington.”

During Thursday’s organizational meeting, Harrington was nominated for chair by newly elected Commissioner Kevin Sullivan of Iron Mountain. There were no other nominations.

Commissioner Joe Stevens of Kingsford was nominated by Sullivan for vice chair, but newcomer Peter Swanson of Breitung Township was chosen in a 3-1 vote with Stevens abstaining. Swanson was nominated by Victoria Jakel of Norway, also a newly elected commissioner.

Stevens, whose vote of support came from Sullivan, is the only returning board member, entering his 31st year.

Harrington takes on the role of chair after Republican Henry Wender of Breitung Township had filled the post 17 straight years. Wender was defeated in the Republican primary in August by Swanson.

Also falling in the Republican primary were longtime commissioners Barbara Kramer and Ann Martin, both of Iron Mountain. Jakel in November defeated longtime Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. of Norway, a Democrat.

Harrington made committee assignments during Thursday’s session and the board adopted a meeting schedule.

The first regular meeting of the year will be 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13. Regular meetings will be on the second Monday of each month. Finance meetings involving the entire board will be on the fourth Monday, also at 6 p.m.

Previously, the board had two regular meetings per month, on the second and fourth Mondays, along with a monthly finance meeting on a Thursday morning.

The suggestion to reduce the number of regular meetings came from Harrington and initially was opposed by Stevens, who said, “The community is accustomed to what we’re doing.”

But County Controller Brian Bousley did not object, saying, “If we need something done, we can always call a special meeting.” Also, since the full board attends finance meetings, business might be conducted then.

Sullivan asked if agendas could be sent out sooner than the current practice, which is typically the Friday before a Monday meeting. Bousley said that can be done, but if it’s too far in advance there will be late additions.

Jakel, a retired physician, will chair the finance committee. She and Harrington will serve on the county fair board, replacing former commissioners Martin and Degenaer.

Among other committee assignments, Jakel will serve on boards for the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility and Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System. Sullivan, pastor of Family Baptist Church in Iron Mountain, will serve as a liaison to the Dickinson County Library Board and will represent the county at the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency, Department of Health and Human Services Board, and Bay College advisory committee.

Swanson, a business owner, will serve on the Construction Code Commission, Solid Waste Management Planning Committee, Materials Management Planning Committee and as a liaison to the Dickinson County Road Commission.

Stevens, Harrington and Jakel will be seated on the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department Board. Stevens will retain other current assignments, including the Veterans Service Office Board, Fumee Lake Commission, Land Bank Authority and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

Harrington and Sullivan will handle public safety and judiciary committee duties and Harrington will be a representative to the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress.

During citizens’ time, John Sacchetti of Iron Mountain said he was unhappy with the results of the November election. “I don’t like people going to insurrections and calling it peaceful protests,” he said, a reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Sacchetti brought up a number of scattered topics, saying he wanted the board’s opinion, but commissioners deferred, saying they’re federal issues.

Jim Carey, who chairs the road commission, said he would like to see the county board devote more funding to roads.