AARON ROCHON

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County will again use a state grant program to sponsor law enforcement training for recruits who will join the sheriff’s department as deputies.

The county board Monday authorized Sheriff Aaron Rochon to sponsor training at the Northern Michigan University Regional Police Academy in Marquette in May. Funding will come through a grant administered by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.

The state budget provides funding through September 2027, or until the $10 million dedicated for the MCOLES Public Safety Academy Assistance Program is exhausted. The program provides up to $20,000 per recruit for academy costs and salary while attending.

In August, three full-time and two part-time Dickinson recruits graduated from the NMU academy with nearly all of the cost covered through similar grants.

The new recruits brought the sheriff’s department back to full staffing, but Rochon told the board having additional trained part-timers will make it easier to fill future vacancies as well as bolstering current coverage.

“The demand for qualified law enforcement personnel remains high, and the availability of trained officers is crucial to maintaining public safety within our community,” the sheriff said in a memo to the board. The number of recruits who will be sponsored this year has yet to be determined.

In another matter, the county board approved Rochon’s request to fill a vacancy for an administrative assistant in the department. The vacancy will occur because the current employee is transferring back to the dispatch center, which has had problems retaining new staff, Rochon explained.

A full-time administrative assistant earns a starting wage of $18.03 per hour.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Learned that Ford Airport’s preliminary enplanement count for 2024 is 20,244, compared with 18,486 in 2023 and 20,622 in 2022. Airports with at least 10,000 annual boardings are considered primary airports for purposes of federal Airport Improvement Program funding.

— Authorized a tax recapture of eligible expenses totaling $282,973 for the Venue 906 brownfield project in Kingsford. Under the program, the property owner is eligible to recover the state and local property taxes that will be paid on improvements, while the taxing jurisdictions continue to receive the taxes that are paid on the original valuation. The Breitung Avenue property, now an event hall, formerly housed Lake Shore Systems. It had been vacant for about nine years before being purchased in 2019 by Brad and Lori Staedt.

— Renewed a property use lease for Lake Antoine Park Partners through the end of 2028. The agreement allows LAPP to make improvements at the county park with prior consent from the board, as well as install approved equipment. Since 2017, LAPP has raised more than $200,000 in grants and donations to add amenities to the park, including a beach wall, a kayak launch and accessible picnic areas, said Ann Hruska, LAPP treasurer. A new project would add a fully accessible playground with a synthetic turf surface.

— Approved a request from Borderhounds LEMC to host a fundraiser for the Dickinson County dive team at Lake Antoine Park on June 13 and 14. The volunteer search and rescue team currently has 12 active divers.

— Reappointed Marietta Negro of Norway to a three-year term on the Northpointe Board of Directors. The board oversees community mental health services in Dickinson, Iron and Menominee counties.

— Reappointed Laura Skrumbellos of Felch Township to a three-year term on the Dickinson County Planning Commission. Three vacancies remain.

— Reappointed Ray Anderson of Norway, Benjamin Wood of Breitung Township and James Carollo of Iron Mountain to six-year terms on the Economic Development Corp. Board. Five vacancies remain.

— Agreed to have Commissioner Victoria Jakel replace Commissioner Kevin Sullivan as a liaison to the Dickinson County Library Board while Sullivan will replace Jakel on the Pinecrest Medical Care Facility Board. The Pinecrest meetings take place in Powers and the change better coincides with Sullivan’s meeting schedule.

— Heard Controller Brian Bousley report one resume was recently received in response to the Dec. 26 posting of a part-time secretary-office manager position for the Dickinson County Fair.

— Heard Jason Gibbs of Iron Mountain encourage participation in workshops for county commissioners that are offered through Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Association of Counties.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.