CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Board on Tuesday chose Pete Judd to fill the District 2 seat that has been vacant since Commissioner Mike Stafford resigned late last year.

Judd, 66, has lived in the Upper Peninsula since moving from Southern California in 2007 and has been in the Iron River area for the past five years.

He is retired from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., where he was an area manager. He has served on the board of directors of the U.P. Foster Closet in both Marquette and Iron counties.

Judd was not at Tuesday’s meeting, but said in a telephone interview the urge to do his civic duty led him to apply for the vacancy and he believes his managerial experience makes him a good fit for the job.

“I am excited to be of service to the community,” Judd said.

The board had nine applicants for the position, after having no one file for the seat in the November election. Stafford did not seek re-election, opting instead to run for Bates Township supervisor.

District 2 includes Precinct 1 in the city of Iron River and part of Bates Township. The board voted unanimously for Judd and did not nominate any of the other applicants for the position.

In other business, the board Tuesday:

— Voted to renew its service agreement with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team, or UPSET, for $10,000.

— Appointed Crystal Falls Council member Steven Fabbri to the Iron County Central Dispatch Advisory Board.

— Approved a budget amendment to place $3,224 in unspent 2024 election grant funding into the 2025 budget.

— Authorized installing LED lighting throughout the courthouse.

— Gave Trial Court Administrator Summer Olson permission to explore getting an ATM machine in the courthouse. Olson said people coming in to pay fees are often displeased that the courthouse does not accept credit or debit cards. If an ATM can be placed at no cost to the county, it may be a possibility, Board Chair Mark Stauber said.

— Instructed Civil Counsel Steven Tinti to look into any legal issues that may arise if the county rents out the cabin at the former Cooks Run fish hatchery. Stauber reported that the Parks and Recreation Committee had been discussing plans for the site and said a joint meeting with the committee should take place soon. Tinti stated accessibility of the cabin and accessible bathrooms immediately came to mind.