EDITOR:

At the January Dickinson County Board Meeting, the Commissioners voted to end funding for the Michigan State University Extension Services. At the center of this issue was funding to support a full-time 4-H Coordinator position at a cost of $81,000, which would come out of the county’s share of marijuana state tax use revenue.

At Monday’s meeting, a request by Commissioner Joe Stevens to call a meeting to revisit this issue was denied by Board Chair Dan Harrington. Mr. Harrington stated that Michigan State University was bilking the taxpayers of this county and that they should totally fund their own programs.

He actually called the 4-H program — and I quote — “a woke, crazy organization.” In short, Mr. Harrington said out loud what many of us suspected was behind the newly seated board members’ agenda all along. In spite of many parents expressing how important 4-H has been for their children, the board members are more concerned with taking a slash-and-burn approach to valuable county programs. Such an approach to governing will have grave consequences to our county!

This begs the question: If they are willing to cut a strongly supported 4-H program for our youth, what other valuable services to our county will they cut in the coming years? Will it be funding for our County Veteran Service Office?

Is this the type of board action you want for our county? To save a few bucks out of a large county budget that provides a valuable service to our youth? It certainly isn’t for me!

George Wiedenhoeft

Iron Mountain

EDITOR:

At a recent meeting of the Dickinson County Board, against the advice of its own legal counsel, Commissioner Kevin Sullivan — while seated at the board table — led those in attendance in prayer. Generally people do not disregard the advice of lawyers, especially lawyers who are being paid to advise them.

Newly elected county commissioners are offered training to help them govern well, yet none but Commissioner Sullivan apparently took the training. The lack of understanding of procedure was evident in the times the county clerk had to correct Board Chair Dan Harrington. Perhaps it is also due to ignorance that caused Harrington to refuse to call a Committee of the Whole meeting that would allow the community an opportunity to give testimony about the board’s decision to no longer fund the MSU Extension director who organizes 4-H.

The reason behind Harrington’s disdain for 4-H appears to be its connection to Michigan State University. “Michigan State just sticks their noses in there and tries to be relevant. Not usually in a good way,” Harrington stated during Monday’s meeting.

After listening to Harrington’s statements Monday, I came away with the conclusion that he views MSU as a bad influence and therefore 4-H a bad influence by association. By refusing to fund the MSU Extension position, Harrington is being ruled by his political views, not what is good for Dickinson County.

Furthermore, Harrington and the other commissioners who have yet to even receive training on how a meeting is to be run show a disdain for our political process. By ignoring the advice of their own legal counsel, they have demonstrated an arrogance that one would see in kings who rule by divine right and not the will of the people.

Buckle up, Dickinson County, and prepare for the chaos that will ensue when those in power are ignorant of the basic rules of governance.

Tracy Asanuma

Iron Mountain

EDITOR:

This is a reply from a 4-H member in the 1950s to The Daily News’ article Tuesday titled “Dickinson’s cut for MSU Extension gets mixed reaction.”

County Board Chair Dan Harrington should read the article in the Advertiser titled, “MSU-Ext awards 4-H volunteers and community supporters.” All the people in this article are building up, not tearing the community down.

I see now that Mr. Harrington has sunk to a real low level by calling disabled children and adults and other 4-H supporters “a woke, crazy organization.” Well, the State of Michigan has supported the 4-H program it seems like forever. Good job, Commissioner Joe Stevens, for fighting back.

The 4-H supporters are a big part of the Dickinson County Fair. Even the schools had 4-H competition programs in the past.

William Schmitt

Norway Township

(Editor’s note: Schmitt also photocopied a $1 check from the Upper Peninsula Potato Growers Association, dated Nov. 17, 1958, with the added notation: This check is for representing the Norway Michigan High School in the 1958 4-H Potato judging competitions in the Houghton/Hancock area finals under the direction of Mr. Hugo T. Swanson, superintendent.)