County voters pass HUNT request, Posen fire hall proposal defeated again
Voters in Presque Isle County approved Tuesday’s only countywide proposal meaning officers from the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team, or HUNT, will be able to spend more time hunting for illegal drugs in Presque Isle County instead of searching for funding. The request was for one-quarter mill to fund an officer for HUNT and to provide School Resource Officer positions in the Rogers City and Onaway schools. It was approved 3,979-3,167 overall.
Fourteen of the 20 precincts approved the measure. Three Rogers City precincts brought in the most votes. Rogers City precinct one had the widest margin of the three with 563 “yes” votes and 219 “no” votes. The combined total for the three precincts was 935-498. Only one precinct on the west side of the county, Allis Township, voted against the request. The others that turned it down were Metz, Posen Township 1A & 1B, Krakow, Pulawski and Presque Isle townships.
OF THE FOUR counties that are covered by HUNT, only Alcona and PI County voters approved a millage. Alpena and Montmorency counties both said “no.” The issues are separate and don’t determine the outcome in other counties. Presque Isle Township had the highest number of “no” votes with 606, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the support in Rogers City. Voters in three of four precincts voted against a half-mill request for nine years to purchase an existing building in Posen, which would have been the new home for Posen Fire and Rescue.
Pulawski Township was the only precinct to approve the request, 101-93. Fire chief Ray Wozniak was disappointed with the result. The next move will be up to the fireboard, which had a meeting Wednesday. Wozniak said other options would have to be discussed.