Board approves grant for Millersburg Trailhead project
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
A public hearing regarding a grant that would make the construction of the Millersburg Trailhead project possible was held at Friday morning?s Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners? meeting.
Melody Beswick, Millersburg Village clerk, spoke first in the hearing, ?our council supports this project 100 percent,? she said. Robin Pearson of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) spoke of her department?s support for the project as well. Emily Meyerson, Top of Michigan Trails and the DNR Northern Lower Peninsula Trailways Coordinator, who has been working on the project and the grant application for the project on behalf of the county, then updated the board. ?The grant application is almost ready to go and needs to be sent in by April 1. We will need to add the minutes of this meeting as well as the publication of the public hearing,? said Meyerson. Board chairman Carl Altman then closed the public hearing and moved to the next agenda item, approving a resolution of support authorizing the chairman to sign the grant application. The board unanimously approved the resolution of support. The board will now wait to hear if they receive the grant from the natural resources trust fund before moving on with the process and the project.
IN OTHER COUNTY BOARD NEWS:
? F/Lt. Rick Schultz presented the board with the 2008 Huron Undercover Narcotics Team (HUNT) annual report. The board accepted the report and approved a $5,000 annual increase in their contribution to HUNT for this year.
? The 2009 89th District Court agreement was signed with new Judge Maria Barton. The agreement makes Presque Isle County responsible for 20 percent of her wages as Cheboygan County takes care of the other 80 percent. Barton will also be getting her health insurance through Cheboygan County saving our county some money.
? Sally Kasubowski will continue upkeep at the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center as the board approved her contract. The contract is for 40 hours per month from May through September. For any hours over
? Rainy River Consulting of Onaway will be printing 1,000 copies of the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center brochures for this year. Two other bids came in, one from Dockside Printing in Rogers City and one from Straits Area Printing of Cheboygan but the board elected to go with Rainy River who printed the brochures last year.
? Sheriff?s deputy Dean Tebo made a request that the county pay up front for a rifle for him which will be paid back through payroll deductions. The board approved the request with the money to be paid back in full within 24 months.
? Emergency Services Coordinator Norm Smith is getting a portable 800 Mhz radio. The county is responsible for 20 percent of the cost while a grant pays the remaining 80 percent.