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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Dickinson County plans to have new voting equipment in place for elections in 2018 with a state grant covering most of the cost.
"It's very similar to what we have," said Dolly Cook, Dickinson County clerk-register of deeds. "We do need them."
Michigan has set aside $40 million, including $30 million in federal funding, to upgrade equipment statewide. For the past dozen years, the state has used optical scan machines in which a voter marks a paper ballot and then feeds it through an optical scanning machine.
Dickinson County plans to acquire its new voting system, including precinct tabulators and related software, through Dominion Voting Systems of Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
The initial cost to the county is estimated at $1,886, plus the trade-in of the old equipment.
The county board Monday authorized a grant application to provide new machines for each of the county's voting precincts. The trade-in of the old equipment erases a $41,666 county obligation for the initial purchase, Cook said.
An annual fee of $21,580 for extended service and maintenance begins in the sixth year of the 10-year contract. The county is unlikely to incur this cost, Cook said, but an assessment may be placed on local municipalities.
Michigan's current voting system was purchased in 2004 and 2005 with federal funds authorized through the Help America Vote Act. The state reportedly has about $30 million remaining from those funds.
In other action Monday, the county board:
-- Established a 2017 county operating millage of 6.1403 mills, or $6.14 per $1,000 of taxable property value. This is the same as the current rate.
-- In a 3-2 vote, denied a request from the Lake Antoine Association for a financial contribution to treat Eurasian water milfoil. Commissioners Joe Stevens and Barbara Kramer favored a $1,000 allocation, noting Breitung Township is providing $5,000 and the city of Iron Mountain $3,500. Chairman Henry Wender and commissioners Ann Martin and John Degenaer Jr. said the county would be obligated to support milfoil treatments at other lakes if it granted the Antoine request. At one time the county budgeted nearly $10,000 for aquatic nuisance control but in recent years has cut its spending.
-- Introduced Christy Mattson as the new administrative assistant in the controller's office. She replaces Dianah Fayas, who was assistant controller before accepting a municipal position in the town of Springfield in Wisconsin's Dane County. Mattson formerly worked in the office of the Dickinson County Construction Code Commission.
-- In a 3-2 vote, rejected a proposed contract with Liquid Assets Kayaking Co. of Kingsford for kayak and paddle board rentals at Lake Antoine. Wender and commissioners Degenaer and Martin asked that the contract be reviewed by Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Richards for liability coverage. The issue will be revisited at the board's finance committee meeting Thursday. As proposed, the county would oversee the rentals and receive a 5 percent share.
-- Tabled until the finance meeting a request from District Court Judge Christopher Ninomiya to fill a full-time district court probation officer vacancy.
-- Agreed to contribute $200 to the Independence Day fireworks at Millie Hill in Iron Mountain, coordinated by Sons of the American Legion Squadron 50.
-- Heard Sheriff Scott Rutter invite the public to an open house at the sheriff's department from noon to 3 p.m. Friday.