IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County is accepting a state grant that will pay half the estimated $88,000 cost to rehabilitate the boat launch at Lake Antoine Park.

The county board committed matching funds Monday of $43,865 for the Waterways Program grant. Engineering, which is included in the cost, may be wrapped up and approved in time for possible construction next year.

“Hopefully it can be completed in a year or so (from now),” County Controller Brian Bousley said.

Coleman Engineering of Iron Mountain assisted in the successful application, which was submitted in March to the Department of Natural Resources.

Ice pressure caused considerable damage to the launch in early 2018, crumbling portions of the cement base. Temporary repairs have been made in an effort to keep it functional.

The DNR last fall denied the county’s application for a $24,000 Recreation Passport grant. The current grant is available through the Michigan State Waterways Fund, which is subject to annual appropriations from the Legislature.

In other action, the county board:

— Accepted a Michigan Department Transportation grant of $5,000, with a $556 county match, to purchase an Ecologic foam test system for Ford Airport. This will allow the airport to test the accuracy of firefighting foam systems without the expense or environmental impact of using actual foam. Firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals are a source of water contamination and efforts are ongoing to eliminate them and switch to safer alternatives.

— Learned that installation of a sewage lift station has been completed at the Iron Mountain Senior Center, which should allow the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency to resume preparing home-delivered meals at the site. The board had agreed in May to fund the estimated $64,000 project to keep the Meals on Wheels program viable. DICSA has used the kitchen at the Breen Senior Center in Kingsford since November, even though it’s undersized for the task.

— Made no mention of the status of an emergency request from a Menominee pulp mill to dispose of wastepaper sludge at a private Breitung Township landfill. Two weeks ago, the board voted 3-2 against a plan to allow trucks to deposit sludge from Resolute Forest Products at the Niagara Development landfill but left open the possibility for more talks. Those discussions are pending, Bousley said.

— Heard Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. report that an underground electrical system has been installed through the entire county fairgrounds in Norway, making Dickinson the first fair in the state to do this. The 2019 fair is Aug. 29 through Sept. 2.

— Noted the county has received more than $34,000 in recent months through the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority’s Risk Avoidance Program. The RAP grants have helped fund various courthouse and jail security improvements, including a keyless entry system and new cameras, Bousley said.

— Discussed an inquiry from a private outfitter, Blue-Mystique, that is interested in providing rental equipment such as kayaks and bicycles at Lake Antoine Park. Reservations could be made online. The proposal will be reviewed after more information is received.

— Heard Commissioner Barbara Kramer report the Lake Antoine Park Partners have provided a safe access to the wellspring and have improved the pump house at the lake. The beach retaining wall project is nearly finished.

— Reported the need for citizens to serve on the Dickinson County Planning Commission and the Dickinson County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. The Lake Antoine Park Partners also have an opening for a board member.

— Approved $6,724 for annual Michigan Association of Counties dues.