IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County hopes to recruit a new employee to work on death investigations as Dr. Martin Cristanelli continues to serve as the county’s medical examiner while accepting full-time work nearly 200 miles away.

“I can’t find anyone that wants to do this job,” Cristanelli told the county board during a special meeting Wednesday, explaining he’ll start work as a pathologist next week in Marshfield, Wis.

Cristanelli estimated the county has 20 or fewer autopsies a year, but said about 80% of the medical examiner’s role is determining whether one is necessary. With that in mind, the county will look to hire a current or retired law enforcement officer as a death investigator who could take over some duties.

Michigan requires each county to have a medical examiner who must be a physician, though not necessarily a pathologist. The medical examiner may perform, or direct to be performed, an autopsy.

Cristanelli said at his direction the county could have autopsies done at facilities in Marquette or Houghton for a fee. While that setup is less than ideal, he expressed a willingness to see the county through even while in Marshfield.

This past fall, Dickinson County Healthcare System began outsourcing pathology services to Medical Lab Associates of Marquette, ending its contract with Cristanelli, who for about 10 years served a dual role as in-house hospital pathologist and county-appointed medical examiner.

In dismissing Cristanelli, the hospital said it would no longer accommodate on-site autopsies, creating a dilemma for law enforcement. An agreement was signed in November that gave authorities temporary access to the morgue and autopsy room, but a definitive arrangement remains up in the air.

After tabling a proposed three-year extension of the contract Monday, the county board on Wednesday cited several deficiencies. Dolly Cook, county clerk-register of deeds, also weighed in, saying a 72-hour limit on morgue access is unrealistic.

Controller Brian Bousley said more discussions will take place with hospital officials. In the meantime, the county will explore regional alternatives, potentially bringing several neighboring counties together for a joint facility and/or a cooperative contract.

“The situation we were put in by the hospital needs to be fixed,” said Commissioner Joe Stevens.

In recent years, the medical examiner position has been compensated by the county at $25,000, which includes the investigative work, autopsies, and the required legal filings. While there’s been little interest from physicians in taking on the county job, a regional position could potentially be more attractive, Cristanelli said.

Under the current temporary contract, DCHS is allowing access only for autopsies under the jurisdiction of Dickinson County. Commissioner Kevin Pirlot said he’d like to promote the concept of a regional authority to provide a morgue and autopsy site.

The first priority, answered Chairman Henry Wender, is finding a solution for Dickinson County.