IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County officials will continue to review a proposed three-year extension of an agreement that provides access to the morgue and autopsy room at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital.

A temporary contract signed in November remains in effect as details are studied further, said Brian Bousley, county controller.

A dispute arose in October when Dickinson County Healthcare System decided to no longer accommodate on-site autopsies, leaving law enforcement without a clear protocol for death investigations. A two-month agreement later calmed the situation and officials promised to seek a long-term solution.

The three-year extension, which carries expenses similar to the first contract, was tabled by the county board Monday without discussion. The county wants a more thorough legal review, Commissioner Joe Stevens explained.

An issue yet to be resolved is whether other counties that have used the hospital for autopsies will again have access. The temporary contract allows only cases under the jurisdiction of Dickinson County law enforcement.

The new agreement provides for an addendum, without specifics. It notes the parties “are negotiating expansion of law enforcement agencies who may request the medical examiner’s use of DCHS’s facilities.”

The autopsy problem arose when the hospital began outsourcing pathology services to Medical Lab Associates of Marquette, ending its contract with in-house pathologist Dr. Martin Cristanelli, who remains county medical examiner.

According to DCHS, most Upper Peninsula health care organizations have discontinued autopsy services because they’re not part of the core health care services required in their communities. Traditionally, by county appointment, the DCHS pathologist has served a dual role as county medical examiner, although the hospital was under no contractual obligation to house the medical examiner.

If Cristanelli should now leave the area, the county largely will be on its own in seeking a qualified replacement.

The county is budgeting $48,250 for the medical examiner in 2020, which includes the hospital’s anticipated charges. The proposed facility fee is $300 per autopsy, plus additional charges for diagnostic and technical assistance. Last year’s medical examiner allocation was $36,000.

The county typically has about 20 to 30 autopsies a year. There may be a similar number from outside the county.

In other action, the county board:

— Approved an increase in county mileage reimbursement to 50 cents per mile, up from the current 39 cents, effective Feb. 1. Chairman Henry Wender said the current rate is just a few cents higher than in the 1980s, while the new rate will be “below the average.” The IRS’s standard mileage rate for business use in 2020 is 57.5 cents per mile.

— In a 4-1 vote, appointed Chuck Lantz to a partial term on the Veterans Affairs Board to expire Dec. 31, 2022. Lantz replaces Michael Miller, who resigned. David Stohl also applied and received support from Commissioner Kevin Pirlot.

— Heard Bill Rice, chairman of the Dickinson Conservation District Board, discuss a proposed levy of 0.1 mills, or 10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, that will be decided by county voters March 10. Among other resource protections, the five-year levy is needed to maintain surveillance and treatment for invasive species, he said. The millage would raise an estimated $89,900 when first levied in 2021,

— Approved a monthly stipend of $250 for Christy Paul, administrative assistant in the controller’s office, for county airport duties that include administration of the Passenger Facilities Charge Fund. The stipend will be paid from the fund. A passenger facility charge was re-instituted in June 2019 at Ford Airport and is projected to generate $96,000 in revenues in 2020.

— Heard Stevens compliment airport crews for “a fantastic job” in dealing with winter weather.

— Stated it has no intention to absorb the county road commission under the umbrella of general county government. Under a 2012 law that had a sunset of Jan. 1, 2020, county boards had the ability to dissolve appointed road commissions. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed new legislation that removes the sunset provision. Commissioners said they are happy with the road commission, seeing no reason for a change at this time.

— Received an update from Bousley on plans to replace the boat launch at Lake Antoine Park, assisted by a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Waterways Program grant of up to $43,865. Construction is planned for spring or summer, with the county able to pay a portion of its matching share through in-kind work. Some parking lot improvements may be included, contingent on the overall project bids, Bousley said.

— Reappointed Sheriff Scott Rutter to the UP 911 Authority Board.