CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Board on Tuesday joined five other counties in urging state legislature correct a shortfall in a pension fund that has grown to nearly $1 million.

Iron, Gogebic, Houghton, Baraga, Ontonagon and Keweenaw counties demanded in a resolution that Michigan cover retirement debt left over from the Western Upper Peninsula Manpower Consortium.

The consortium — which was funded almost exclusively by the state — provided job training services until it was consolidated with other providers into the UPWARD Talent Council in 2015.

When the consortium disbanded, the shortfall in pension benefits for its retirees was $300,924, according to the resolution.

Today, the unfunded liability has ballooned to $970,165 and will continue to grow until funded, the resolution stated.

A similar liability affecting the Eastern Upper Peninsula Employment and Training Consortium already has been corrected through legislative action.

In other business, the board:

— Approved transfering $200,000 of a $350,000 budget stabilization deposit to the general fund in May for cash flow purposes. The money will be transferred back to budget stabilization in September when the county receives tax revenues from townships and cities.

— Amended the Drug Court and Construction Code budgets, increasing the fund balances by $15,000 and $40,000, respectively.

— Authorized a $2.30 per hour raise for administrative assistants Mary Dalpra and Lynette Lorenz and a 1 percent bonus for the balance of county employees.

— Eliminated the elected position of county drain commissioner. The Iron County Road Commission Board will take over those duties effective Jan. 1, 2021.

— Established the 2020 camping rates for Pentoga Park in Crystal Falls at $21 a day, $495 a month and $1,425 a season for Iron County residents; and $24 a day, $520 a month and $1,500 a season for non-residents. Vehicle park passes will cost $3 a day and $10 a season.

— Paid $3,500 to Coleman Engineering of Iron Mountain to update and maintain Iron County’s geographic information system.

— Granted a request by the Iron County Sheriff’s Office to hire a new deputy.