Lois Ellis

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance hopes to soon offer digital maps of local communities at a central online site, the county board was told this week.

Tony Edlebeck, vice chairman of the DAEDA board, said geographic information system mapping is an important tool for economic development. Having good data available on demand helps meet the expectations of potential investors, he said.

While many communities now provide GIS maps on their individual websites, the DAEDA envisions having enhanced parcel mapping available county-wide to benefit all economic and municipal sectors, including the general public, he said.

“We’re getting very close to completing this,” he said.

The board also heard an update from Lois Ellis, DAEDA director, who said the organization receives 88% of its funding from the private sector and 12% from the public sector. Its 19-member board meets monthly. Through May of this year, the partnership had assisted 223 businesses, she said.

A recently completed housing market assessment shows significant demand for rental housing in Dickinson County, Ellis continued. “We need to find developers that we can entice to come into the area,” she said.

The housing report, prepared by the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission, is available at www.daeda.org under Live and Work.

County Commissioner Joe Stevens praised the work of the alliance in promoting Dickinson County and the Upper Peninsula.

“They’re in the game,” he said. With the organization’s efforts, he said, the region is “not a bystander,” even when it comes to statewide issues.

In other business, the county board approved minutes from an Aug. 3 special meeting in the correctional center conference room, where a proposal to enter into an agreement with Delta and Menominee counties to form a regional medical examiner program was denied in a 3-2 vote.

Commissioners Kevin Pirlot and Stevens voted no, apparently because they preferred tabling the concept.

According to Clerk-Register of Deeds Dolly Cook, the program called for all autopsies to be conducted in Grand Rapids. Currently, only forensic autopsies go to Grand Rapids.

Dickinson County continues to be served by its own medical examiner, Dr. Martin Cristanelli, but his availability beyond this year is uncertain.

Some general autopsies are now being done in Houghton under Cristanelli’s direction, according to Controller Brian Bousley.

The county board in February approved a three-year agreement that continues to provide medical examiner access to the morgue and autopsy room at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital, although that was described as a “stop-gap” measure as officials worked toward a regional solution.

It’s unclear why the county board voted on the tri-county proposal during a special meeting.

Typically, the county has had 20 to 30 autopsies per year.

In other business Monday, the county board:

— Heard Sheriff Scott Rutter voice appreciation for recent donations to the county’s dive team as well as the victim services unit. Several divers recently participated in three days of Dive Rescue International training to become certified public safety divers. The Dickinson divers serve under the regional Delta County Sheriff Dive Rescue Team.

— Learned from Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. that a youth livestock auction will take place outdoors at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway. Information will also be made available on a virtual bidding option, he said. Although the county fair itself has been canceled, a horse pull is scheduled that same morning and stock car racing for Sunday, Sept. 6.

— Approved seeking a $27,976 Community Development Block Grant through the federal CARES Act to reimburse unexpected costs associated with COVID-19.

— Authorized the purchase of video recording equipment and upgrades to the current court recording equipment in the probate court from BIS Digital of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in the amount of $19,541.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.