IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County has approved a purchase price of $27,500 for an incident command vehicle secured for the sheriff’s department.

The vehicle is a 2002 International 4300 ambulance acquired from Rockingham Carriage Service Inc.

After the county board authorized the purchase Monday, Sheriff Scott Rutter explained the vehicle will be available to agencies county-wide as needed for critical responses, including standoffs, weather/environmental disasters, or search and rescue operations.

The county hasn’t replaced its command vehicle for nearly four decades.

In other action, the board:

— Approved payment of $1,000 hazardous duty premiums to 49 county-employed first responders, with the $49,000 expense to be covered through a First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums Program grant under the federal CARES Act. Eligible recipients include 18 law enforcement officers, 11 dispatch personnel, 15 corrections officers, and five airport public safety officers.

— Heard Controller Brian Bousley report that Midwest Asphalt & Gravel of Iron Mountain has completed replacement of the county’s Lake Antoine boat launch. The $90,254 project was aided by a $43,865 Michigan Waterways Grant. Also, work continues to complete an electrical and water upgrade throughout the campgrounds. Chairman Henry Wender remarked the park is becoming “the jewel of the county,” but said there’s a need to “put the brakes on spending.” He estimated $200,000 has been invested over the past year.

— Authorized District Court Judge Julie LaCost to fill a full-time position of court reporter, due to a recent resignation.

— Received the 2020 apportionment report from Matt Baumgartner, equalization director. The county’s taxable value is up 1.9% from a year ago, he said.

— Approved the appointment of Patti Roell as the designated assessor for the county. Under assessment reforms enacted by the state in 2018, the position is required to be filled by the end of this year. The designated assessor is not an employee or paid contractor of the county but is involved in making sure local units are meeting minimum assessing requirements.

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