IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson County Board is backing state legislation that would allow local governments to satisfy public notice requirements by putting notices on their websites, rather than in a newspaper.

The vote to prepare a letter of support was unanimous Monday, although the board’s Zoom discussion was light on details. The 106-bill package was rejected earlier this month by the Michigan House, but may come up for a vote again.

Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, the sponsor, says the package will increase transparency, a claim disputed by the Michigan Press Association and other critics.

Currently, public notice information covering such topics as public hearings and ordinance changes must be published in local newspapers, which are permitted to charge competitive rates.

During a recent House committee hearing, Johnson explained that a weekly paper has folded in his district and notices are now published in a newspaper that has low readership. By requiring local governments to post notices on their websites, as well as archive them, the public can be more efficiently informed, the legislation’s supporters say.

Under the bills, notices could alternatively be posted, if contractually provided, on a television or radio station website.

During the county board’s discussion, Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. asked how bypassing newspapers improves transparency.

Commissioner Barbara Kramer said newspapers won’t be eliminated — although requirements for paid notices would end. She also said Dickinson County currently “can’t do anything but the newspaper.”

That caused Degenaer to say he would change his mind and support the concept.

It’s unclear what Kramer meant by her statement, as government bodies have no restrictions under current law on the dissemination of public information.

Controller Brian Bousley also spoke in support of the bills, remarking, “We have to change with the times and get more people involved.” The county, however, now neglects to post notices of special meetings on its website, instead opting to use a bulletin board in the courthouse entrance.

Bousley also said the county would save money under the change because it “would not have to put everything in the newspaper.”

The Michigan Press Association has been working on alternative legislation for consideration in coordination with Rep. Jim Lower, R-Eureka Township, according to the Greenville Daily News.

In other action, the county board:

— Tabled a resolution of support for Michigan House Bill 6452, which would allow counties to contract with a private security company to transport individuals for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and screening. Sheriff Scott Rutter said he’d like further study of liability risks and other implications of the bill, sponsored by state Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain.

— Learned that Ford Airport surpassed 10,000 passenger boardings for the year in November, the number needed annually for up to $1 million in federal Airport Improvement Program funds. Slowed by the pandemic, the pace is well behind the record 22,980 enplanements of 2019 but still enough to qualify, Bousley said.

— Authorized seeking up to $27,976 in Community Development Block Grant funds authorized through the federal CARES Act to reimburse for unexpected costs in the county associated with COVID-19. No comments were received during a public hearing on the funding.

— Approved a request from District Court Judge Julie LaCost to pay a newly hired court recorder at a year-one wage rate of $20.854 per hour, rather than the posted starting rate of $19.998 per hour.

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