IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County has no immediate plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for its employees, electing instead to take a wait-and-see approach.

To meet an order from President Joe Biden, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to publish an emergency rule requiring employers with at least 100 workers to mandate vaccinations or weekly testing.

While it’s not clear if Dickinson County will come under the order, Controller Brian Bousley has raised the issue to the county board and to Peter Schlitt, the county’s emergency services coordinator.

Addressing the county board Monday, Schlitt said he personally favors vaccination but sees the mandate as “a gray area.” Critics have acknowledged the COVID-19 vaccine as a vital tool in stemming the pandemic but claim an OSHA mandate is a legal overreach.

After hearing from Schlitt, the county board had no further discussion.

As of Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nine new COVID-19 hospitalizations in Dickinson County over the previous seven days, while the county’s level of community transmission of the virus was rated high.

According to the CDC, 70.9% of county residents age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Adopted a budget calendar that calls for worksheets due by Oct. 15, a board review of the recommended budget on Dec. 7 and a public hearing and adoption of the 2022 General Appropriations Act on Dec. 28.

— Rescheduled the Dec. 27 board meeting to 6 p.m. Dec. 28 to avoid a conflict with the Christmas weekend holiday.

— Amended its contract with Summit Food Service LLC for meals at the jail, allowing for a general price increase of 3.7%.

— Agreed to update animal control’s skunk trapping policy, which currently has no charge to residents for the first trapping. It was suggested the new fee be $25 per skunk, but the sheriff’s office will do further review.

— Made two four-year appointments to the Dickinson County Board of Canvassers — Angela Hall representing the Republican Party and Doug Stock representing the Democratic Party.

— Heard Commissioner Barbara Kramer encourage support for the Lake Antoine Park Partners’ Fall Fest on Saturday. The event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Antoine will include children’s activities, pumpkins, bounce houses, food and more.

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