IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson County Board has come out strongly against a plan that would divide the county into two separate Michigan House districts, adopting a resolution Monday to protest the proposed new election maps.

“It’s not right,” said Commissioner Barbara Kramer, noting the redistricting panel has no representation from the Upper Peninsula and has published its maps in an online format that limits access for many of the region’s citizens. The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, forced to deal with a pandemic-related delay in census data, is expected to adopt final maps by the end of the year.

“There’s still time for comments, but they will be making their decision very soon,” Kramer said.

Dickinson County is now part of the 108th House District, which is comprised of Dickinson, Delta and Menominee counties. At least one proposed map would move the 110th District, which now includes Iron County, to the downstate Novi area.

Under any scenario, it appears Dickinson County would be split, with a western slice going into a western U.P. legislative district and rest staying in a central U.P. district that would include Marquette County.

“Splitting Dickinson County into two legislative districts will increase the cost of holding elections to county taxpayers,” the board’s resolution states. Further, it says, the plan “violates the spirit and intent of Proposal 2,” the initiative approved by voters in 2018 that established the commission.

The resolution will be forwarded to the MICRC, area legislators, members of Congress and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The redistricting panel’s website is at https://www.michigan.gov/micrc/.

In other action, the county board:

— Will oppose legislation that tries to shift much of Michigan’s mental health services bureaucracy to commercial health insurers. The Michigan Association of Counties and other opponents fear the proposed change prioritizes profits for private companies while stripping the system of public accountability. Sheriff Scott Rutter spoke in support of the board’s resolution, saying while the current mental health treatment system has gaps, “privatization is not the answer to it.”

— Voted 4-1 to allow County Clerk-Register of Deeds Carol Bronzyk to fill a part-time vacancy in the office. Controller Brian Bousley said he would rather wait until the 2022 budget is known. Bronzyk, however, said an increase in fees for birth and death certificates is generating about $25,000 annually, which is more than enough to cover the cost. Chairman Henry Wender voted no.

— Approved having Commissioner Joe Stevens attend a meeting Thursday of the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority in St. Ignace to offer support for Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5 Great Lakes tunnel project.

— Moved the time of its Oct. 21 finance committee meeting to 5 p.m. to allow for attending an open house by Enbridge from 6 to 8 that same night at Pine Mountain Resort.

— Heard Bousley report that Ford Airport has had 9,200 passenger boardings year-to-date through September.