IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County has joined opponents of proposed state legislation that local officials say would abolish fees for copies and images of data from Michigan property records.

Over the past year, real estate giant Zillow has backed House Bills 4729-4732, which are reforms the company says are needed to keep local governments from placing unnecessary financial burdens on real estate professionals and property owners.

Current state law allows counties to charge the public up to $1 per page for requested records, though some have moved to create additional fees.

The Michigan Association of Register of Deeds says these user fees are what pay for Michigan’s system of recording property ownership, sales, mortgages and more. If the proposed legislation becomes law, the group argues, taxpayers will be required to foot the bill to maintain electronic records, while technology giants find ways to profit from them.

“Zillow wants data for free,” Dickinson County Clerk-Register of Deeds Carol Bronzyk said during a county board meeting Monday. “We sell it a lot cheaper than they probably would.”

The county board, without debate, adopted a resolution to oppose the legislation.

In other action, the board:

— Learned that Breitung Township is donating its 1993 rescue truck, now out of service, to the Dickinson County Fair for possible use as a mobile office.

— Reappointed Ray Anderson, Anthony Edlebeck and Joe Stevens to three-year terms on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

— Approved a request from the Run Iron Mountain Road and Trail Half Marathon to host a race Sept. 24 using Fumee Lake trails.

— Heard Commissioner Barbara Kramer thank volunteers who participated in recent Lake Antoine Park cleanups.

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