IRON MOUNTAIN — Funding requests for milfoil control at area lakes will be on the agenda as Dickinson County prepares its 2023 budget.

The county board Monday tabled a request from the Hamilton Lakes Lake Board to help fight invasive Eurasian watermilfoil, approving Commissioner John Degenaer Jr.’s motion to make it part of “the budget process.”

The county expects to have a draft 2023 budget prepared later this month, with final approval at its last meeting in December, Controller Brian Bousley said.

In June, the board voted 3-2 to deny a request from Lake Antoine Association for $2,000 to help control milfoil, after giving the group $3,000 in 2021.

There was discussion in June whether milfoil aid should go only to Lake Antoine, which has a county park, or whether Sawyer Lake, Carney Lake and the Hamilton Lakes chain should also be considered.

In a letter to commissioners, Hamilton Lakes Lake Board Chairman William Stewart of Vulcan said the cost for treating all three lakes in the chain now exceeds $20,000 per year. Property owners at the lakes have supported the treatment through a millage established under state law, he said.

The Hamilton Lakes chain is an asset that not only supports the county through taxes but also brings in tourist dollars, Stewart continued. “As county residents we would appreciate the same monetary support given other lakes in the county, primarily Lake Antoine.”

Before 2021, Dickinson County last contributed $1,500 to the Lake Antoine Association in 2019. Otherwise, it hadn’t participated in aiding herbicide treatments since 2014, when it gave $2,500.

Lake Antoine Association has suggested the county take over its milfoil program, which has received regular annual support from the city of Iron Mountain and Breitung Township.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Heard Commissioner Ann Martin say she’s “a valuable liaison” to the Dickinson County Library Board, despite an Oct. 24 request from Lynne Wilson of Breitung Township that someone else be named. Wilson had objected to Martin’s Sept. 26 vote against the library’s request to receive its voter-approved millage, but Martin said she believes there is “a level of dissatisfaction” among constituents over library decisions. None were mentioned Monday, but Martin has questioned shelving locations of some books as well as the library’s book purchasing choices.

— Appointed Ann Frey to a partial term on the Dickinson County Planning Commission expiring Feb. 28, 2024.

— Approved an annual dues payment of $523 to the National Association of Counties.