IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County approved $4,500 in milfoil control spending Monday, allocating $1,500 each to the Lake Antoine Association, the Sawyer Lake Association and the Carney Lake Association.

The county’s 2023 budget provided that level of funding for each of the four associations that represent lakefront property owners in the county. No request has yet been received from the Hamilton Lakes chain, said Brian Bousley, county controller.

In recent years, the county has contributed occasionally to Lake Antoine herbicide treatments but not for any of the others.

According to Jeff Jayne of the Lake Antoine Association, nearly $290,000 has been spent on Eurasian milfoil treatments at Lake Antoine over the past 19 years.

The association has funded about 42%, of the cost. Local governments have funded 46%, led by Breitung Township at $54,000, Iron Mountain at $49,000 and Dickinson County at $27,000. Wildlife Unlimited has contributed about $40,000.

Jayne spoke to the Iron Mountain City Council on May 15 about LAA’s request for a contribution of $4,087 — the same amount requested from the county and Breitung Township.

The city council opted for a contribution of $3,000, which was the amount budgeted. Breitung Township has yet to approve an allocation but has rejected the $4,087 request.

The association’s plan is to treat 5.81 acres of scattered areas of milfoil at an estimated cost of $12,260, which would be covered if all of the governmental units meet the full request. Through donations from lake residents, LAA plans to pay the $250 cost of a permit application to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, along with $2,340 for the annual fall milfoil survey.

Last year, the association proposed the county take over the Lake Antoine milfoil program, but the county agreed only to contribute. In 2021, commissioners provided $3,000 to LAA, noting most of the treatment area was near the county’s boat landing.

During the May 15 council meeting, Iron Mountain Mayor Dale Alessandrini said he’s disappointed the county contributes less than the city, given the county has a park and campgrounds at Lake Antoine. “They should at least pitch in the three grand that we pitch in,” he said.

Eurasian milfoil can grow and reproduce rapidly. Left unchecked, it often displaces native species. Dense mats of milfoil can also hamper recreational uses such as boating, fishing and swimming.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Declined to adopt amendments to the Dickinson County Fair Board bylaws, seeking revisions and clarifications that can be reviewed at the next regular meeting June 12. A proposed change supported by Commissioner John Degenaer Jr., who chairs the fair board, would have the fair board making recommendations to the county board on appointments and reappointments.

— Received an update from Jessica Ice, Michigan State University Extension 4-H program coordinator in Dickinson County. New 4-H clubs that are in place or planned include dairy farming, sewing, horse boarding, theater and gardening. Victoria Cooper, a 4-H club member, talked about some of her activities in animal science. This year’s county budget includes $75,000 for MSU-Extension, funding a full-time 4-H coordinator. The new agreement, up from a $25,000 allocation in 2022, expands offerings from regional educators in other areas, including agriculture, health and nutrition, natural resources, community and family.

— Heard from citizen Teresa Maycroft, who encouraged the county to have all paper ballots for upcoming elections. Maycroft took exception to a Daily News report on her appearance at May 8 meeting of the county board, published on May 10, saying it misrepresented her statements. That report had Maycroft saying citizens may act in the future to seize voting machines if there is no action by the county to adopt an election system that is entirely paper ballot. “Those were not my words,” she said. Maycroft cited a recent Rasmussen Reports survey as evidence voters lack confidence in the current system. Rasmussen reported 60% of U.S. voters believe cheating affected the outcomes of some races in last year’s midterm elections. Commissioners, during their discretionary time, did not address the request for paper ballots.