IRON MOUNTAIN — A new medical examiner’s office at Ford Airport should be open by early August as Dickinson County plans to establish a regional facility for autopsy services.

As part of its plan, the county board Monday reappointed Dr. Martin Cristanelli as its medical examiner for a term until March 21, 2025.

The county has been working toward a long-term autopsy solution since late 2019 when Dickinson County Healthcare System outsourced its pathology services and ended its contract with Cristanelli, who for about 10 years had a dual role as in-house hospital pathologist and county-appointed medical examiner. Cristanelli has continued as medical examiner while working in Marshfield, Wis.

Although the county in February 2020 reached a three-year agreement that continued to provide medical examiner access at the hospital, it has often had autopsies done elsewhere for a fee. DCHS, meanwhile, became part of Marshfield Clinic Health System in February 2022.

Michigan requires each county to have a medical examiner who must be a physician, though not necessarily a pathologist. The medical examiner may perform, or direct to be performed, an autopsy.

Historically, Dickinson County has had 20 or fewer autopsies a year, but a big part of the medical examiner’s role is determining whether one is needed. At least two agreements with other counties for autopsy services are under consideration, and more are likely once the office is established, County Controller Brian Bousley said.

The county’s 2023 budget provides about $90,000 for the medical examiner’s salary and benefits, plus $27,500 for support staff and contracted services. The agreed compensation will depend on the number of counties served, Bousley said.

The county’s construction staff helped build the new facility, which is also funded by federal American Rescue Plan funds. Along with the county’s labor, the cost will be roughly $120,000, including the coolers and other equipment, Bousley said.

The building is at the airport’s south perimeter.

In other action, the county board:

— Reappointed Allison Lucier, Ann Hruska and Jody Christy to the Lake Antoine Park Partners for terms expiring July 1, 2026.

— For a second time, declined to adopt amendments to the Dickinson County Fair Board bylaws. Commissioner John Degenaer Jr., who chairs the fair board, supports a measure that would let the fair board make recommendations to the county board on appointments. Commissioner Joe Stevens said he believes this discourages new applicants. Degenaer, who was unable to gain support, said it’s “very disturbing” the county chooses to give the fair board no input on having productive members stay on the board.

— Heard Commissioner Ann Martin object to an “Intro to Tarot Reading” program offered to tweens, teens and adults at Dickinson County Library, saying she’s “disappointed the library doesn’t show more leadership” in providing content for children. The program was promoted as “tarot reading for fun and entertainment purposes.” Martin, a liaison to the library board, said there are concerns the cards may be a portal into the occult, a view shared by citizen Pamela Trask. “This is not something our county library should be supporting,” Trask said.