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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Dickinson County failed to make the cut for Spark Grants administered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as 31 recreation projects totaling $22 million were selected in the final round.
The grants were designed to reach people in communities whose economic opportunities and public health were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The process was highly competitive, with 21 first round projects being announced in January from among 462 applicants for $14.2 million in funding.
More than 500 applications were noted when DNR listed the newest grant awards earlier this week. Program dollars stem from an infusion of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
"We haven't seen any scores," Dickinson County Controller Brian Bousley told the county board Monday, reporting the shutout.
It wasn't for lack of trying, as the county and partners sought aid for a $400,000 bathhouse project at Lake Antoine; a $1 million elevator at the Pine Mountain ski jump tower; and a pavilion and other improvements totaling $200,000 at Fumee Lake.
Commissioner Ann Martin said the results were seemingly a "slap in the face," but Dickinson wasn't alone in disappointment.
Iron Mountain had wanted $644,000 for City Park improvements, while Kingsford sought $1 million for trails and outlook platforms along the Menominee River, along with $400,000 a new boat launch, fishing pier and other improvements at Menominee River Park.
Applicants could seek up to $1 million for a single project and there was no match requirement.
The Lake Antoine bathhouse project will go forward regardless, as the county hopes to open the restroom and shower facility in time for the 2024 camping season. Minutes from a Sept. 19 special meeting show the board awarding bids of $37,982 and $38,686 to Halty's Plumbing of Iron Mountain for waste and water line installations as well as fixtures, materials and other labor.
Several projects in the Upper Peninsula did receive Spark Grants, including nearly $1 million for a KI Sawyer LTL Park Revival in Marquette County, and $887,000 for Draver Community Park in Marquette County's Powell Township.
The city of Marquette gained $459,000 for a regional recreational trailhead and the city of Manistique was awarded $800,000 for its Central Park. In Houghton County, Chassell Township's Centennial Park is getting nearly $500,000 for improvements.
Another $27.5 million will be available to support 39 underserved "opportunity communities" through the Council of Michigan Foundations, but the only U.P. municipality eligible is the city of Sault Ste. Marie. In the first round of Spark Grants funding, Sault Ste. Marie was the only U.P. recipient, getting $716,600 for Alford Park.
In other action Monday, the Dickinson board:
-- Authorized ballot language requested by the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department for a four-year renewal of a property tax levy of 0.42 mills, or 42 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. It would raise an estimated $448,776 in the first year of the levy in 2025.
-- Approved West Branch Township's request to use its $100,000 federal American Rescue Plan allocation from the county to expand its fire hall. Similarly, a request from Felch Township to use $100,000 toward a Six Mile Lake Road paving project was approved. The board in 2022 redirected $1 million of its $4.9 million in ARP funding to allow each of the 10 municipalities in the county to spend $100,000 on infrastructure.
-- Learned the Dickinson Medical Care Access Coalition is pleased with its new office in a county hangar in the southwest corner at Ford Airport in Kingsford.