IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County commissioners are reviewing information from Northpointe CEO Jennifer Cescolini on questions presented during a Dec. 11 meeting, mainly about the mental health agency’s finances and services.

Of particular concern to Commissioner Barbara Kramer was the payment of what she described as money “distributed to employees as a bonus.”

Cescolini, in a document provided to the county board Monday, detailed the distribution of $903,688 in “retention and longevity” payments.

The payments were partly based on a scale related to years of service, with a base of $1,500 after a year of service and up to $3,300 for more than 30 years. Payments were also prorated for less than a year of service. Payments of $2,000 for full-time employees, $1,000 for part-time and $500 for special part-time are also listed.

“There was a large Medicaid directive that started back in 2020 that the state approved and encouraged any means possible — of course within regional budgets — to get staff in the door at community mental health or to stay within,” Cescolini told the county board in her report.

The document from Northpointe totals 312 pages, much of it financial audits dating back to 2019-20. Northpointe is governed by a 12-member board, with five representatives each from Dickinson and Menominee counties and two from Iron County, each appointed by the respective county boards. Roughly 95% of the agency’s funding is federal, but the counties also provide allocations, including $99,630 annually from Dickinson County.

In response to one of Kramer’s questions, Cescolini said reduced funding for the Forever Friendship Drop-In Center in Kingsford was due to high costs and low utilization. According to the document, Northpointe services have not been cut nor are they in jeopardy of being cut due to funding.

In another matter, Cescolini said calls for access to mental health services in Northpointe’s coverage area are now going to the agency itself, rather than to the Marquette-based regional NorthCare Network. This has aided in “getting people in sooner,” she said.

Commissioner Ann Martin, who serves on the Northpointe Board of Directors, termed the change “a great development” for mental health services.

According to the Northpointe website, other Dickinson representatives on the Northpointe Board are Kevin Pirlot, Mari Negro, Wendy Mattia and Robert Roberge. Iron County representatives are Nancy Pasternak and Kathy Thompson. Four Menominee County representatives are listed currently — Patricia Phillips, Millie Hofer, Patricia Mueller and Mary Stein.

Northpointe is conducting a community needs survey that can be accessed at https://www.nbhs.org/.

In other action, the county board:

— Received an update from Jessica Ice, Michigan State University-Extension 4-H program coordinator in Dickinson County. Sturgeon River Stables in Vulcan is helping launch a 4-H club that will teach youth about horses and the equine business as well, she said. Dickinson County 4-H Council meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Dickinson County Library. The council is planning the annual 4-H recognition banquet this weekend in Norway. More 4-H information is available at https://www.canr.msu.edu/dickinson/dickinson_county_4_h/. This year’s county budget again provides $75,000 for MSU-Extension, up from $25,000 as recently as 2022. In addition to funding a full-time 4-H coordinator with an office at Bay College’s Iron Mountain campus, the allocation expands offerings from regional educators in other areas such as agriculture, health and nutrition, natural resources, community and family.

— Approved a request from Lake Antoine Park Partners to host a fall fest and scavenger hunt at the park Oct. 10-12.