IRON MOUNTAIN — Breitung Township will pay $54.07 per hour in salary and benefits for law enforcement services in 2026 under a contract with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office.

The township last month approved a contract renewal that provides 80 hours of deputy patrols and services weekly. The county board signed on this week.

The total for two deputies in 2026 is $224,925, plus a $17,000 allowance toward squad cars, equipment and uniforms.

The contract may be renewed through 2029 with annual 2.5% increases. Adjustments can also be made to reflect actual expenditures and changing benefit costs. During the county board’s discussion Monday, Commissioner Joe Stevens noted the 2026 health insurance cost is $31,178 per deputy.

Sheriff Aaron Rochon said more than half of the department’s calls originate in Breitung Township, so having two deputies dedicated to that area is a big plus.

The township board, in seeking the renewal, gave high marks to the service. The township has a population of nearly 6,000 and no police force of its own.

In other action, the county board:

— Heard Pete Wilsens, a Lake Antoine Road resident, seek help on what might be done to reduce the speed limit in the area of Lake Antoine Park. The board encouraged him to contact the Dickinson County Road Commission and keep up discussions with Rochon. The sheriff cautioned that traffic studies, if ordered, can actually result in higher speed limits.

— Authorized participation in an opioid lawsuit settlement agreement with pharmaceutical company Sandoz Inc., which has offered an overall national settlement participation agreement totaling $99.5 million.

— Authorized, as budgeted, allocations of $1,500 each to lake authorities within the county that conduct Eurasian watermilfoil control treatments in 2025.

— Approved a request from Equalization Director Matt Baumgartner to start Taylor Schiavo at Step 2 of the assistant director pay scale, due to her experience in the department and assessor Level 2 status. The pay scale will be $25.25 per hour, compared with a $23.27 per hour starting wage.

— Authorized Rochon to post and fill the current vacancy of department administrative assistant.

— Approved a short-term loan of $29,000 to the Dickinson County Fair Board for start-up costs.

The full amount will be repaid upon commencement of the fair, set for Aug. 28 to Sept. 1.

— Accepted the resignation of Michael Gregg of Vulcan from the fair board. Gregg, in a letter, said he had served 18 years, had worked with “many great past board members” and was resigning with regret.

— Approved Hannah Metras as 95-B District Court deputy magistrate.

— Reappointed Tony Edlebeck of Kingsford, Ray Anderson of Norway and Stevens to three-year terms on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.