IRON MOUNTAIN — Some senior citizen centers in Dickinson County will receive increased allocations in 2026 while others will see reductions after the Felch and Sagola centers broke away this year from the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency.

Revenues for the allocations come from a county-wide voter-approved levy of 0.4 mills, or 40 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.

In 2026, a total of $540,000 in senior millage funds is scheduled for distribution. The biggest share continues to go to DICSA, which provides home-delivered meals and other programs for seniors, including home services, transportation and support for the Family Ties adult day care center.

At a meeting Monday, the Dickinson County Board unanimously approved these allocations:

— Dickinson County Senior Council, Iron Mountain: $50,000.

— Breen Center, Kingsford: $40,000.

— Norway-Vulcan, $50,000.

— Sagola, $50,000.

— Felch, $50,000.

— DICSA, $300,000.

Chairman Dan Harrington said it’s “a whole new ball game” when DICSA is no longer directly involved with the majority of centers.

Commissioner Joe Stevens described the new schedule as “a good starting point to work off of in the future.”

In 2025, DICSA was due to receive $300,000 of the $496,000 distributed. However, after the Felch and Sagola centers severed ties, the allocation to DICSA was reduced by $25,000.

The Felch total, meanwhile, rose by $20,000 to reach $32,000, while Sagola’s share rose by $25,000 to $53,000. The additional funds partly came from $35,000 the county had held in reserve.

Both the Norway-Vulcan and Iron Mountain centers received $60,000 under the 2025 schedule, while $36,000 went to the Breen Center.

Controller Brian Bousley said the Breen Center — now the only DICSA-operated meal site in Dickinson County — is getting the 2026 amount requested. All others receive less, he said.

The Norway-Vulcan center separated from the DICSA senior meals program in 2016 and also gets support from a levy of 0.5 mills, or 50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, from the city of Norway and Norway and Waucedah townships.

The Tri-Township Senior Center in Felch that also serves Breen and West Branch, ended its association with DICSA in May. Sagola followed suit in June. The moves were largely spurred by a desire to avoid federally mandated menu guidelines.

Kristin Sommerfeld, executive director of DICSA, thanked the county board Monday for its continued support of the agency’s services.

Commissioner Victoria Jakel said she would hope the Iron Mountain allocation will lead to a resumption of meal services at the Crystal Lake center.

Bousley noted the county board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, on the 2026 county budget.

In other action, the board:

— Reappointed Liane Arnold and James Stachowicz, both of Vulcan, and Rob Barkle of Iron Mountain, to three-year terms on the Dickinson County Fair Board. There were five applicants, all current members, but only three appointments were made as the board had decided last month in a 4-1 vote to trim the fair board’s size from 13 to 11.

Stevens, who was against the reduction, said Monday’s vote was “very difficult.” He cast the only vote for Ashley Edwards of Quinnesec, while Commissioner Peter Swanson cast the lone vote for Tom Bedard of Vulcan. Arnold and Barkle received unanimous support. Stachowicz received three votes — from Harrington, Jakel and Commissioner Kevin Sullivan. Harrington and Jakel are the county board’s representatives on the fair board.

— Approved tapping up to $500,000 from the Retiree Health Care Fund to help meet this year’s retiree insurance costs — budgeted at $580,000. The fund was created in 1998 to help pay previously negotiated health care benefits for county retirees. Employees hired after Jan. 1, 1996, are not eligible for such benefits. The fund’s current balance is about $4.5 million, Bousley said.

— Gave permission to MJE Cares Foundation to host a fishing tournament at Lake Antoine on Saturday, Feb. 28, with setup at the park on Feb. 27. M.J. Electric of Iron Mountain is the sponsor of the non-profit foundation.

— Approved a request to post and hire a district court probation officer to fill a vacancy due to retirement.

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