IRON MOUNTAIN — Contract talks with Dickinson County’s unionized employees have apparently stalled, but Controller Brian Bousley said Monday he believes there will be no disruption as work continues under the old contracts.

Four-year collective bargaining agreements expired at the end of 2025 and the county is seeking new three-year pacts.

During Monday’s county board meeting, Bousley raised the possibility of no new developments until summer.

“We’ll keep working on it,” he said.

Health insurance rates as a whole — for active employees and retirees — increased roughly 21% collectively for 2026, according to Bousley. A budget resolution approved by board last month states that employees will continue to pay premium contributions toward their health care coverage at a rate of 20%.

The county’s 2026 general fund budget totals $13.75 million, up 3.5% from this year. Wages and benefits for current and retired county employees represent about 70% of the spending plan.

Several years ago, wage adjustments were implemented for county workers after comparative studies were conducted through MGT Consulting Group of Bay City. In 2022, it was reported that a result of MGT’s wage studies, many of the county’s 72 unionized employees had seen an increase in pay scale.

Apart from the MGT studies, the four bargaining units representing county workers at the end of 2021 agreed to contracts through Dec. 31, 2025, that provided 2% wage increases each year.

In other action, the county board:

— Set camping fees at Lake Antoine Park at $39 per night for both residents and nonresidents. As posted on the county’s website, fees formerly started at $35 per night. Long-term leases are available at $1,053 for one month, a 10% discount; $1,989 for two months, a 15% discount; and $2,808 for three months, a 20% discount. The county hopes to no longer subsidize the parks system through its general fund, which provided $26,000 in 2025, Commissioner Joe Stevens said.

— Tabled a proposed amendment to the board’s rules for pubic participation at county board meetings, which was last revised in 1997. The rules provide for two citizens’ times at regular meetings, allowing individual comments up to five minutes. A proposed change would limit the first citizens’ time to agenda items only.

There is no dress code, but the rules call for “reasonable decorum” and allow the chair to “interrupt, warn or terminate a participant’s statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant.” New protocols for “decorum and safety” at board meetings were drafted in October that included a section for proper attire, but no action was taken after a number of citizens objected.

— Heard Stevens voice frustration that county Mine Inspector Michael Ghere’s annual report notes a number of safety issues go unresolved year after year. Sites in need of fencing repairs include Pewabic Mine and Chapin Pits in Iron Mountain and Norway Mine and Curry Mine in Norway, among others, Ghere reported. Stevens suggested a community-wide effort is needed to find solutions as there appears to be no state support.

— Learned from Commissioner Kevin Sullivan that the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency has been able to reduce its waiting list for Meals on Wheels services. Sullivan also cited figures from DICSA’s annual report, including 96,858 senior meals served, 11,844 rides provided, 60 homes weatherized, 13,058 food boxes provided, $55,480 in water bills paid, 2,215 diaper cases provided, 11,463 hours of care, 1,123 independent seniors served and 50,460 hours of volunteer service.

— Adopted a resolution to enable the county to hire attorney Steven Tinti of Norway and others as civil counsel, while Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson may also provide counsel.

— Will advertise to gauge the interest of food truck vendors in contracting at Lake Antoine Park.

— Heard Stevens and Sullivan praise the work of Lake Antoine Park Partners in bringing activities and improvements to the park, with Sullivan saying the volunteer group does “an incredible job.”

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