The Iron County Board has received two proposals to manage the former Cooks Run fish hatchery in Stambaugh Township. The 122-acre site includes fish rearing ponds, a small coffer dam, several outbuildings and a log caretaker cabin that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It has gone more than two decades without regular use. (Contributed photo, file)

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Board received two responses to its request to operate the former Cooks Run fish hatchery for public use and will send both to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for its input.

Board members commented there were things they liked about both proposals, which were from the Forest Park School District and the Friends of Cooks Run. The DNR would have the final say.

The board issued a request in March for proposals for public use of Cooks Run. A restrictive reverter clause in the deed requires that the land be used and maintained solely for public purposes or else ownership reverts to the state.

The 122-acre site includes fish rearing ponds, a small coffer dam, several outbuildings and a log caretaker cabin that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Iron County took ownership of the property in 1961.

A fish hatchery operated on the site, but closed in 2013. A study conducted by the Iron County Watershed Coalition in 2025 found that Cooks Run remains a high-quality and productive cold-water stream, with no long-term effects from the decades of use as a fish hatchery.

In other business, the board:

— Accepted a bid from GEI Consultants of Michigan, P.C. to update the Parks and Recreation Management Plan at no cost to the county. In 2021 GEI assisted the county in updating the current plan, which expires in 2026, and they have worked with many of the cities and townships in the county. The offer was contingent on the county hiring GEI to complete the first DNR Trust Fund or Recreation Passport grant application from the updated plan. A second proposal was received from WICKWIRE P.C. of Iron River, also at no cost to the county. It was contingent upon WICKWIRE being exclusively utilized for all funding applications and recreation projects during the next five-year recreation plan time period.

— Accepted the low bid from Nocerini Construction of Crystal Falls for $260,233.68 to construct a cold storage building. There were a total of seven bids, with the highest at $789,469.

— Accepted a bid from Markell Company to install Presidential/Belmont style shingles on the clock tower of the courthouse, at a cost of $99,289 to $108,980. Markell also submitted at bid for a special copper shingle for $189,000 to $229,000. The bid includes painting the clock tower and four weeks of 180-foot lift rental to ensure they have the proper time to finish the work if there is inclement weather.

— Will request proposals for the acquisition, renovation and/or redevelopment of the Roy Fulfer building, which is the former Aspirus ambulance garage. Bids are due by 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Proposals will be opened at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, in the commissioner’s boardroom.

— Extended Moetivations’ contract for dispatch services from mid-June through the beginning of September. Moetivations provides dispatcher on demand services, which can help with staff shortages in the summer. The estimated cost is $34,000.

— Approved a budget amendment to increase the parks and recreation budget by $20,000 for repair and maintenance work. Several areas need work and the funding will not cover everything, according to Robby Olson, parks and recreation supervisor. Fascia and soffit work will be done on the house at Pentoga Park by Ponchard Contracting & Excavating of Crystal Falls at a cost of $5,980. Several other projects can be completed by county employees.

— Approved a resolution supporting Upper Peninsula Commission For Area Progress support for Michigan House Bill 5249 and its efforts to enhance the delivery of emergency medical services in rural communities.

— Showed support in NorthCare Network’s opposition to a proposal by state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Wauchedah Township, to transition Upper Peninsula community health to a single special regional mental health authority. Northpointe Behavior Health, which covers both Iron and Dickinson counties, is a member of the NorthCare Network, along with four other community mental health groups. The proposal would consolidate all five U.P. CMH organizations into a single regional entity within three years. A single governing board would make decisions for all 15 counties.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.