By Jim Anderson

Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County Board is against proposed state legislation that would eliminate local control over sand and gravel mining operations and move decision-making to Lansing.

Commissioner Joe Stevens said the Michigan Association of Counties has also come out against House Bills 4526, 4527 and 4528, which would place regulating authority in the hands of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

“This would be horrible for the locals if this goes through,” he said.

Commissioner Barbara Kramer described the package of bills as “state overreach.” The board voted unanimously Monday to adopt a resolution in opposition.

The bills are supported by the sand and gravel industry, which has run into problems in some communities where local officials have delayed or blocked approvals after receiving complaints from residents and activists.

The county’s resolution, however, states the current process allows local governments to balance the need for road materials along with those of their entire community, “protecting the interests and safety of their residents, students, business, and property owners.”

The Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Municipal League, along with MAC, see the bills as a “preemption of local control,” the resolution states.

According to the Detroit Free Press, supporters of the legislation include the Michigan Aggregates Association, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association, and unions representing Teamsters, Laborers and Operating Engineers. Similar bills to weaken local control have been introduced going back about eight years.

Representatives sponsoring the bills are Pat Outman, a Republican from Montcalm County, and Democrats Tyrone Carter of Wayne County and Angela Witwer of Eaton County.

The bills were introduced in May and referred to the House Committee on Regulatory Reform. In June, state Rep. Tyrone Carter, a Detroit Democrat who chairs the committee, said the legislation would need more work before being brought up for a vote.

In issuing a statement against the legislation, MAC said it could be “the first of many attempts by the Legislature to preempt local control.”

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Gave support to Michigan House Bills 4274-75 and Senate Bills 229-230, which would create a revenue sharing trust fund. The bills would require that 8% of the revenue generated by 4 percentage points of the state’s sales tax go into the fund. MAC and other local government groups support the plan, which is intended “to create stability and fairness in the revenue sharing system by removing the statutory portion of it from the annual appropriation process and by designating a steady revenue source,” the board said.

— In a 3-2 vote, appointed James Stachowicz of Vulcan to serve on the Dickinson County Fair Board for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2025. The other applicant was John Gunville, also of Vulcan, an incumbent who was late with his application in February and was not considered for reappointment at that time. Gunville had previously served on the fair board for 24 years. He was supported by Fair Board Chairman John Degenaer Jr. and County Board Chairman Henry Wender. Stevens, Kramer and Commissioner Ann Martin voted for Stachowicz, who is public works coordinator for the city of Niagara, Wis. The county board last month expanded the board from 12 members to 13. Formerly, the board was 11 members but an additional county board representative was added earlier this year.

— Reappointed Merlin Calkins to a three-year term on the Fumee Lake Commission.