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Trail expansion and protection discussed in Ontonagon

Kali Katerberg/Daily Mining Gazette Richard Bourdeau (left) and John Cane at the Ontonagon County Board meeting Tuesday.

ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon County Board approved a number of small items at their Tuesday meeting.

The board approved a $10,000 grant, an increase from $5,000 last year, for off-road vehicle patrol.

“It will give us more patrol time,” explained Sheriff Dale Rantala.

He thinks the increase may come from an uptick in all-terrain vehicles in the county and increasing sticker sales.

Rantala also announced the hire of a previously requested corrections officer and continued progress on getting an additional deputy.

The board approved a language change to the drug and alcohol policy. MDOT requested the word opiates be replaced with opioids, expanding the definition to include semi-synthetic drugs, in employee drug testing. Drugs like Morphine and heroin will now be tested for.

The board also unanimously approved the proposed, and previously budgeted, courthouse security remodel project. The sheriff was authorized to take action on bids.

After two months of advertising for bids for the removal the of pit toilets at the county park, the project will be handled in-house. The project includes removal, filling, capping and landscaping the area, explained Chairman Carl Nykanen.

The commissioners also issued a letter of support for proposed horseback trails in the area. The equestrian trails would not require local funding and the board expressed hope for additional tourism as a result of the trials in their letter of support.

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