Graham Jaehnig Daily Mining Gazette Houghton Township, the seat of Keweenaw County’s government, is seeking to consolidate with another township.

KEWEENAW COUNTY – The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners will review a letter from Houghton Township officials requesting consolidation with one of two neighboring townships. The letter was signed by Township Supervisor Robby Fischer, Township Clerk Leslie Fischer, and two trustees, Tom Hall and Jim Huovinen.

The Township Board is struggling to meet the challenges of managing the township in fulfillment of Michigan law and good governance guidelines, the letter says.

“It has a small population with only 74 residents,” the letter states. “Many of those are seasonal residents.”

In addition, the township cannot find enough people willing to take Board positions and run the township effectively.

The Township Board authorized a committee to explore consolidation options, the letter says.

“Two townships were amenable to the idea, it reads, “and have indicated they possibly have the infrastructure to absorb the operational duties of Houghton Township.”

The letter requests the County Board to authorize the county attorney to review the statutory requirements, potential pathways and legal considerations associated with such a consolidation. 
Or goal at this stage is simply to obtain a clear understanding of what the process would entail and what options may be available to both townships should we choose to move forward.”

Houghton Township officials say in the letter they believe the expedient path to merge townships lies in MCL (Michigan Compiled Laws) 41.64:

“By a vote of 3/5 of all the members elected, a county board of commissioners may vacate, divide, or alter a township within the county, whether the boundaries of the township were fixed by a special act of the legislature or by action of the county board of commissioners, or may establish a new township or organize or consolidate townships, upon application to the board, as provided in this act, of at least 20% of freeholders who are actually residents of each of the townships to be affected by the alteration.”

County Board Chairman Don Piche said he currently does not know many details regarding the consolidation request.

“Actually, I know really nothing,” he said. “I know that it’s been talked about for a while now.”

The letter does not disclose which township or townships are open to consolidation, but Piche said he is not sure at this time.

“It would make sense to go with Eagle Harbor or Allouez,” Piche said, “one of those two, but I’m not sure.”[caption