Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Keweenaw County Board set a tentative date of June 1 at 6 p.m. for a public hearing regarding adopting theArticles of Incorporation of the Keweenaw Heartlands Recreational & Natural Resources Authority. Left to right are Commissioners Del Rajala, Mike LaMotte, Don Piche, Bob DeMarois and Randy Eckloff.

KEWEENAW COUNTY – The Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners has set a tentative date for a public hearing regarding the adoption of Articles of Incorporation for the Keweenaw Heartlands Recreational & Natural Resources Authority.

The plan for the hearing was brought up at the Board’s regular May meeting last Wednesday after someone in the audience raised concerns over a lack of public input regarding how people would be placed on the Recreational & Natural Resources Authority Board.

Board Chairman Don Piche said, in his opinion, anyone not knowing details is not due to lack of public information.

A 12-page draft of the Articles of Incorporation of the Keweenaw Heartlands Recreational & Natural Resources Authority was published on the Keweenaw County website on April 20, and also printed in the Daily Mining Gazette.

“You know, all the public input that’s been into this thing, all the thousands of hours of the committee members, and TNC had public meeting after public meeting and how many surveys done, they’ve been to all of the sportsmens clubs. They’ve been to all the events here talking about it. I don’t see why we have to kick this can down the road anymore just to prove it,” Piche said.

Board Vice Chair Del Rajala asked Keweenaw Heartlands Project Manager Julia Petersen, who was present, if there had been other meetings she attended to hear public comments and questions. He was referring to the several Keweenaw Heartlands Update public meeting held at the Allouez Township Hall.

Rajala said he had not attended those meetings, though he did receive reports on them, but he was present at the Board meetings during which the Articles were presented to the Board.

“It’s been quite a process over the past several years and we, Sam Raymond, of Grant Township, introduced the Articles last summer, and they were in front of this Board three times, January, March and April,” Petersen said. “At the same time, there are several others in this room who have worked on this as well, and I defer to the Board in terms of what’s right for the county and how to move forward, and we’ll provide support in whatever direction you go.”

County Commissioner Mike LaMotte referred to a public hearing on zoning at the Horizons School a number of years ago, and asked if the Board felt a similar public hearing would be appropriate to give the public a chance to hear details, ask questions and receive answers.

Rajala said he saw no harm in allowing for a public forum to discuss the articles, including the process for selecting Authority Board members,.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t have one,” he said. “If anything, we would be able to have a single item on the agenda. If we have a public hearing to satisfy those who want to hear, or want to speak their opinion, then we can do it to allow for everything else to happen.”

A tentative date for the hearing was set for 6 p.m. Monday 1, at the Courthouse, with a special meeting to follow immediately after.