The Ontonagon Village Council will meet via tele-conference tonight. The question remains whether issues addressing the council, village residents, and village businesses will be resolved.

The issue that has been in front of the council for over 2 years has been the village’s financial problems. One problem that village manager and council members have had to deal with is the village’s obligation to the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS).

The MERS obligation has been reported to be in the $1 million range. It stems from the village selling its hospital to Aspirus. However in the sale, the village remained responsible for past and current employees.

It was at the last meeting that Councilperson Sarah Hopper stated that she has talked to an Ontonagon County Commissioner. Hopper stated that the council would need an official letter pertaining to the village asking the county board for help in paying the MERS account.

The hospital has served residents throughout the county since its conception.

Without the newly appointed village clerk, William Dupont, taking the duties until January, Village Manager Joe Erickson will be requesting the council approve the letter to the county board.

“And just to reiterate, honoring the commitments to the employees that served the people of Ontonagon County, while working at Ontonagon Memorial Hospital (OMH), is important to the village council,” states Erickson. “The village continues to diligently work to ensure the commitments to the former OMH employees are met. The village is asking the county to help.”

On another unresolved issue, the village has its third lawsuit in front of them. One they settled out of court, another deals with the payment on dredging work at the village’s marina, and the one that will result in the council going into closed session tonight deals with a civil rights complaint.

The issue dealing with repairs needed on the village-owned East Pier was sent to an ad hoc committee at the last meeting. This issue is not on tonight’s agenda.

The list of unresolved issues gets longer with the bill submitted by Downtown Development Authority Chairman Richard Ernest. Ernest claims he has put in over $4,000 of work in helping local businesses with the CARES Act. Ernest’s invoice was based on a $25/hour wage. This job was not posted or offered to anyone else.

Ernest was appointed to be the village’s building inspector if he got his state license. He never got that license, and that job was never filled. The bill for his work on helping businesses with the CARES Act was submitted to the Finance Committee and also is not on tonight’s agenda.

Just as finding a job and funds for Ernest has been pushed by Village President Tony Smydra, Smydra has been commending and giving accolades to recently elected Councilperson Jessica Huntzinger. Huntzinger has missed the first two meetings that she was to attend.

The council has not addressed the issue dealing with the amount of meetings a council member can miss.

While the issue of an audit and money owed to the Michigan Department of Treasury is not on tonight’s agenda, the council has approved paying the Western UP Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) dues of $1,500. The council supported $50 Pat’s Foods Gift Cards for village employees, other than the Clerk/Treasurer and Utility/Payroll Clerk. The council also approved buying a Christmas ad in the Ontonagon Herald, which is owned by Council member, Maureen Guzek.

The Council is going to address a grant opportunity from the state on Drinking Water Asset Management. The Grant application will be prepared by the firm, OHM. The council will also vote on a resolution to opt out of the state mandated health insurance hard caps for new village employees.

The meeting will be via Tele-Conference beginning at 6 p.m.. Whether the issue of people listening in will be able to hear what the council members at the meeting state was not on the agenda.