HOUGHTON — Contested board races, the creation of a planning commission in Stanton Township, millage to pay down more than $8 million in pension liabilities in Ontonagon and more are some of the county and township-level items on Aug. 2 primary ballots in the Copper Country. 

Baraga County

Baraga County will have two primary challenges on the board. In District 2, Brad Dakota will face off against Michael Koskinen in the Republican primary. District 3 will also have a Republican primary challenge, as Craig Kent, Linda Rajala and Kent Thomas face off. Gale Eilola is running unopposed in the District 1 Republican primary. William Menge is running unopposed in the District 4 Republican primary. In District 5, Judy Bozicevich and Allan Dantes, Jr. are running unopposed in the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively.

Baraga Township voters will vote on two millage proposals within the township. A two-year, 1.5-mill proposal would raise funds for ambulance operation and equipment. Another 1.5-mill proposal, this one for four years, would fund fire operating and equipment 

Both millages would raise an estimated $175,470 in their first year.

Spurr Township voters will also vote in three uncontested races for partial terms ending Nov. 20, 2024. The Democratic primary will have Tammy Maurier in the treasurer race, while the Republican ballot will have Jason Killoran for supervisor and Jessica Omernick for clerk.

Houghton County

Sheriff Joshua Saaranen is running unopposed in the Republican primary for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2024. Four candidates are running in a contested Republican primary for District 2, which was held by the late Board Chair Al Koskela.

Lou Ambuehl, Joel Keranen, Richard Nye and Glenn Schuldt are running for the position. Dan Watrous is also running as a Democratic write-in candidate.

In District 1, Chair Tom Tikkanen is running unopposed in the Republican primary. In District 3, Democratic Commissioner Glenn Anderson and Republican challenger Dan Holcomb are running unopposed in their respective primaries. In District 4, Commissioner Gretchen Janssen is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

In District 5, Commissioner Roy Britz is running unopposed in the Republican primary. (Challenger Daniel Niemela is not on the August ballot, but is running as a non-partisan candidate in November.)

Stanton Township voters will decide on creating a township planning commission, which township officials had discussed as a prerequisite for creating a zoning ordinance that would impose stronger restrictions on potential wind farm projects. The ballot measure says the ordinance would establish the commission “for the purpose of having planning and zoning in Stanton Township, to create, organize, enumerate powers and duties, and to provide for the regulation and subdivision of land.” They will also vote in the Republican primary for supervisor between Marty Rajala and Michael Pionke, who are running for a partial term ending Nov. 20, 2024. 

Calumet Township will have an eight year, 1.5-mill proposal for road repair and road maintenance, raising an estimated $111,409 in its first year. Also in the township, Lana Hyrkas is running unopposed in the Republican primary for a partial treasurer term ending Nov. 20, 2024.

Osceola Township will vote on a renewal of its road, sidewalk and drainage millage for 3 mills over five years. It would raise an estimated $134,623.75 if approved.

Schoolcraft Township will vote on a road millage renewal of 1.5 mills over 10 years. An additional 10-year, 1.5 mill road millage will also be on the ballot. Both would raise an estimated $43,200 in their first year.

Keweenaw County

Gary Bracco and Kenneth Rowe are running in the Republican primary for county road commissioner.

Donald Piche, Del Rajala, Randy Eckloff, Bob DeMarois and James Vivian are running in uncontested county board races.

County voters will also be asked to vote for separate tax limitation millage rates for four years, not to exceed 15 mills. The allocation is as follows: 6.25 mills for Keweenaw County, 1.3 mills each for Allouez, Eagle Harbor and Houghton townships; 2.35 mills for Grant Township; 1.35 mills for Sherman Township; and 0.4 mills for the Copper Country Intermediate School District. 

In Allouez Township, Rebecca Butala is running uncontested in the Republican primary for a partial clerk term expiring Nov. 20, 2024.

In Houghton Township, Thomas Hall is running for a Republican primary for a partial trustee term expiring Nov. 20, 2024.

Eagle Harbor Township will vote on a four-year, 1-mill renewal of the millage for emergency services, including but not limited to fire protection and medical first responders. The millage had been reduced to .9959 mills by Headlee rollbacks. If renewed at its original level, the millage would raise an estimated $49,893 in its first year.

Sherman Township is seeking a six-year renewal of 2 mills for fire protection and emergency medical service. This millage would be disbursed to Sherman Township Fire & Rescue Department for purchase and maintenance of fire-suppression and emergency medical equipment. If authorized by voters, it would generate approximately $12,500 the first year.

Ontonagon County 

Ontonagon County will consider two county-wide millages. A six-year, 2-mill levy would raise funds towards meeting the Village of Ontonagon’s pension obligation stemming from the sale of the Ontonagon Memorial Hospital in 2007. The millage would raise an estimated $573,782.40 in its first year.

A four-year, 0.5-mill renewal would be used for the Ontonagon County Commission on Aging for maintenance and expansion of its programs for senior citizens and maintenance on its building.

In county commission races, John P. Cane, Richard Bourdeau, Robert L. Nousiainen, Carl Nykanen and Marlene Broemer are running unopposed.

In Bergland Township, a four-year, 3-mill levy would raise funds for the Bergland Volunteer Fire Department. Two mills would go towards fire truck replacement, 0.5 mill would be used for equipment/training, and 0.25 mill each would go towards operation costs and the planning and design of a future fire hall. If passed, the millage would generate an estimated $113,753 in its first year — $75,835.34 for fire truck replacement, $18,958.83 for equipment/training, $9,479.42 to operations and $9,479.41 for plans and design of a future fire hall. 

Also in Bergland Township, Shawna Lundwall is running unopposed in the Republican primary for a partial treasurer term ending Nov. 20, 2024. 

In Bohemia Township, Brian Taavola is also running in the Democratic primary for a partial township trustee term ending Nov. 20, 2024.

Carp Lake Township has several millages on the ballot. Three four-year, 0.5-mill renewals would restore millage that had been reduced to 0.48 mills through Headlee rollbacks: one for the Carp Lake Township library, one for the fire department operating expenses and equipment replacement reserves, and one for the operation of street lighting within Carp Lake Township. They would raise an estimated $17,000 in its first year.

Greenland Township voters will decide if adult-use marijuana establishments will be allowed in the township.

Interior Township will consider four millages. One would raise 0.50 mills over five years to fund fire department equipment and expenses, raising in the first year an estimated $6,482. A four-year, 0.30-mill renewal for township park mowing and maintenance would raise an estimated $3,889 in the first year the millage is levied. A 0.25-mill, four-year renewal for township cemetery mowing and maintenance would raise an estimated $3,241 in the first year. A five-year, 1-mill levy for fire operating and maintenance would raise $12,964 in the first year. 

In Matchwood Township, voters will consider a two-year, 2-mill for the general fund would raise an estimated $17,000 in its first year. 

Ontonagon Township voters will consider a four-year, .25-mill renewal for operational expenses of the township park, which would raise an estimated $17,982 in its first year. 

In the Village of Ontonagon, voters will consider another millage related to the MERS pension obligation for Ontonagon Memorial Hospital Employees. The six-year, 20-mill levy would raise an estimated $544,158.72.