Provided picture The Ontonagon County Conservation Team (L-R) Evan Platzke, USFS - Ottawa Nat’l Forest, , Josh Wall, Interim Director, Valerie Talsma, Chair “For 2 more months,” Mike Javi, Vice-chair, Mike McCabe, Interim director, Charle Burger, Treasurer, Anne Snudden Assoc. Member, Anne Kretschmann, District Manager, and Sawyer Forbes, Community Forester, Forestry Assistance Program (FAP). Not Pictured, Rachel Guth, MDARD who took the picture.

ROCKLAND — The Ontonagon County Conservation District (OCCD) has engaged in three major activities during the month of September. The regular monthly meeting on Sept. 11 with the budget and appropriations hearing, board member and district manager training offered by MDARD and MACD in Marquette Sept, 16 and 17, and (upcoming) an information booth at the Ewen Log Jamboree Sept. 26-27.

Attending the regular monthly meeting were all five current board members: Josh Wall, Charlie Burger, Mike McCabe, Valerie Talsma, and Mike Jarvi, associate member Anne Snudden, USFS liaison Evan Platske, Community Forester (FAP) Sawyer Forbes, Rachael Guth, MDARD liaison, and Anne Kretschmann, district manager.

2025, was complicated by the chaos at the Federal Level and the lack of budgetary progress in the State of Michigan. Nonetheless, the board discussed an ambitious business plan for 2026 with an additional part-time employee and the pursuit of additional grants to support our Conservation Mission in Ontonagon County. Mission: To promote stewardship of natural resources through education, outreach, community partnerships, and management. The Board approved a budget of $90,508.00 in expenses, $62,375 in anticipated income, and the difference of ~30K to be made up out of the district’s savings and investment fund.

The Board completed the MDARD Operations Review Element on Planning and Conservation Delivery Element. This is basically a self-assessment and the board completes several of these each year. The Board rated itself as exhibiting “Effective Practices” in all categories but one. In regards to public and stakeholder input, the board that they only meet baseline expectations regarding the Conservation Needs Assessment (CNA). This is due in-part to the CNA predating any of the serving Board members. As a board, we need to be more informed and intentional in addressing Ontonagon Co. Conservation needs.

The board received three application/nomination forms for the upcoming November election: Josh Wall, Anne Snudden and Mike McCabe. Barring any submissions by mail by close of business by Sept 12 deadline, these three candidates will stand for election for two board positions at the Annual Meeting on November 13, at the Rockland Township Hall. In addition to the election, the Annual Meeting will include short presentations by the district manager and partners and a Key Note Address by Michael Paling, Michigan Forester and American Bird Conservancy on: “Managing Forests for Young Forest Birds.” Light Refreshments will be served.

The other regular business of reviewing grant progress, the district’s outreach and the paying of the bills concluded the evening and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.