Friday, June 21, 2024
The Mining Journal 5A
Region
Delta County board
continues rollbacks
ESCANABA — The newly-elected Delta County
Board continued in its effort to roll back the decisions
of the prior board Tuesday, changing both the rules for
public decorum at meetings and how commissioners are
appointed to boards and commissions.
The first item, which was placed on the agenda at the re-
quest of Commissioner Kelli Van Ginhoven, was to rescind
a vote that took place on Sept. 19, 2023, to adopt rules for
decorum in the the county’s policy’s and procedures.
“It’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong, there
are some grammatical errors, there are some spelling er-
rors in it, and it doesn’t give a full outline of, you know,
if this happens then this, if this happens then this,” said
Van Ginhoven explaining the reasoning for her request.
The procedures that were adopted last September
were written by Scott Graham, an attorney hired to
represent the county by the last board who was highly
controversial, primarily due to his prior representation
of Former-Board Chair Dave Moyle’s ex-wife shortly
before Moyle’s divorce was finalized. Moyle, who had
encouraged Graham to seek consideration for the posi-
tion, repeatedly stated he was impressed by Graham’s
work but denied allegations that he had any sort of per-
sonal relationship with the attorney.
Van Ginhoven said during her campaign that remov-
ing Graham was her first order of business if elected.
She made good on that promise at the June 4 meeting,
when the board reordered who the county would use for
legal services, making Delta County Prosecutor Lauren
Wickman the county’s primary counsel, followed by at-
torneys provided by the county’s insurance company,
and “third party” attorneys as a last resort. The move
effectively dropped Graham, who had once been the
county’s primary legal counsel.
A 200-plus pound female bear is seen in a Hancock backyard. (Daily Mining Gazette photo)
Wickman — who at various points was the second
and last choice for representation by the new board —
had also prepared a decorum policy last September, but
was not given an opportunity to present it. In two sep-
arate motions, both of which were made by Van Gin-
hoven, the board voted to rescind the vote made by the
last commission to approve Graham’s version and to re-
place that policy with the one put forward by Wickman.
Wickman’s version includes multiple definitions and
prohibits individuals from being ejected from a meeting
unless they have commit a “breach of peace,” which is
defined as “seriously disruptive conduct involving abu-
sive, disorderly, dangerous, or provocative speech and
behaviors tending to threaten or incite violence.”
“They way I looked at it is everybody who’s coming
in the room should have the same understanding of what
the expectations are, and this outlines that better, where
you can have that understanding of what does ‘out of
order’ mean, what does ‘breach of the peace mean’ —
because that’s available to them to actually pull up and
see ‘this is what that means, it’s what it means to me;
it’s what it means to this the board,’” said Wickman.
The discussion of rescinding a separate motion made
at the Jan. 17, 2023 meeting that allowed the board
chair to unilaterally make appointments for boards and
commissions without a vote of the remainder of the
commission was also added to the agenda by Van Gin-
hoven.
“What ended up happening is the chair made the ap-
pointments and then there was a motion to say that we
could not challenge the appointments,” said Commis-
sion Chair John Malnar.
Malnar’s explanation did not accurately reflect the
history of the Jan. 17, 2023 vote, which was made in
response to an Open Meetings Act violation that took
place immediately following the Jan. 3, 2023 reorga-
nizational meeting — the very first meeting when the
entirety of the past board was seated.
At that meeting, Moyle adjourned the meeting but
continued working out the specifics of the board and
committee appointments with the rest of the commis-
sioners. While there was no attempt to hide that the
commissioners were conducting business — Moyle
himself told anyone from the public who was interested
in the appointments that they could stay and listen and
the entirety of the discussion was broadcast on Zoom
— the fact that the first meeting was adjourned meant
the appointment process took place during a violation
of the Open Meetings Act.
“My problem is I wanted to please everybody, so what
I did was when I adjourned the meeting, said come on
by and we’ll check it out, I invited the public, we kept it
going on Zoom, and I committed an unintentional mis-
take of the Open Meetings Act. … That’s my fault. The
buck stops here. It wasn’t the board’s fault,” said Moyle
at the Jan. 17, 2023 meeting.
Bears in Hancock: Residents warned to
remove attractions, keep distance
By BEN GARBACZ
Daily Mining Gazette
HANCOCK
ple sightings of black bears servation or to take photo-
roaming the backyards of graphs. There was an inci- cute and cuddly,” Houle reach.
presence is the amount of cubs. Houle emphasized able, but they prefer the
people that are getting too that it is vital for residents to public focus on removing
—
Multi- close to the bears for ob- stay clear of the bear cubs.
their garbage, food and bird
“Don’t think they’re all feeders out of the bears’
Hancock have been reported dent on Ingot Street where said. “Don’t try to pick up
The City of Hancock has
over the past three weeks. many people gathered and the cubs if you do come a temporary ban on bird
Over a dozen incidents on were trying to spot and take across a cub. Don’t try to feeders in hopes of taking
Prospect, Ingot, Cedar and pictures of the female bear touch a cub.”
North streets have been re- and her cubs. Black bear attacks are for the bears. If food is not
ported with one of the most Houle said that this was not common in Michigan, in reach for the bears, it is
recent resulting in six calls dangerous. but bears are capable of in- believed that within a week
in one day to the Hancock “These bears do not care. flicting lifelong injuries or or two they will move on.
Police Department. They are not afraid of us,” death. Black bears are for- Loud noises can frighten
away an easy food source
Police are aware of four Houle warned. “When ev- midable predators that have bears, and Houle suggests
bears lumbering around eryone gathers around, it’s a bite force of 800 pounds residents can create noises
the area. There is an es- just going to be easy pick- per square inch and the abil- from a safe distance or with-
timated 100-pound male ings if that bear decides to ity to run up to 35 mph. A in shelter with their pots
who is seemingly sol- go rogue and attack some- human that is attacked by and pans to scare the bears
itary and an estimated one.”
200-pound female with If residents and tourists little chance of walking
two cubs about the size of want to look at the bears, away unharmed.
small dogs. the police have suggested The best action an individ- tion in these circumstances.
The bears have not at- to keep a safe distance from ual can take to avoid a con- “The last thing you want
tacked any residents nor them and to not exit their ve- frontation with a black bear to do is catch the mother
their pets but have torn hicles to do so. is to keep their distance. If bear and not the cubs. Be-
down bird feeders, tipped Houle has responded to an encounter with a black cause now we’re left with
over garbage bins and ripped several of the calls involv- bear which will not leave is another issue,” Houle said.
open garbage bags. The ing the bears and has ap- inevitable, according to the Removing the bears by
one of these bears will have away.
He does not believe trap-
ping to be a preferable ac-
bears have left trails of trash proached them to try and Michigan Department of lethal means will not be
leading back to the near- scare them away from res- Natural Resources’ Living considered unless there is
by wood line and littered idents’ backyards. He had With Black Bears brochure, an immediate danger to hu-
it throughout the woods. approached the male bear an individual should yell at mans or their pets.
Officers have responded to from the back door of a the bear and leave an un-
“I know myself along with
the calls by using sirens, house and was within five obstructed escape route for the other officers don’t want
airhorns and yelling at the feet of the bear eating from it to leave. If the bear has to have to shoot the mother
bears to scare them away. a bird feeder. Houle said not yet left, the individual bear because she attacked,”
The bears are believed to the bear did not react to his should take slow steps back Houle said. “And we don’t
have been attracted by bird presence and continued to away from the bear while want to shoot the male bear.
feeders and garbage left out feed.
in the open in Hancock. Houle has also come close in a stern tone.
Officer Nanue Houle how- to the female at a distance of If the bear attacks, the
continuing to talk to the bear They’re just trying to live
their lives, too.”
Houle said that residents
ever said that he noticed 10 feet and she did not re- brochure instructs to not should be keeping a closer
something in common with act. One of the interactions run away nor play dead. eye on their pets when walk-
all the locations of bear he had with the female bear, The best method of de- ing them as some residents
sightings: a barbecue grill. however did result in a dis- fense is to fight back with can become oblivious to the
Every location had a grill covery. As Houle chased a backpack, stick or if no local wildlife. Other pred-
outside, which could have the bear, she planted herself object is available, one’s ators such as coyotes and
leftover food stuck to its at the base of a tree. When bare hands. The brochure foxes can be dangerous to
grates or grease traps releas- Houle looked up, he saw is available to read on the cats and dogs.
ing appetizing odors into the two cubs hugging the tree’s DNR website.
air. The locations are not branches.
far from the woods and the The female bear is the partment has been in contact
smell of food from the grills most dangerous since she with the DNR to come up
can be enticing to the bears. will instinctively attack with plans on dealing with
A major concern the police anything or anyone that she the bears.
The Hancock Police De-
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
OFFICE OF THE STATE REGISTRAR
Administrative Rules for Rule Sets: “Amendments to Vital Records” and “Completion, Filing, and
Registration of Vital Records Documents”
have regarding the bears’ believes to be a threat to her
The DNR has traps avail-
MOAHR Rule Division No. 2024-8 and 2024-9 HS
Public Notice
e Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Department) will hold two public
hearings to receive public comments on amending the rule sets, Amendments to Vital Records,
and Completion, Filing, and Registration of Vital Records Documents.
Monday, July 15, 2024-9:00 A.M.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration
Amendments to Vital Records
Targeted Case Management Services for Children’s Special Health Care
Services (CSHCS) Beneficiaries with Medical Complexity
State Plan Amendment Request
Monday, July 15, 2024-1:00 P.M.
Completion, Filing, and Registration of Vital Records Documents
Both hearings take place at the DHHS South Grand Tower
333 S. Grand Avenue, Room 1A
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) plans to
submit a State Plan Amendment (SPA) request to the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish coverage for Children with Medical
Complexity Targeted Case Management (CMC TCM) program services for
CSHCS beneficiaries under the age of 21 years who meet additional complexity
and fragility criteria.
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Email: MDHHS-AdminRules@michigan.gov
e Amendments to Vital Records rules establish definitions, requirements, and processes needed
to amend or change birth and death certificates, and other vital record afer they are filed. e
Completion, Filing, and Registration of Vital Records Documents establish requirements for
completion filing and registration of vital records, including birth, death, fetal death, marriage,
and divorce records. Changes to both rulesets primarily address processes that have changed in
transition from paper to electronic vital records.
The anticipated effective date for the Targeted Case Management Services for
CSHCS Beneficiaries with Medical Complexity SPA is October 1, 2024.
By authority conferred on the Department of Public Health by sections 2226, 2233, 2235, and
2896 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.2226, 333.2233, 333.2235, and 333.2896.
e rule set takes effect immediately afer filing with the secretary of state. ese rules are
Michigan Register in the July 1, 2024 edition. Copies of the draf rules may also be obtained by
mail or electronic transmission at the following address:
Department of Health and Human Services
The purpose of this SPA is to establish coverage and reimbursement of Targeted
Case Management (TCM) Services for CSHCS beneficiaries under 21 years of
age with qualifying medical complexity. The TCM provider will function as the
central point of contact for comprehensive, individualized care across the broader
health care system. TCM providers will be required to maintain an intensive care
coordination program to improve the overall quality of life for the beneficiary and
reduce avoidable health care costs. Beneficiary participation is voluntary.
Attn: Mary E. Brennan/Jeffrey Duncan
Grand Tower Building
235 S. Grand Avenue- 2nd Floor
The SPA is estimated to be budget neutral.
Lansing, MI 48933
Telephone: 517-242-9634
There is no public meeting scheduled regarding this notice. Any interested party
wishing to request a written copy of the SPA or wishing to submit comments may
request in writing to: MDHHS/ Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging
Services Administration, Program Policy Division, PO Box 30479, Lansing, MI
48909-7979 by July 15, 2024. A copy of the proposed SPA will also be available
E-mail: MDHHS-AdminRules@michigan.gov
Comments on the rules may be made in person at the hearing or by mail or electronic mail until
Friday, July 19, 2024.
e public hearings will be conducted in compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities
Act, in accessible buildings with handicap parking available. Anyone needing assistance to take
part in the hearings due to disability may call 517-335- 4276 to make arrangements.
mdhhs/budgetfinance/264/state-plan-amendments.
