The county received a permanent easement request from a man who recently purchased nearly 300 acres of property located in Sands Township — the request was to obtain a permanent easement from the county to access his property from Kelly Johnson Drive through the county airport layout plan area, according to board documents.

“I would like to explore the possibility of improving an existing two track as my year round access from Kelly Johnson Drive,” a letter from the requestor states. “The optional route would use roughly 700 feet of existing two-track, needing a 200-feet approach with a culvert to attach the property to Kelly Johnson through County Partial 014-009-20.”

However, the staff recommendation was to deny the request due to the county land conveyance policy, which requires “a number of things to be done upon receipt of such request … the transfer of an interest in land owned by the county can only be accomplished if, in the opinion of the board, the transfer would involve a public purpose,” according to board documents.

The land conveyance policy requires the county administrator to make a recommendation under standards set forth in the land conveyance policy.

Bill Nordeen, Marquette County Board

“After reviewing the request an the support information, I do not believe it would serve a public purpose to provide a permanent easement to the parcel through airport layout plan land,” a memo from County Administrator Scott Erbisch states, noting “there is an existing seasonal access road for this property.”

The complexities of allowing a permanent easement on property contained in the airport layout plan area were also a concern, as this would require Federal Aviation Administration approval.

“From staff’s perspective, we didn’t see that there was a public purpose, we also raised concerns about anything that deals with the airport layout plan area because there’s some different nuances with those lands,” Erbisch said.

Commissioner Bill Nordeen said he supports the easement request.

“I don’t like government, whether it be the state of Michigan, or Marquette County or a township or a city, stopping people from accessing their property,” he said, noting that he feels a reciprocal easement agreement between the county and the requestor could be worked out for public purpose.

However, other commissioners stated their support of the staff recommendation, voting to follow staff recommendation.

“I agree with the recommendation, there is access to the property that this individual purchased, it’s just not as good of condition as they would like,” Commissioner Karen Alholm said, adding “I’m also concerned that it’s in the airport property and the FAA component in that decision-making process and the other thing is, the person purchased the property with the existing access code.”

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved the appointment of three members to vacant positions on the Marquette County Brownfield Development Authority.

John Marshall was appointed as economic development corporation representative, David Stefan was appointed to the real estate postion and Steven Schenden was appointed as economic/property developer. All terms are three years, expiring July 31, 2021.

The board also voted unanimously to sign a resolution in support the U.P. Area Agency on Aging Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Implementation Plan for Services to Older Adults at the meeting.

The resolution states “UPCAP, which serves as the U.P. Area Agency on Aging, is required to develop a 2019 Annual Implementation Plan that provides development and funding for programs to serve older adults in the Upper Peninsula … during the 2019 Annual Implementation Plan Development process, UPCAP conducted needs surveys, one public hearing, and received input from services providers, older a

dults, county officials, human services organizations and other parties.”

The county was not required to take any action on the plan but could opt to support the plan by resolution if so desired, according to board documents.

The board also unanimously approved a bid for the purchase of a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse for the Marquette County Veteran’s Affairs Department at the meeting.

The department was seeking to replace a 2009 Ford Explorer that had been donated by the Disabled Veteran’s Association shortly after the department became operational, board document state, noting the vehicle was “a wonderful donation to the Department and has served the Department well.”

However, the vehicle now has 160,000 miles on it and “mechanical needs” have been increasing, board documents state, leading the department to seek bids for a new vehicle, rather than continuing to put money into the older vehicle.

According to board documents, the bid request was advertised in the local paper, placed on the county website and was hand-delivered to many dealerships in Marquette County.

Four bids were received for a new vehicle, with the lowest bid being for a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse from Fox Negaunee for a cost of $27,884.

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