By CECILIA BROWN

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board of Commissioners at its Tuesday meeting will consider a resolution in support of proposed legislation that would create the Committee of Michigan’s Mining Future.

“The mining industry is a vital economic contributor, not just for the Upper Peninsula and Marquette County, but for the state of Michigan, and it is in the best interest of Marquette County and the state of Michigan to strengthen sustainable mining practices for the future,” the proposed resolution states.

House Bill 4227, introduced Feb. 21 by Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, aims to create the Committee of Michigan’s Mining Future, a 15-member body with governor-appointed representatives from “diverse areas of industry, state departments, environmental groups, tribal members and labor groups to meet the challenges and take advantages of opportunities for the future,” the resolution states.

“When our communities lost nearly 400 high-paying jobs with the idling of the Empire Mine in 2016, many community members felt Michigan dropped the ball on understanding what the industry needed from elected leaders in Lansing, as well as Washington,” Cambensy said in a statement. “Shortly after, I called together a small group of previous legislators and industry leaders to begin looking at how Minnesota was able to minimize the bust and boom cycle of mining within its state.”

The intention of creating the committee would be to “ensure a comprehensive plan focused on ferrous, non-ferrous, and aggregate mining industry needs such as infrastructure, transportation, energy, applied research, environmental quality, government policies, taxation, rural development, mining legacy cleanup funds and communications and public outreach,” according to the resolution.

If the bill passes, the Committee of Michigan’s Mining Future would be responsible for providing “advisory legislative and policy recommendations to strengthen and develop sustainable mining practices in Michigan,” according to a news release from Cambensy’s office.

Marquette County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gerald Corkin said Friday that he’s glad to see Cambensy introducing the legislation, as he believes it would be “very positive for Michigan and the U.P. to have it closely looked at and have some of those people with the knowledge and expertise in different areas to be part of the conversation.

“She’s done a good job by introducing it and I think good things can come from it,” Corkin said. “And I think if we work together with the other representatives in the U.P. who seem to be supportive of it … it’s something that’s going to impact the entire U.P.”

Corkin said that he’s glad to see bipartisan support for the bill, adding that “in the U.P. when we have opportunities for good jobs, we work together as 15 counties — there’s no politics involved.”

Bringing more mining jobs — from the reopening of the Empire Mine or the opening of a new mine in the area — to the U.P. is of central importance to the region’s economic health and vitality, Corkin said, because the economic benefits of hundreds of “family-sustaining jobs” can ripple outward and help support other businesses and industries in the area.

“Everybody benefits when people are working and earning a good living,” he said. “It’s surprising when you look at it, how 400 good jobs have a positive effect on a lot of other businesses.”

The creation of more jobs in the mining industry can also help the area retain its young people, Corkin said.

“Many of our young people move away because there just aren’t enough good job opportunities,” he said. “So anytime you can come up with family-sustaining jobs that pay well, you’re going to give opportunities to any of those that may want to stay.”

Furthermore, Corkin said the timing of the bill’s introduction is opportune because of current mineral exploration in Menominee and the Wakefield/Ontonagon area, and he hopes that the formation of such a committee could help bring more mining opportunities to the U.P.

“The timing is very good because of the exploration that’s been going on here in the U.P. for metal and the potential for having minable sites that they pick up,” he said.

The bill was also discussed at a Friday meeting held at Ronn Hall in Negaunee that nearly 40 people attended, Corkin said, with Cambensy and Tom Casperson, a staff member of Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, present to speak about the bill.

“We talked about how we can get together here and indicate to the (Michigan Economic Development Corp.) that they need to give serious consideration of some support for the Empire Mine reopening,” Corkin said.

Corkin added that he believes Cambensy is “hopeful that they could get some resolution with the MEDC to work with us on the reopening, and Marquette County will be a strong supporter of those efforts.”

Overall, Corkin said officials are “trying to do what’s right for the U.P.” by working together on the issue.

“A No. 1 priority of mine since I became a commissioner is economic development and jobs,” Corkin said. “There’s nothing more important if you’re going to have a viable community anywhere.”

The board will also consider the following action items at Tuesday’s meeting:

≤ A 2019 Lake Superior Community Partnership agreement recommendation.

≤ An air cargo landing fee agreement.

≤ A state of Michigan aircraft rescue and firefighting grant.

≤ A Marquette County Central Dispatch Policy Board appointment.

≤ A bid recommendation for attorney-client rooms.

≤ A Michigan Department of Natural Resources land exchange.

≤ A lease for National Carbon.

≤ Fiscal year 2019 budget amendments.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is cbrown@miningjournal.net.­­