Recent action by local governments in Northeast Michigan:

∫ The Alcona County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution of support, by a 3-1 vote, asking the State of Michigan to support the establishment of spaceport operation at the Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport. Kevin Boyat, the county’s representative serving on the airport authority board, asked the commissioners to approve the resolution in the event a spaceport should be proposed for the airport. Councilman Gary Wnuk cast the dissenting vote. Vice Chairman Adam Brege was not in attendance. The Aerospace Manufacturers Association has proposed a Michigan spaceport to be used for low Earth orbit launches and hypersonic launch technology for commercial and defense applications, and several locations in Northeast Michigan have been considered.

∫ The Hillman Village Council voted unanimously to purchase a new tractor from Don’s Tractor and Equipment Sales in the amount of $11,900. Council members had three bids to choose from. The item was not on the meeting agenda provided to the public.

Strain Electric, an electrical services company based in Grand Rapids, will send village officials schematics and pricing to find out what it would take to light up the bridge heading into town, according to Village President Myron McIntire. Village Manager Dave Post said the firm has worked on bridges in Grand Rapids and Charlevoix, and it would be able to install lights that change colors

Post also will apply for a grant from the Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op Communities First Fund to construct a horseshoe pit at Emerick Park. Village officials are not entirely sure what the total cost of the project would be, but estimate the cost to be between $3,000 and $10,000.

∫ The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners made an adjustment to Undersheriff Chris Flewelling’s salary. When county staff drafted the budget for the 2019 fiscal year, they forgot to include the $1,000 raise Flewelling received when he was promoted to undersheriff. Commissioners voted unanimously to adjust his salary to compensate for that raise. Flewelling will earn $54,200 this year.

A cell phone policy was adopted by the board. The board decided to move to a county-owned cell phone plan last month after board members learned county employees were using their personal phones and were being reimbursed by the county.

County Clerk Ann Marie Main previously told council members the employees would lose their personal phones if their phone was ever subpeonaed in court. Cell phone plans were approved for the 89th District Court probation department and on-call magistrate, the county prosecutor, assistant prosecutor, juvenile probation department, drain commissioner, emergency services department, maintenance department, Friend of the Court, Building and Zoning Department, and the Sheriff’s Office.

∫ Beach Hall, a former mayor of Rogers City, was recognized by the Presque Isle County District Library Board on March 6 for his distinguished service to the board. Hall has served on the library board since 1997, served as chairman from 1999 to 2018, and has overseen the vision and growth of the Presque Isle Library. The resolution says the board “publicly acknowledged the leadership, direction and accomplishments of Beach Hall and thank him for his many years of dedicated and loyal service to the community.”