Delta County Board supports county’s request for disaster aid
March storm costs county $500,000
The Delta County Road Commission clears snow in March (Delta County Road Commission photo)
Delta County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday
The Delta County Road Commission clears snow in March (Delta County Road Commission photo)
Delta County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday
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ESCANABA -- The Delta County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the county’s application for disaster assistance related to the March 2026 winter storm that Fox11 in Wisconsin dubbed "Winter Storm Elsa,” during which Delta County was under a declared state of emergency.
The resolution states that the storm resulted in approximately $500,000 in public damages and emergency expenditures, creating an unreasonable financial burden on the county. Therefore, the board is requesting that Governor Gretchen Whitmer authorize a grant from the State Disaster Contingency Fund to help offset those costs.
According to the resolution, the storm placed extreme stress on Delta County and Delta County Road Commission personnel and equipment. The onset of the storm is stated as March 13 in the resolution.
It also reportedly caused significant issues with public infrastructure and threatened the health, safety and welfare of residents of Delta County by obstructing access to medical facilities and impeding the delivery of essential services.
The Escanaba City Council similarly approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a grant from the State Disaster Contingency Fund, reporting the city's disaster-related expenses totaled $72,997.74.
In other business, the board:
-- Will present the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget at the scheduled public hearing on August 4. The budget will be posted on the county website prior to the hearing. A recommendation was made at the Delta County Finance Committee meeting on July 16 to present the budget. The board will vote on whether to adopt the budget in September.
-- Awarded a contract to Porta-Painting in the amount of $44,900 for the repainting of fuel tanks project at the Delta County Airport. The Airport Board and management recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project, and two proposals were received: Porta-Painting’s bid for $44,900 and a bid from Bosk Paint & Sandblast for $55,735.
-- Awarded a contract to Iron & Axes – FXR Model Package in the amount of $21,125 for replacing the Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF) Turnout Gear at the Delta County Airport. The contract utilizes approved Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) grant funding. The board also authorized the additional purchase of one extra set of turnout gear at $4,225 and two pairs of gloves per ARFF staff member utilizing local airport funds unless an EGLE grant amendment is secured.
-- Authorized the Delta County Opioid Taskforce to move forward in exploring options to create a UP Opioid Task Force Cohort, which would open the taskforce up to additional funding opportunities within the state. The taskforce is in the investigative process and will return to the board for a resolution after further communication with various counties. The board also approved the taskforce to create, post and fill the recording secretary position, previously filled by Commissioner Kelli van Ginhoven, who serves on the taskforce. The position would be funded by the taskforce’s opioid funds set aside for administrative costs, not county funds.
-- Authorized the Delta County Central Dispatch Authority to enter into a contract with Attorney Doug van Essen, out of Grand Rapids, to assist Delta County in updating the 911 Plan. Van Essen specializes in assistance to counties with their 911 plans and will perform the service in an amount not to exceed $5,000, with funds derived from dispatch's current budget.
-- Approved the purchase of a new repeater for the Lathrop tower in an amount not to exceed $10,000, as recommended by the Delta County Central Dispatch Advisory Committee. Dispatch is currently borrowing a repeater and reportedly needs to replace the out-of- function repeater as soon as possible.
-- Authorized the Finance Committee to move forward with the process of liberating the county’s Defined Benefit Plan from the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS), recommended by the finance committee. County Administrator Emily DeSalvo said the move is expected to generate significant cost savings for the county and increase contributions to the general fund.
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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.