For the Gazette
Skip Schulz/For the Gazette
Looking back is former Ontonagon Village Manager Joe Erickson while seated next to his attorney, Adrianne Wolf. The council voted 4-3 to terminate Ericksonâs contract as village manager for a second time.
ONTONAGON The Ontonagon Village Council voted to raise property taxes on the economically depressed community. However, that was not the issue that forced the council to hold a special meeting Wednesday afternoon. To accommodate the expected turnout of concerned residents, the council met at the Ontonagon Village Fire Hall.Â
The meeting was to decide whether to retain Village Manager Joe Erickson, or to terminate his employment.
For the Gazette
ONTONAGON Â While the actors have changed over the years, the movie is the same. The Ontonagon Village Council has had different council presidents, and trustees since Aspirus took over the management of Ontonagon Memorial Hospital.
However when Aspirus became the owner of the hospital, the responsibility of the Municipal Employment Retirement System (MERS) financial obligation to past and some current employees remained the responsibility of the village of Ontonagon.
The amount of the MERS debt changes with whomever one talks too, but it is safe to say the debt is around $1,000,000. The total debt is not the only issue that is challenged from meeting to meeting, month after month. The other issue is whether it is solely the MERS responsibility for the village’s financial problem, or as one village taxpayer questioned, “is whether the village council and village manager spending more than the village has?’
For the Gazette
The Ontonagon Village Council will meet via tele-conference tonight. The question remains whether issues addressing the council, village residents, and village businesses will be resolved.
The issue that has been in front of the council for over 2 years has been the village’s financial problems. One problem that village manager and council members have had to deal with is the village’s obligation to the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS).
The MERS obligation has been reported to be in the $1 million range. It stems from the village selling its hospital to Aspirus. However in the sale, the village remained responsible for past and current employees.