EAGLE RIVER — The Nov. 5 defeat of a millage proposal of half a mill, requested to fund the zoning department, the Keweenaw County Board is now faced with the challenge of how – and if – to fund it.

“I don’t know where to go with this at this time,” Board Chairman Don Piche said.

 Piche said that it had always been the intention of the county to keep the zoning administrator’s office open five days a week.

“Obviously, now, that can’t happen. Right now, it’s open three,” Piche said, adding that the county needs some type of zoning.

“We need guardrails here somehow,” he said.

While a number of options were touched on, Bob DeMarois suggested the Board table the matter until they conduct their budget meeting before the upcoming public hearing for the budget adoption next month.

Vice Chair Del Rajala suggested paring down the ordinances, making them smaller and more palatable, then provide a copy to each township, essentially turning zoning over the townships, with the exception of building permit.

“We did say we need the money,” Rajala said. “We asked the people, the people said no. Now, we’re (trying to) find the money.”

Of the five townships, only Houghton and Grant voted in favor of countywide zoning. Countywide, the zoning proposal was defeated by of vote of 849-673. Eagle Harbor Township, which also voted against the millage, handles its own zoning.

Commissioner Randy Eckloff suggested continuing with a part-time administrator.  Piche pointed out that that has been tried and failed, saying the county had a good part-time zoning administrator, adding, “I think we all know why she quit.”

Sarah Heikkila, who had been the administrator, submitted her resignation to the Board on Aug. 2, 2024. In a letter to the Board, she stated: “However, the workload is more than the time I have to work here each week and be successful.”

Piche said he had a conversation with the Grant Township supervisor, which has a population of 257. He suggested that perhaps it is time for the townships to consider assisting the county in paying for an administrator, as the townships said in July they could not afford their own zoning.

Piche said the supervisor replied it was a fair question that should be asked of the townships.

Piche admitted he does not know an equitable way that could be accomplished. Allouez Township, where the majority of the voters voted against zoning, has the largest population, at 1,400. Of  935 voters from Allouez voted, 551 voted against zoning. At the same time, Houghton Township, with the smallest population, at 82, voted in favor of zoning by a margin of 37-31.

“That’s the smallest township in the county,” Piche said, “so I don’t know to work that out – who pays how much or whatever when it comes to that.”

Both Rajala and Piche agreed that zoning in Keweenaw County is necessary.