The Baraga County Board of Commissioners now has every position filled. The commissioners met Monday with a full slate. The commisioners are, from left, Chairman Brad Dakota, James Niemela, Lee DeLeon, Craig Kent and Bill Menge. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

LANSE — The Baraga County Board of Commissioners held its meeting Monday with every position filled now with newly appointed Commissioner Lee DeLeon in the fold.

DeLeon said he had sought the position because he felt a new face was needed on the board, and also to contribute to improvements for the youth of the county.

“I want to help build up our economy back to where it used to be because I want jobs to keep young kids here,” he said. “Instead of these kids growing up, graduating then leaving, I want them to stay in the county. I know that a lot of them come back after they retire, but we need more of them [to] get out of high school to help build the economy.”

With the fifth and final filled seat, the board was able to make appointments to various positions they were unable to in January.

The appointments consisted of board members, Rick Johnson and former Chairman Gale Eiola.

Eiola has been appointed to the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) at large position and Rick Johnson to a partial term on the Jury Commission.

Johnson was recommended by 12th Circuit Court Judge Brittany Bulleit.

Chairman Brad Dakota is retaining his prior appointments which include Western UP Health Department, Finance Committee and Equalization Committee.

Vice-Chairman Craig Kent was appointed to the personnel committee, Baraga County Recreation Committee, U.P. State Fair Authority and the UPWARD Talent Council Board.

Commissioner Bill Menge will be part of the of the WUPPDR Board, Western UP Health Department Board, Finance Committee, Upper Peninsula Commissiom for Area Progress (UPCAP) Board of Directors and Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) Board of Trustees.

Menge showed particular interest in the BCMH trustee appointment.

“I love that board those people work so doggone hard to keep that hospital, and they’re doing such a great job,” he said. “[They’re] unbelievable.”

Commissioners James Niemela and DeLeon received their first ever appointments. Niemela was appointed to the WUPPDR Board, Personnel Committee and the Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development (UPRC & D) Council).

DeLeon was appointed to the Western U.P. Substance Abuse and Family Planning Board, Equalization Committee and the Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Board.

The board also approved the Baraga County Law Enforcement Memorandum of Understanding, which is a mutual aid agreement of sorts between first responders to be liable for emergencies.

This allows different types of first responders to assist in an emergency.

Kent asked Sheriff Joe Brogan how this would work, and used an example of a firefighter coming across someone who is intoxicated.

Brogan said he believed a firefighter detaining an intoxicated individual would be legally covered under the Good Samaritan Law.

Bills that the board paid at the meeting included the BCMH trustee per diem for $1,020, count commissioner and dept. bills for $91,478.39, prepaid accounts for $837,471.12 and the Sheriff Dept. commissary checking account for $8,619.62.