Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Calumet Village Council last Tuesday unanimously approved a motion to post a position for a blight enforcement officer. Clockwise from center are: Pamela Que, president pro tempore, trustees Andrew Ranville, Bernice Smith, Virginia Dwyer and Peggy Germain.

CALUMET — The Calumet Village Council last Tuesday approved a motion to post an opening for the position of Blight Enforcement Officer.

Village Manager Megan Haselden said during the regular May Village Council meeting that a wage amount and hours per week are topics the council will yet need to address.

Blighted buildings and properties have long been a concern to the village. In 2019, the Village of Calumet contracted Kendricks, Bordeau, Keefe, Seavoy & Larsen, a law firm specializing in municipal law, to update the Village’s ordinances regarding blight and dangerous buildings and to provide guidance on instituting an enforcement process. As a result, the Village of Calumet’s ordinances were amended to comply with State statutes and are fully enforceable.

During a May 8, 2024 public engagement meeting, blight was discussed as one issue still facing the village.

During the Village Council Workshop on May 14, Haselden discussed her meeting with Calumet Township Laurium Village officials to explore the possibility of some consistency around blight ordinances between the municipalities. Also discussed was the job posting for a blight enforcement officer. The discussion included hours needed per week, rate of pay, and whether it should be an employee or an independent contractor.

Other complaints in the residential area of the village that were addressed included noise complaints, unleashed dogs and bon fires in yards. Additional discussion on ordinance enforcement and whether or not contracting with the Sheriff’s office would be an option.

While these are Village Council concerns, Haselden said the action taken last Tuesday was to post a position for a blight enforcement officer, rather than a code enforcement officer.

“That position may grow to cover additional code enforcement,” she said, “but right now we are really focusing our efforts on the No. 1 problem that has been identified in the village, which is blight.”