Gogebic County voters approved continued funding for animal control, medical care facility upgrades and township operations Tuesday, Aug. 4, passing all six millage proposals on the primary ballot by wide margins.

The strongest support went to the county's animal control millage, a four-year renewal of $0.20 per $1,000 of taxable value to keep the Gogebic County Animal Control Program running. That measure passed 2,561 to 621, with about 80% approval.

Two measures fund the Gogebic County Medical Care Facility. A new 0.4-mill levy for building and site improvements over five years passed 2,464 to 724. A separate renewal of 0.6 mills for two years, covering maintenance-of-effort costs the county owes the State of Michigan for the facility's operation, passed 2,522 to 667.

Mill rates and durations for each proposal were outlined in ballot language posted by Upper Michigan's Source.

Turnout was modest. Of the county's 13,166 registered voters, 3,331 cast ballots, a 25.3% rate, according to the Daily Globe. Nearly half those votes, 1,613, came from Ironwood's two city precincts and Ironwood Township combined.

Township measures

Bessemer Township renewed its 8-mill operating levy for five years, passing 150 to 43.

In Watersmeet Township, voters approved a renewal of up to 3.5 mills for four years of general operating purposes, 218 to 138, or about 61% approval.

Watersmeet Township School District voters also approved a new 18-mill increase in the tax limitation for four years to fund school operating purposes, passing 217 to 144. At about 60% support, that was the closest result on the ballot.

WNMU-FM independently confirmed the countywide vote totals Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Local races

Two uncontested township races also appeared on the ballot. Democrat Dennis Aspinwall received 97 votes for Bessemer Township Supervisor, a partial term ending Nov. 20, 2028. Republican Laura Mans earned 182 votes for Watersmeet Township Clerk, also a partial term ending Nov. 20, 2028, with 33 Democratic write-in votes the only other tally.

All results are unofficial pending certification by the Gogebic County Board of Canvassers.