The Marquette County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday, Oct. 20, to appoint Margaret Brumm to the vacant District 1 seat, according to My UP News.

Commissioners selected Brumm over Cody Mayer, who won the August Democratic primary for the seat with about 71% of the vote, according to official county election results.

Brumm is running as a write-in candidate against Mayer in the Nov. 3 general election. Her appointment comes two weeks before that election and lasts through Dec. 31.

Mayer criticized the decision in a Facebook statement quoted by My UP News, calling it “an insult to the democratic process.”

According to Mayer’s statement, Chair Joe Derocha, Vice Chair Bill Nordeen and Commissioner Fred Benzie voted for Brumm. Commissioners Dana LaLonde and Karen Alholm supported Mayer.

Brumm told My UP News she takes the appointment seriously and intends to work for residents throughout the county.

The vacancy followed Karl Numinen’s Oct. 13 resignation. He had been appointed in October 2025, according to WZMQ, which reported that commissioners received no explanation for his departure.

The winner of the Nov. 3 election will take office in January 2027. District 1 covers Marquette city precincts 3 and 4, according to the county board directory.

Westwood Mall brownfield plan approved

Commissioners also unanimously approved a brownfield redevelopment plan for the Westwood Mall property in Marquette Township, WLUC reported.

Developer Garritt Bader of GB Real Estate Investments plans to demolish the 112,000-square-foot mall building by the end of 2026 and complete an initial 25,000-square-foot commercial building by the end of 2027.

Kohl’s, Dunham’s Sports and North Iron Church occupy separately owned properties and are outside the demolition plan.

The mall closed following a roof collapse in February. Marquette Township declared the property blighted in September.

The developer would finance eligible redevelopment work upfront and receive reimbursement from future increases in property-tax revenue, according to the county meeting packet. The project fact sheet lists approximately $1.1 million in eligible expenses, including demolition, environmental work, contingency and plan preparation.

The fact sheet projects about $3.36 million in taxable property value in 2028. That is a property valuation, not annual tax revenue.

Marquette Township Supervisor Lyn Durant spoke in favor of the plan during the public hearing, WLUC reported.

911 software demonstration set for Oct. 27

A public demonstration of Tyler Technologies’ 911 dispatch software is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Courthouse Annex, according to My UP News.

Computer-aided dispatch software helps manage emergency calls and coordinate responders.

The county is evaluating systems from Tyler Technologies and Motorola Solutions. Commissioners heard Motorola’s presentation Oct. 13 and tabled a motion to approve its system, according to WLUC’s coverage of that meeting.

WNMU reported in September that the county board had voted in February to favor Motorola. First responders have raised concerns about compatibility because the other 14 U.P. counties and Michigan State Police are transitioning to Tyler.

The Marquette City Commission unanimously approved a resolution Aug. 31 urging the county to adopt Tyler’s platform, WNMU reported. The county’s latest deliberations remain ongoing.