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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula October 15, 2001 Photos (except as noted) and Text © 2001 Michele Anderson

Rep. Rich Brown addresses Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District at 50th Anniversary Meeting

HANCOCK -- Michigan Rep. Rich Brown, D-Bessemer, guest speaker at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District's 50th Annual Meeting on Oct. 13, expressed his strong support for the potential state purchase of land at the Keweenaw Tip, as well as his interest in other local conservation projects seeking state and federal funding.

Michigan Rep. Rich Brown, D-Bessemer, addresses local land and water protection issues at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District's 50th annual meeting, dinner and election Oct. 13 in the Finnish - American Heritage Center at Finlandia University.

More than 50 residents of Houghton and Keweenaw counties joined the staff and directors of the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District to welcome Rep. Brown and to celebrate 50 years of service to the people of the District at a special dinner meeting and election of two District board members, held at the Finnish-American Heritage Center at Finlandia University in Hancock.

In his address to the group, Brown said he was aware of the Keweenaw Tip proposal about a year ago and has been in favor of it. He said at that time he felt politicians should not be involved – for fear of obstructing the process. However, he said he has been in contact with The Nature Conservancy, broker in the deal, and recently joined Rep. Bruce Paterson, R-Canton, House majority floor leader, in proposing a resolution recommending the state actively pursue and complete the purchase at the Keweenaw Tip.

"It's not a done deal. I think it's getting close, but there are issues out there yet," Brown said, "(including) some issues about mineral rights."

Brown said he believed that the main issue now is the mineral rights but that it can be resolved through negotiations. In order to get their resolution on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives, Brown and Paterson testified before the Conservation Committee as to the value of the Keweenaw Tip, calling it "God's country."

Paterson, who is from southeastern Michigan, offered a "fantastic" testimony of his Keweenaw experiences and the beauty of the area, Brown noted.

Brown said he added to Paterson's testimony, telling the committee, "We often, in the U.P., like to say we live in God's country … If you have the opportunity to see this land, you will believe that we live in God's country, because it is a beautiful area of land; and it needs to be preserved."

Approved unanimously by the Conservation Committee and passed unanimously in the House on Oct. 9, 2001, the resolution says to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), "Let's get this done," Brown added, noting he had received about 200 letters in favor of the state purchase and only one opposed.

Brown said he recently received many email messages from constituents informing him of the proposed Keweenaw County purchase of land at the mouth of the Gratiot and was glad to hear that local residents were resolving the easement issue.

"What happened here was that the local people (John Griffith and others) – they resolved the issue. And I think they deserve high praise for that," Brown said, leading the audience in applause.

Brown also noted he is aware of other area conservation issues, including the need for funding the Traprock River proposal for water protection. He said although the Traprock project was not funded recently the legislature still has $4.6 million for these types of projects and re-applications can be submitted. Brown also noted his willingness to assist with the non-point-source pollution control grant (through the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency) for the Otter River.

Commenting on the many miles he covers driving across his 110th District, from the Tip of the Keweenaw down to Iron County and over to Gogebic County, Brown said he is happy to do it because of "the people and the beauty of the area."

Tami Anderson, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District executive director, presents Michigan Rep. Rich Brown, D-Bessemer, with a gift from the District – a map of the Upper Peninsula, sculptured in copper, from Copperland Arts & Crafts of Lake Linden.

Brown congratulated the District on its many years of service to the local community and encouraged the group to continue their conservation efforts. Tami Anderson, District executive director, presented Brown with a thank-you gift, a copper-plated cut-out of the Upper Peninsula. Brown promised to keep it on his desk in Lansing as a constant reminder of his constituents back home.

Continued Page 2: Incumbents re-elected to District Board of Directors