ESCANABA — The Delta County Board has opted to enter into an agreement with Dickinson County to share medical examiner services.

If the contract is reached, it would go into effect on Oct. 1 and save Delta County an estimated $20,000 a year, county officials said.

The current ME, Dr. Cary Gottleib, who also works as a pathologist for OSF St. Francis, is preparing to retire. The deputy ME for Delta County, Dr. Martin Cristanelli, provides the same services for other parts of the Upper Peninsula and has expressed interest in taking over for Gottleib.

Medical examiners may be called upon to determine causes of death. Their work includes performing autopsies and reviewing forensic evidence, though autopsies are not always necessary.

Delta County now pays $42,000 a year to retain an ME — a

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