Ironwood residents asked to help snowplow drivers

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood — With colder weather approaching by the weekend, there’s a possibility of snowfall and city plows may soon be out again.

City manager Scott Erickson on Monday urged city homeowners to take some precautions to assist snowplow drivers.

Erickson said any vehicles, basketball hoops, woodpiles or other obstructions that might hamper plowing should be removed from city rights-of-way before the snow flies.

The city’s ban on overnight parking also assists plowing efforts. Vehicles in violation of the parking ban will be towed away and the owners will be cited.

In his bi-weekly report to the city commission, Erickson noted another 12 blighted houses will be demolished through a grant program. Bids will be let over the winter and “deconstruction” is planned to begin next spring.

Erickson said it’s tentatively planned that the commission will visit the new Xcel Energy facility in the industrial park on Dec. 13.

Market and Johnson, of Eau Claire, Wis., is general contractor for the project in the northeast part of the park, across from the building that was purchased by Scandinavian Log Homes, of Kimball, Wis.

Xcel will move its offices from Alfred Wright Boulevard in Norrie Location to the industrial park site.

Xcel purchased 15.7 acres in the park to build the new office. The land was sold by the city for $2,000 an acre, the standard rate in the industrial park.