County board supports land deal to extend Iron Belle Trail

BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners this week went on record as supporting the purchase of land from Pat Steiger for the next phase of the Iron Belle Trail.

The non-motorized trail will extend from Bessemer to Ramsay.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources sought the letter of support from the county.

The land will be purchased from Steiger Timber Operations.

More than $1.1 million has been raised for the $1.4 million trail project and the remaining $300,000 is expected to come through in December from a MDNR Trust Fund grant. The application is currently under review.

The Gogebic County Road Commission has again agreed to be the grant recipient for a $750,000 Michigan Department of Transportation TAP grant, Gogebic County is anticipating the trust fund grant and the Western Gateway Trail Authority has come up with the remaining match of more than $383,000.

“All of these local governmental entities are working together to make this project happen,” county board chair George Peterson, of Watersmeet, wrote in a letter to Roger Storm, MDNR Trailway Acquisition Specialist in Lansing.

“Having MDNR acquire the land from Steiger Timber Operations will be the last key piece to putting this project together and is very much appreciated,” Peterson wrote.

The Steiger land purchase price was not listed in the letter of support.

While the county board approved the letter of support, one board member noted it will mean taking the property off the tax rolls.