Efforts to bring Iron Belle Trail to Ramsay continue

By BRYAN HELLIOS

[email protected]

Bessemer — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved receiving a grant for an addition to the Iron Belle Trail during Wednesday evening’s meeting.

Paul Anderson, an engineer for Coleman Engineering Company, presented the board with details for the trail extension from Bessemer to Ramsay.

“There’s a lot of layers and complexities to this agreement through the attachments that I have provided to basically protect the county board (and) their interests in this project,” he said.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $1,428,500. Of this amount, $173,900 is coming from the Michigan’s Western Gateway Trail Authority via a Department of Natural Resources Iron Belle Trail mini grant plus another $9,400 from the Western UP Convention and Visitors Bureau. Another $200,000 is coming from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation and $745,300 from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The DNR has gained control of the land needed for Phase Three of the project by accepting easements from Bessemer Township and the city of Bessemer, Anderson said, adding the closing on Steiger’s is scheduled to take place within the next week or two.

“In that easement, a key item is the DNR agrees to take the operation and maintenance of the trail in perpetuity,” he said.

The DNR will pass that onto the Michigan Western Gateway Trail Authority for a 20-year lease, he explained.

“The trail authority holds the bag for next 20 years for the operation and maintenance of the trail,” he said.

Anderson explained the three-mile section will use about one mile of existing railroad grade while the other sections will have to be built up creating a base.

“This has been in the planning stages for 20 years around here,” Anderson said. “It’s part of the statewide trail system and it is to give families a place to recreate, connect the communities and promote tourism.”

In other business, the board:

—Agreed to advance up to $30,000 to cover pre-vouchers for operation costs for the upcoming Gogebic County Fair with the understanding the funds would be repaid by fair receipts.

—Appointed Dr. Martin Christanelli as Gogebic County’s Medical Examiner for a period of six month.