The Daily Globe - Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer - At a regular meeting on Tuesday evening, Bessemer city council members addressed Colby Hill Road repairs and Moore Street sewer work.

The council voted to approve $39,452 worth of repairs on Colby Hill Road, most of which will be funded by $30,000 worth of grants from the state and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The city will cover the remaining cost.

The Colby repair will consist of adding four inches of gravel to the current surface, followed by "pulverizing and paving," as described by a proposal from Angelo Luppino, Inc. of Iron Belt, Wis., which will do the work.

Under the recommendation of city manager Charly Loper and Neal Nelson, who leads Bessemer's Public Works Department, the council chose a dual-layer option that Loper said "will last significantly longer" on the targeted road length of 825 feet.

Mayor pro tempore Terry Kryshak, who was running the meeting in the absence of mayor Adam Zak, said the road will not be disturbed by utility work scheduled for 2021.

Loper added, moreover, that the road has no sewer or water lines underneath it, so there never will be a need for such disruption.

In a separate vote, the council also voted to improve the intersection of Colby Hill Road and Granite Street, for an additional cost of about $1,000 for an area estimated at 500 square feet.

"I think it needs it," said council member Lou Miskovich.

In a separate road matter, the council also learned that Nelson and his crew have agreed to address a sewer repair under Moore Street.

Although the city had hoped to get contractor bids on the project, Loper said, "It seems everyone's short of time right now."

The city manager, who said no council action was needed for the matter, said related federal and state grant funds will expire as of Feb. 2, 2020, and so added that it was essential to address the issue before winter.

After the meeting, Nelson told the Daily Globe that he hopes only a "spot repair" will be needed.

Playground equipment

chosen for Yale

In other news, the council also voted to purchase $19,971 worth of playground equipment from PlaygroundEquipment.com for a park planned in Yale location.

The project cost will be covered by $15,000 in state grant funds and a donation from Bessemer Plywood Corporation.

A survey of Yale residents determined that residents want the playground on the south side of Barber Field. Loper added that part of the funds will be used to create a staircase to the site.

The council also:

-Voted to approve new garbage/recycling pick-up rates of $16.82 per month. Council members already had approved the new 10-year plan at a previous meeting.

-Voted to appoint Kady Meinke and Doug Olsen to serve on the downtown development authority.

-At the request of Donna Frello, chairperson of the Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee, voted to grant routine support for the town's 41st annual Pumpkinfest, to be held over the last long weekend of September.

-Voted to approve a loan agreement between the city of Bessemer and the city's building authority, so as to meet the terms of a state Brownfield program that has made possible grant funds to demolish a blighted building at 508 S. Moore St.

-Voted to schedule a Nov. 18 public hearing regarding the condemnation of structures located at 701 Spring St. and 607 E. Sellar St., and of garages at 210 S. Moore St.

"All of these building owners have been warned numerous times, and they haven't moved forward with any action," said Loper.

The next regular meeting of the council is on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in the council room of the Bessemer City Hall. The public is welcome.