Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Marenisco — In the wake of continuing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday evening to allow the Fourth of July Committee to use township property for a scaled-down celebration of this year’s holiday.
“We figure this is the United States of America, and people have the right to gather,” said Supervisor Richard Bouvette.
He added that the celebration could include a parade as long as units wish to participate and are willing to meet the requirements of social distancing.
As for public viewers, Bouvette said, “If people want to come to the parade, they can. If they don’t want to be there, that’s fine too.”
The supervisor assured that fireworks should not be an issue.
“We set them up the old-fashioned way,” he said. “The guys can stay apart.”
Bouvette did add that there are some activities that “we won’t be able to do.”
For instance, he said the traditional turkey feed held in the main pavilion downtown will not happen.
He is not sure yet what other activities may be dropped.
At the request of Trustee Kelly Dunbar, Bouvette said he will seek legal advice in relation to Fourth of July plans.
Bouvette concluded that all aspects of the celebration will come down to each individual’s personal choice. If concerns about public health increase at that time, he said the celebration also can be canceled then if needed.
In general, however, he emphasized the need for life to return as much as possible to normal with some businesses expected to open by Friday after an extended state shutdown.
“That cannot happen,” he said regarding some calls in the nation for a continued closure of regular activity. “We won’t have anything left.”
“This is the land of the free, and we can exercise some rights,” he said.
In other news, the board also:
—Learned from Bouvette that state repair of the U.S. 2 bridge over the Presque Isle River is expected to begin no earlier than June 21 and to end no later than Aug. 25.
—Learned that a $39,600 project to improve River Street may begin next week and is estimated to be completed within a couple weeks.
The work will include replacing culverts and gravel resurfacing, with paving expected next summer.
Mahler retiring
After the meeting, Bouvette told the Globe that Bruce Mahler has submitted his resignation as the township’s chief of police and only full-time law enforcement officer. His last day will be Aug. 31.
According to Bouvette, who intends to resign before the end of the year, Mahler has applied to be the next township supervisor. Voting for that position will be on Nov. 3.
The board will meet next on June 15 at 6 p.m. “The next meeting will be at the township hall unless you hear otherwise,” said Bouvette. The public is welcome.
In addition, the township’s annual cleanup has been scheduled for June 20 and 21 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the same location as last year, near the pavilion in Memorial Park.
No tires or batteries will be accepted.
The town hall also will open on Monday after having been closed for about two months due to a state mandate relating to COVID-19.
