Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Ironwood — The annual city spring cleanup event is being planned to work within the current pandemic guidelines, according to reports at the Ironwood City Commission meeting Monday.
Commissioner Kim Corcoran inquired as to whether the city’s spring cleanup would occur this year. The annual event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
City Manager Scott Erickson said a one-day event with the high school Army JROTC program providing the labor would not be possible. The city is working to create a self-drop off event at bins provided behind Ironwood Public Safety Department but details are still being finalized.
The project would likely span several days in late April and early May, he said. The final details are being worked out with waste management contractors and the city public works department, he said.
In a COVID-19 response update, Andrew DiGiorgio, director of Ironwood Public Safety Department, said that as the community moves forward into the vaccine phase of COVID-19 that it is important to continue exercising caution and continue to use all of the hygiene, masking and social distancing practices. The age 65 and older population is now over 60% vaccinated and 38% received their second shot, while the age 50 to 64 population is about a third vaccinated with at least one shot, he said.
“So it’s exciting to see that we are moving through this process and we will continue to see the vaccination process exist probably into the summer,” DiGiorgio said.
Mayor Annette Burchell said that the seven-day average for new cases of COVID-19 in Michigan reached 3,306 on Sunday, following a low of around 800 cases in February. She said this is a reminder that people need to be mindful of prevention as restrictions are eased.
“We have spring break coming and lots of people in the country will be traveling,” Burchell said. “I would like to caution everybody that we are still in the midst of a pandemic.”
There is a lot to learn about the new coronavirus variants and this adds to the caution, she said.
The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department wants to vaccinate between 400 and 600 individuals per week, DiGiorgio said. It will continue to use the Ironwood Memorial Building as a primary vaccination site.
The health department would like to move up to vaccinating all adults after April 5, he said. That decision is tentative while the plan prioritizes vaccinations for the oldest ages first and moving downward, he said.
DiGiorgio encouraged individuals to contact the health department or Aspirus regarding scheduling a vaccination appointment. Vaccinations may also be scheduled online at their websites, he said.
The health department is small and inundated with phone calls, he said. This makes it difficult to reach them so people are encouraged to keep trying.
In the public comment portion for non-agenda items, Carissa Cayer Mott called in to ask the city to consider using a “robocall” system that notifies residents with immediate information such as water breaks, hydrant flushing, or other urgent and timely information such as meetings, tax dates, garbage and recycle changes, First Friday or anything of interest to residents.
Not everyone follows the city’s social media page or may not remember the information from mailings and flyers and media, she said. The Ironwood Area Schools uses the system and it works very well, she said.
“I don’t know the costs, but I think it’s something to consider to keep the community members better informed as to what is going on in the city,” Cayer Mott said.
Corcoran said it was worth exploring, suggesting it could be an option for people to sign up for. Other commissioners were receptive to the idea.
Scott Erickson, city manager, said he would review various platforms and present them to the commission for consideration.
“This is a good time for discussion as we are going into the budget cycle,” Erickson said. “I can bring back some cost estimates.”
In other business, the city commission:
—Awarded the $28,770 low bid contract to Stratford Sign Co. for the construction of city entrance monument signs at the east and west entries on U.S. 2.
—Recognized the Meritorious Conduct Award to Public Safety officer Michael Rimkus, and the Recognition of Life Save Award to officers Andrew Leiphart and Paul Rickard.
—Approved city commission goals for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
—Adopted an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance to make the conditional use permit process consistent with the adult-use marijuana ordinance. Commissioner Joseph Cayer voted no.
—Approved a local state of emergency resolution for the purpose of permitting the city commissions and other public bodies the option to meet by electronic means through Dec. 31.
—Authorized bids to replace 21 aging fire hydrants.
—Adopted a resolution to schedule a public hearing for public comment on a blight violation regarding 39 Newport Heights South, at 5:25 p.m. Monday, Apr. 12.
—Approved an easement for Xcel Energy, Inc. to bury the existing overhead power lines at Norrie Park.
—Renewed a subrecipient agreement with Northern Great Lakes Initiatives for Michigan Community Development Block Grant program.
—Awarded a $31,885 bid to P.K. Contracting, Inc. for the 2021 street pavement markings. Cayer asked that the Norrie Street markings be adjusted to center.
