Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Bessemer DDA talks annual spending

BY CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Bessemer — The Bessemer Downtown Development Authority was focused on how best to spend its monies to help grow the businesses in the community, during its meeting on Thursday night.

The Downtown Development Authority approved popup shop funding for Melissa Anderson owner of Mel’s Cuts Barber Shop. The shop is located directly across from A.D. Johnston High School, in the small green building at 101 East Lead Street. Anderson grew up in Bessemer and graduated from ADJ. She said she has 24 years experience as a barber and formerly owned a shop in Moose Lake, Minnesota.

Anderson said she recently returned to the area. She said the shop is special to her as her dad used to get his hair cut there when she was growing up.

“My mission is to provide high quality barber service to my hometown Bessemer at prices that are reflective of the local economy,” she said.

Anderson said she has competition from three local barbers, but that has not affected her business. The DDA awarded her the pop up shop funding. The funding will pay for Anderson’s rent at $450 a month for three months and then pay for 50% of her rent for an additional six months. The DDA voted unanimously to approve the funding

The DDA also awarded up to $3,500 in facade funding to Deanna and Cole Harju. The funding will be distributed in a 1:1 match up. The couple recently purchased the old gas station at 315 West Lead from Cole’s father and that the property was quite an eyesore. She said they are trying to clean up all the garbage and get it back to a decent business property.

“We just want to see if we can get some assistance in getting the property back in shape,” said Deanna. “The paint is wearing and tearing on the outside. We can’t technically drive there without running around some concrete issues ... just a lot of upkeep and maintenance (issues).”

She said that the renovations are a costly endeavor and they are choosing to stay local with their suppliers and companies that will assist them with the project. She said their goal is to be able to rent the property out after they complete renovations. The DDA voted unanimously to approve the facade funding. They said it was the first time they had been asked for facade funding in years.

The DDA approved the purchase of a new furnace for the Bessemer Historical Society. The furnace will be provided and installed by Efficiency Kings LLC of Ironwood. The high efficiency modulating boiler will cost the city $8,700 and runs at 96% efficiency.

“It seems like it’s a decent bang for our buck,” said mayor Adam Zak.

The DDA also:

—Approved the purchase of street signs to be installed along U.S. 2. The signs are estimated to cost $1,000 but the DDA approved the purchase with 10% “wiggle room” as the quote had expired and the DDA wishes to have the signs be done in white with black lettering to match the signs along Sophie Street rather than green with white lettering.

—Were introduced to librarian Melissa Lupino and assistant city secretary Samantha Dorr who may be recommended to replace Charly Loper as staff for the DDA. Loper wishes to step down from the group as she feels she has not been able to fully dedicate herself to the group with all the other city projects that are taking place such as the U.S. 2 project and the city’s water and sewer project.

—Voted to keep their meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. The group had considered moving the date after having to cancel four meetings due to lack of quorum.

 
 
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