Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By ZACHARY MARANO
Ironwood — In recognition for saving the life of an area resident, an Ironwood Public Safety officer and three staff from Beacon Ambulance Service were honored by the Ironwood City Commission at its regular meeting on Monday.
The names of the Beacon Ambulance paramedics and EMTs were Garrett Strobel, Kenneth Wyka and Travis Yarger and the Ironwood Public Safety officer was Jamie Chiapuzio. Yarger told the Daily Globe that he and the others responded to an emergency call involving an area resident, Ruth Nelson, earlier this spring.
Upon arrival on the scene, the emergency responders managed to save Nelson’s life through CPR. Nelson attended the city commission meeting on Monday to thank the EMTs while Mayor Kim Corcoran bestowed life-saved awards on Chiapuzio, Wyka and Yarger. Strobel was unable to receive his award in person.
“The quick response to begin CPR and the use of training provided to our Ironwood Public Safety Officer resulted in the saving of the life of Mrs. Ruth Nelson. The Ironwood City Commission would like to thank you and recognize your willingness to ensure the wellbeing of our citizens and visitors,” Corcoran said.
“As a director of public safety, it’s moments like this that just makes you proud of the training of the staff that we have and the job that our department and Beacon Ambulance do,” IPSD Director Andrew DiGiorgio said.
Outgoing City Manager Scott Erickson gave his last manager’s report at the meeting. Erickson will step down as city manager on June 6 but will continue as city engineer until a permanent replacement for city manager is found. Also at the meeting, DiGiorgio took an oath of office as interim city manager. He will serve while the city commission conducts their search with the Michigan Municipal League.
In appreciation of his 17 years of service as city manager with many different city commissioners, Corcoran presented Erickson with a plaque and thanks from the commission.
“You are definitely leaving Ironwood in a better place, in a better position than when you started. I thank you so very much for that. I know that over the years, it hasn’t been easy. There’s been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of crazy, crazy things,” Corcoran said.
The city commission approved a resolution declaring June 2022 as Ironwood Pride, Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Month. Corcoran read the proclamation in its entirety at the meeting:
“Whereas, the city of Ironwood is a welcoming community, an exceptional place to live, work play, learn, build a business, and raise a family; and whereas, Ironwood recognizes the importance of equality and freedom; that our nation was founded on and is guided by a set of principles which include that every person has been created equal, has rights to their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and that each shall be accorded the full protection of the law. …
“I, Kim Corcoran, mayor of the city of Ironwood and my fellow city commissioners do hereby proclaim and recognize June 2022 as Pride, Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Month in Ironwood and encourages all citizens to work together toward building a community that promotes diversity, equity, inclusivity, liberty and justice for all.”
The city commission set a public hearing to amend an ordinance dealing with blight prevention for 5:25 p.m. on June 27, just before another regular meeting. The changes, which will be presented for consideration to the city commissioners in the next two weeks, are meant to make it easier for the city to address blight violations.
“With all the blight that’s around, I know there’s a lot of repeat offenders. I know some of them are extreme offenders. I want to make the process swifter and something that has a little teeth to it, where we can get rid of some of the blight and things that are going on,” Corcoran said.
Michelle Rigoni-Sivula recently stepped down as manager of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center and the city commission approved the civic center board’s recommendation for a wage and benefit package for the civic center manager. Erickson said that board restructured the position to be paid hourly and raised the salary. He said the open position will be posted as soon as possible.
The city commission also:
—Awarded a bid to the engineering firm McKim and Creed for a system-wide leak detection survey for the municipal water system in the amount of $13,500 using water funds.
—Approved a water meter reading extension with R.E.D. Construction for five years with a 2% annual increase.
—Approved a resolution establishing authorized signatories for the Michigan Employees’ Retirement System contracts and service credit purchase approvals. City Treasurer and Finance Director Paul Linn said this would essentially bypass a two-week waiting period between city commission’s actions and approval of the minutes.
—Approved the submittal of a Neighborhood Enhancement Program high performer mini grant request. Community Development Specialist Tim Erickson said that if the city receives this grant, they will be able to install pickleball courts next to the Patterson tennis court on Hemlock Street, which was identified as a priority by the city commission.
—Went into closed session to discuss contract negotiations with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, ratifying a collective bargaining agreement effective July 1 and expiring June 30, 2024, after reconvening in open session.
