Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
An Ironwood city employee mows the grass at Krznarich Little League Field on Monday. The city commission authorized bids to install playground equipment near the field at its regular meeting on Monday. The project will be funded using a Neighborhood Enhancement Program grant.
By ZACHARY MARANO
Ironwood - City Engineer Scott Erickson provided the city commissioners with an update on their projects at their regular meeting on Monday. Erickson said that the city has approximately 51 projects that are underway or in the works and reviewed some of the highlights.
Erickson said that a contractor comes to the city every year and applies a fresh coat of paint to the pavement markings indicating which way traffic should go. He said the contractor has made good progress so far but still has a few streets left to paint as of Monday evening.
Earlier this year, the city commission approved a contract with Nasi Construction for new metal siding and fencing at the Department of Public Works following damage to the northeast side of the building on 200 Penokee Road. Erickson said that the fencing around the perimeter of the site has been repaired and the siding should be replaced soon.
Erickson said that the city awarded a street patching bid to Angelo Luppino Inc. He said that city staff have marked the locations throughout town that need work and the contractor should start work around the July 4.
Erickson said that the city's largest street and sewer project for the year is a rebuild of Francis Street. The project includes new water, sewer, curb and gutters and sidewalks from Greenbush to Lowell streets. He said that their contractor, Jake's Excavating and Landscaping, anticipates a July 14 start date. Before then, Xcel Energy will replace the gas lines on this portion of the street.
Erickson said the city is calling for bids on the water treatment plant project. He said that they extended the deadline for bids until July 14 to provide contractors more time to review the plan and present competitive bids for the city commission's approval.
The city has contracted the Marquette-based firm Flowtrack Mountain Bike Trails to create a series of mountain bike trails in Miners Memorial Heritage Park. Erickson reported the firm has completed roughly four of 10 miles of trail. He said this project will continue into September at least. With the project moving along as planned, the commission authorized their second payment to Flowtrack in the amount of $24,400 in Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant funding.
Erickson said the city contracted a third party to perform a water leak detection survey. He said that this firm uses special equipment to find water leaks that often go unnoticed. He said there are invariably some leaks and when the survey is completed the DPW will address these leaks.
Ruotsala Concrete Construction recently finished concrete work in the Downtown City Square and embedded a steel city logo near the intersection of Aurora and Lowell streets. The commission approved payment of $10,000.
The city commission also adopted a resolution to purchase foreclosed properties formerly owned by Wells Fargo Bank on Aurora Street. Interim City Manager Andrew DiGiorgio said that this resolution represents opportunities for development. He said that this resolution will give the city the first right of refusal on the properties if no other interests come forward but does not require the city purchase of the properties.
City commissioner Jim Mildren described these foreclosed properties as an "eyesore" and "bone of contention," saying that the commission has received many questions regarding why the city was tolerating these properties in their current state. He said that this resolution was a step in the right direction.
The city was recently awarded a Neighborhood Enhancement Program grant for completing all its projects on time. The city was hoping to receive $30,000 through this grant, which was just enough money to install pickleball courts in Patterson Park on Hemlock Street. However, Director of Community Development Tom Bergman said that they only received $22,500, which prompted them to change plans.
Bergman said that the city will instead purchase new playground equipment, which will be installed near Krznarich Little League Field. He said that the equipment will be similar to that found in the park north of U.S. 2 at the intersection of Lowell and Midland streets. The commission authorized bids for this project during their meeting on Monday.
Bergman added that the city will continue searching for other funding sources to install the pickleball courts as they had originally planned.
