Hurley moves toward US 51/2nd Avenue work

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Hurley — Members of the Hurley City Council made progress toward pending reconstruction of U.S. 51/2nd Avenue at their Tuesday evening meeting.

The council voted to approve an agreement with MSA Professional Services relating to the pending Wisconsin Department of Transportation utility reconstruction project.

The cost will be $10,000 to process an application for a related community development block grant and $3,500 for the related environmental review. Approximate start and end dates will be Aug. 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, respectively.

The council also voted to approve an agreement with MSA Professional Services for project design engineering relating to the same pending WDOT reconstruction project. The cost will be $192,800.

WDOT expects to reconstruct 2nd Avenue in 2026.

In other news, the council also received a presentation from Michelle Johnson, who works in community engagement for Enbridge Inc., a global pipeline company headquartered in Alberta, Canada.

“We did an exercise today on the Montreal River where we pretended we had an incident,” said Johnson by way of explaining one way in which Enbridge strives to ensure ongoing safety.

She reported that various representatives of area public safety attended and announced that Enbridge plans another similar training session soon and welcomed city officials to attend.

Johnson also distributed to the council brochures titled “Pipeline Safety and Emergency Information” and “Enbridge’s Economic Impact on Wisconsin.”

“We’re not the only pipeline in your area,” said Johnson, who noted that Enbridge, established in 1949, is the largest energy company in North America, with oil and natural gas pipelines, as well as $6 billion in renewable assets such as solar and wind initiatives.

Council members also:

—Voted to increase by $50 per day the payment for poll workers. This translates to a rise from $110 to $160 for the election inspector and from $100 to $150 for poll workers.

—Voted to fund new Silver Street banners, with Councilman Robert Lanctoe reporting that “the final price is $56 per banner.” Bruneau later told the Daily Globe that the city expects to purchase 85 new banners. Public Works Director Scott Santini suggested that city workers could install the banners — to be supplied by Jacquart Fabric Products in Ironwood — after 2023 graduation banners are removed.

—At the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Committee, voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing for short-term rentals at 408 Division St., owned by Mark Lauren.

—Voted to approve the Intergovernmental Water and Sewer Agreement among Hurley and the towns of Kimball and Carey. “This is just an agreement we have to have for the three towns to proceed with installing new meters,” said Bruneau after the meeting. Clerk/Treasurer Stacey Wiercinski said it also is needed to apply for grants.

—Heard a report from Jamey Francis, chair of the Police, Fire and License Committee, who said that the Hurley Police Department has been monitoring Pertile Park in relation to issues with vandalism.

—Heard a report from Stephanie Smith, chair of the Finance Committee.

All of the evening’s votes were unanimous with all members present.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on Aug. 10 at 5 p.m. in the council room of the Hurley municipal building. Council members voted to change the date from the regularly scheduled second Tuesday of the month due to the Aug. 9 primary election.