Ironwood hires Anderson as city manager, engineer

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood — At a special meeting last week, members of the Ironwood City Commission voted unanimously to confirm a contract hiring Paul Anderson, P.E., of Ironwood as the new city manager and city engineer.

Anderson’s predecessor, Scott Erickson, also had worked in the same dual role for 17 years before submitting his resignation in April. At that time, Erickson said that his final day as city manager would be June 6, whereas he would retain his role as city engineer until a new manager was hired.

“I’d like to just say welcome aboard,” said Commissioner Rick Semo to Anderson, who will start his new job on Oct. 31.

“I’m super excited,” Anderson told commissioners. “I’m ready to start. I’m just honored by the opportunity.”

Andrew DiGiorgio, director of the Ironwood Public Safety Department, has been working as the acting city manager ever since Erickson left that role.

“I will continue in this capacity until Paul comes on board,” said DiGiorgio, who added that he has scheduled a transitional meeting with Anderson and assured that “the city’s in great hands.”

After the meeting, Anderson told the Globe his priorities, which include filling the position of city clerk, from which Wendy Hagstrom recently resigned. “That’s a big position to fill,” said Anderson.

Beyond that, he said, “There’re some big projects in the hopper,” such as the city’s new water and sewer plants.

In addition, he said, he wants to get to know all city staff and to learn what their own priorities are while also ascertaining where resources may be needed.

Anderson said his new position with the city will be the “perfect opportunity” to utilize his experience to date.

“I spent 20 years doing private consulting in civil engineering issues,” he said, adding that he’d been employed with Coleman Engineering in Ironwood after doing similar work in Colorado.

“I had a lot of good years with Coleman working on city of Ironwood projects,” said Anderson, who noted that — as a result — he already knows most city staff members. Likewise, he said, “I’m a known entity.”

Anderson now is closing out his final days as a transportation engineer with the Ironwood office of the Ottawa National Forest.

Regarding the course of seeking a replacement for Erickson, Corcoran said during the meeting, “It was a very difficult process. We had some very good candidates.”

She thanked DiGiorgio for “holding things together” during the interim and also expressed gratitude to Erickson for his many years of valuable service.

“Andrew definitely filled some big shoes and definitely did a fantastic job,” said Paul Linn, the city’s finance director and treasurer.

Commissioner Jim Mildren also thanked DiGiorgio for “juggling” so many different responsibilities

After the meeting, DiGiorgio emphasized to the Globe that he’s had great support from his own department, as well as from city employees in general. As such, he said he has benefitted from an effective “team approach.”

Anderson’s contract runs from Oct. 31 of this year to June 30 of 2027 with a 2-year renewal option.

His salary is noted as $97,500, with additional benefits including hospital, medical, dental and vision coverage; $20,000 in term life insurance; a retirement plan; five weeks of vacation and 11 holidays; four hours of sick leave per bi-weekly period; use of a city vehicle and cell phone; and travel expenses for city business.

In addition, if the city ever decided to terminate him before his contract ends, he would receive six months of severance pay.

During the meeting, Semo asked whether the salary and benefit package outlined within the agreement is within the means of city financing.

“It is within the budget,” said Linn.