Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — A 5-year recreation plan for 2023-2027 was adopted last week by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners, but members already anticipate addressing several new ideas proposed during a public hearing just prior to the vote.
The Jan. 25 motion, specifically, recommended adopting the plan and sending it back to the county’s Forestry and Parks Commission with an acknowledgment of a potential need to rule on later updates, based on additional suggestions made by members of the public.
Those suggestions included expanding equine opportunities within and near the Gogebic County Fairgrounds, designating the McDonald Flowage County Park as a waterfowl sanctuary, and establishing ORV parks to accommodate riding in a controlled environment.
Jerald Wuorenmaa of the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region reported that the public hearing was the last step in the plan process, which already had included more than 30 days of public review and a survey that garnered at least 200 responses.
The plan addressed the county’s recreation and natural resource conservation needs according to guidelines of the state Department of Natural Resources.
During the hearing, Rudy Grbavcich of Ironwood explained to commissioners the intention of Gogebic County Fair Board members and other equine entities to apply for a state DNR SPARK grant that potentially could help to fund expanded equine interests at the county fairgrounds.
As noted in more than one dozen letters of support submitted so far, local officials favoring the idea imagine an equine arena, a campground for persons traveling with horses, equine trails, and the facilitation of equine therapy.
Grbavcich also promoted the notion of ORV park space as a potential means of providing riders “a controlled environment.” In addition, he suggested addressing the needs of winter camping enthusiasts and of creating and distributing maps to show snowmobilers where they can ride off-trail on county property.
Ryszard Borys of Edgerton, Wisconsin, pushed for several possible changes at McDonald Flowage County Park with the understanding that the MDNR’s approval also would be needed.
“I spend a lot of time in recreation in Gogebic County,” said Borys, who provided commissioners with literature detailing his hopes for the park, where he’d like to see an expansion of the campground, better signage, a limit in the horsepower of boats, and at least a temporary reduction in waterfowl hunting,
He emphasized the value of silent recreation, including bird watching, star gazing, angling and camping.
Although commissioners did not voice approval for any of the suggestions rendered during the hearing, Board Chairman James Lorenson did ask Wuorenmaa if the recreation plan can be amended at any time.
“It can be amended but it’s a pretty in-depth process,” replied Wuorenmaa in relation to the necessity to acquire DNR approval.
“I’d really hate to wait for four or five years for some of these issues to be addressed,” said Lorenson in referring to the period of time that will pass before the recreation plan will expire.
Wuorenma then suggested the second option of an informal amendment process that would not require immediate DNR approval.
Last week’s vote on the recreation plan was unanimous with all members present. It included the related Resolution No. 2023-3, which simply phrases the intent to adopt the plan.
