Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Ironwood — Ironwood City Commissioners approved on Monday evening the amending of an ordinance that authorizes the expansion of Miners Memorial Heritage Park.
Several persons affiliated with the park spoke in favor of the plan.
Ivan Hellen, MMHP’s historian, said the designated area of expansion will hold a full-size model of a mining memorial headframe along Penokee Road.
“This is not just going to be a headframe,” he said. “It’s going to have stairs and a viewing platform.”
He believes the headframe will draw public interest and tourism while also honoring the lives of miners, especially those who lost their lives on the job.
“We’re not spending any money,” said Mayor Kim Corcoran, who added that commissioners’ action simply allows the park land to grow.
Burton Industries donated the land.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the action.
Commissioners also:
— Approved an increase from $13.85 to $19.18 for the monthly utility rate of garbage/recycling. The city manager said that the higher fee will help to cover increased costs in relation to a new five-year contract with Republic Services in Eagle River, Wisconsin. “The second bid we received was much, much higher,” said city manager Paul Anderson. The new contract and the new utility rate both start on Nov. 1.
— Åpproved a one-year lease extension at $1,800 per month with United Parcel Service Inc at 201 Penokee Road. Anderson said UPS will cover the cost of some planned improvements, including drainage work.
— Approved a list of surplus equipment for sale, as presented by Lt. Matt Sterbenz on behalf of the Ironwood Public Safety Department.
— Scheduled public hearings in relation to blight violations at 922 E. Ayer St. and 205 N. Curry St.
— Åpproved resolutions authorizing action to remedy blight violations at 131 W. Oak St., 239 W. Ayer St. and 216 Kennedy St. The action followed related public hearings on each site just prior to the meeting.
— Åpproved a change order increase of $12,306.19 for C.D. Smith for Phase 1 of the water treatment project.
— Åpproved several change orders and payments for Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping LLC of Ironwood in relation to the Phase 5A water project and the lead service line project.
Commissioners also approved for Jake’s a work change directive to replace an existing sanitary main, laterals and manholes in Albany Street, between Hemlock and Norrie streets, also in relation to the Phase 5A project.
All votes were unanimous with all members present.
Anderson also reported that a recent fundraiser raffle for the Iron Belle Trail, with $20,000 raised, along with a $5,000 match from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation and a couple of additional donations that took the grand total to $25,680.
Anderson added that city clerk Jennifer Jacobson will be sending out 560 ballots in relation to the Nov. 5 election. He added that the city received a $5,000 non-governmental organization grant to put toward repairing ADA access doors used on election day.
The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chamber of the Ironwood Memorial Building.
