Commission approves scaled down deer hunt

By RALPH ANSAMI

ransami@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission decided Monday to again conduct a city deer hunt, but it will be scaled down from previous years.

In approving a 2014 archery hunt, city commissioners rejected a recommendation from the parks and recreation committee that the hunt be suspended because of a lack of deer after a very harsh winter on the herd.

The commission approved a hunt that will include issuing 50 permits, down from 100 in 2013.

It will be the ninth year of a city hunt, City Manager Scott Erickson noted.

Last year, 22 hunters participated in the bow hunt, while there were 38 hunters the year before.

The hunt has served its purpose because only 21 deer were killed last year, compared to much larger numbers in the earlier hunts.

Another indication deer numbers are down in the city limits is a sharp yearly decrease in car-deer accidents.

There will be no bucks shot this year, but does that are harvested will be counted for a possible Earn-A-Buck license next year.

Also, there will be no hunting in Miners Memorial Heritage Park after Nov. 15.

In other business Monday, the commission approved a bid for asphalt paving of some streets for this fall, in addition to the other infrastructure projects that are resulting in new street surfaces.

A bid of $455,270 was approved from Angelo Luppino of Iron Belt, Wis. Only one other bid was received for considerably more.

Luppino bid $499,999 for the city street paving, but since the city had only the $455,270 available, the project will be scaled down a bit.

In addition to $350,000 previously budgeted for paving by the city, $50,000 in Michigan Department of Transportation funding will be applied toward the cost of the project.

The commission also approved scaling down its crack sealing project from $78,800 to $70,000. A private firm was awarded the bid for that project at an earlier meeting.

In other action Monday, the commission:

—Learned Mayor Kim Corcoran has appointed Nancy Korpela to the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority.

—Authorized the mayor to sign an agreement for a $30,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources for Longyear Park improvements. A donation and city labor will be used for the local $30,000 match.

—Learned fall clean-up day will be conducted in the morning of Saturday, Sept. 13, with more details to be released as the date approaches.