Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WORK CONTINUES on the County Trunk D extension project just off Wisconsin 77 in the city of Hurley on Wednesday. Jeremy Webb, of A-1 Excavating, scoops dirt north of the highway, near the industrial park. The path for the one-mile extension has been cleared through mostly forested land. Traffic was reduced to one lane in the construction zone near the Cary Mine Convenience store.
HURLEY - The Hurley City Council finds itself in the enviable position of having a $600,000 grant to spend.
At its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the council discussed the money with Jeff Seamandel, of MSA Professional Services, the city's engineering firm.
Seamandel said the federal Army Corps of Engineers grant was originally designated for the city's well project, but it can be used for another project.
He indicated it's a use it or lose it proposition for the city.
Seamandel said while the city might be eligible for another $500,000 grant for the well project, the entire cost would be around $3 million and funding wouldn't be available for the additional $2 million.
"There's no place we can get $2 million in grant money," he said.
Mayor Joe Pinardi said the project to develop wells behind the Hurley K-12 school so the city could have its own water source was originally estimated at $2 million, but bids came in at $3 million.
Hurley currently buys water from Ironwood and Montreal.
Three wells were drilled and test-pumped behind the school as part of the project. Seamandel said a treatment building for iron manganese would be a major expense connected to a well project.
He said the $600,000 could instead be applied to any water-sewer project the city would choose to undertake within the next two years.
Pinardi noted it's too late for any construction project this year, but said a project would be a possibility to be considered for next summer.
Council member Jamey Francis said the council might have other priorities for the money by next year.
The council took no immediate action on spending the money.
County D update
Seamandel said utility work for the County D extension grant-funded project should be completed by next month.
Trees and stumps have been cleared along the right-of-way for the new roadway alignment, designed so trucks can have better access to the Hurley Industrial Park, avoiding the downtown and a four-way stop.
A-1 Excavating began installing the sewer-water utilities along the mile-long alignment last month. A-1 should be done with the sanitary work by the end of next week. It will then install the sewer forcemain and and watermain.
Installation of the lift station will be the last part of this year's County D work, which is preparation for road construction. MSA lists County D road construction to begin in May 2016, with a September 2016 completion date.
