Ironwood voters approve street millage

IRONWOOD — Ironwood voters on Tuesday approved a special 10-year millage to resurface about 10 miles of streets next year.

The vote was 832 to 651, or 56 to 44 percent, to levy 2 mills for general obligation tax bonds to be repaid over a 10-year period, for about $1.4 million in street work.

Before the election, city manager Scott Erickson said there are 62 miles of streets in the city and although much street work has been done in the past few years, about 20 miles are still in bad shape and need of repair. He said the work would likely begin in Norrie Location and then move from south to north, covering as many streets as the $1.4 million would allow.

According to city officials, a person with a parcel with taxable value of $20,000 will pay $40 a year for the street millage.

The street millage replaces the millage for Memorial Building renovation project, which is expiring at the end of the year.

The Tuesday street proposal was similar to a previous one that was narrowly turned down by city voters.

City officials backed the proposal, saying interest rates are low and now is a good time to borrow.

Critics of the street millage said it was time that city homeowners received a break on their taxes.

Two public informational meetings were held prior to the election.