Bessemer City Council approves new memorial site

BESSEMER - The Bessemer City council approved the Downtown Development Authority plan to pursue a new memorial site at its meeting on Tuesday.

City manager Mike Uskiewicz gave an initial presentation of the plan.

This would designate a "portion of the pocket park on Sophie Street be dedicated to the perpetual use as a memorial site," the proposal said.

This would include the section from the north end of the Abelman's building to the cedar tree line as the site. The rest of the space could be used by the recreation committee for beautification efforts.

They hope to come up with a design that would be of no cost to the city of Bessemer.

According to John Frello, a member of the DDA, "When the Fourth of July committee started their Tree of Honor, recognition. That was a wonderful idea, a wonderful program. It has been well received as you can see by the number of individuals that participate each year."

"But, I think that concept is ready for the next level," he said.

They DDA wants to follow the same idea and designate a space for individuals to be recognized.

"The intent is not to cost the city any money," the DDA any money" Frello said.

"Well pretty much follow the idea, the concept, that Wakefield did in their memorial. They funded it through corporate donations, but primarily from selling the names on the bricks," he continued.

Though this is not a set plan, it's an idea. He also said there is the possibility of getting community grants to fund the project as well.

"This isn't a program or something that's going to be done over night," Frello said. "I would imagine it might be a couple of years, putting everything together."

The memorial would be open to past and present firefighters and veterans, he said, but there will be some minor qualifications.

"But all of that will be hashed out as we progress," Frello said.

Uskiewicz also said once a final design and plan is in place, the proposal would come back to the council for approval.

After a bit more discussion, the council unanimously approved the concept of the memorial site and dedicating the land for establishment.

In other business, the board:

-Heard two letters of correspondence from Star Kolesar. In the first letter, she thanked the council for not selling the property in the Bessemer Bluff area. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering the voice of our residents," she said.

In a separate letter, Kolesar thanked the city crew for their plowing and care of the city's streets.

"Their hard work is noticed and appreciated," she said.

-Denied a reimbursement request from Willard Seeke regarding a freeze bill, totaling $275. The city had previously sent $100 to Seeke for the bills, and a city ordinance states the city cannot pay more than $100 per resident request each season.

-Approved to extend the deadline for the Mary Street Grant project until June 30, 2015.

-Addressed the Jean Peterson tax appeal, the stipulation for entry of consent judgement and consent judgement and authorized the signing of the document.

-Approved the city clerk to purchase a credit/debit card machine for residents to be able to pay bills and taxes that way. The service charge once the machine is in use will be paid by the customer, city clerk Jim Trudgeon said. To purchase the card reader " it will initially cost the city less than $100."

-Heard about the capital conference which will be held in Lansing on March 24 and 25. According to the city manager's report, currently, only councilman Doug Olsen and Uskiewicz are set to attend.

-Heard public comment from Kathy Whitburn about making sure the clerk's office will notify the residents of the new credit card machine once it is in use.

The next meeting for the city council is on Monday, Feb. 2.