Xcel matters approved by city commissioners

By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission Monday approved agreements with Xcel Energy for the company’s South Range Road substation that will net the city $55,000.

Commissioners approved a permit, road use agreement and general release relating to access to the substation off South Range Road.

City manager Scott Erickson said when the site plan was approved for Xcel a few years back, the company agreed to be responsible for any road damages or repairs.

Erickson said the $54,000 payment that was agreed to from Xcel will be put back into the roadway for improvements.

“It’s a very equitable release,” he told the city commission.

The permit and road use agreement identify access to the site to be via Lake Road-Frenchtown Road-South Range Road, with a one-time permit of $1,000.

In other business Monday, commissioners heard an update on the speed limit along Country Club Road, near the golf course, from Ironwood Public Safety Department Director Andrew DiGiorgio, but took no action.

The county has a 45 mph speed limit there in Ironwood Township leading to the city’s 35 mph zone.

DiGiorgio said for the county to change its speed limit, it would need to have a speed study performed after a request from the township.

He said the city could choose to lower its limit to 25 mph, but that might not work well next to a 45 mph limit.

A concurrent speed limit was suggested Monday.

DiGiorgio said he’ll try to work with the county and Gogebic Country Club to come up with a viable solution.

He said there haven’t been many traffic accidents in that stretch, but country club officials said they’d like to see a lower speed limit.