Ironwood receives good marks for water quality

IRONWOOD - The city of Ironwood's water system received a "good report card" in recent state testing, according to city manager Scott Erickson.

Following the water crisis in Flint, Ironwood was the only Upper Peninsula community chosen for water testing by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the state, Erickson told city commissioners on Monday.

Erickson praised city utilities director Bob Tervonen and water plant operator Jim Ansami for the favorable results.

The city has been taking many steps to improve its infrastructure, including the water distribution system, in a multi-phased approach through federally-funded projects.

On another matter, Erickson noted trucks from Green Bay Pipe and TV are in the city this week clearing sanitary sewer lines for smoke testing.

It's part of the stormwater, assessment management and sewer grant the city received through the DEQ.

Motorists are advised to use extra caution because the trucks are parked in the middle of streets for the SAW grant work.

Erickson also noted the playground rock structures for Depot Park arrived Monday and city workers installed them on Tuesday morning. Semis with wood chips

used for the playground surface pulled in and were unloaded around noon on Tuesday.

On March 14, the city commission approved a $37,000 bid from Miracle Midwest for the playground in a 30-by-60-foot area. It was funded through a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant that requires a $5,000 city match.

Also, work continues on the Curry Park electrical upgrade and Carnegie Library renovation projects.

The street paving project on Tuesday included preparation work for blacktopping deteriorated stretches of Norrie Park Road and South Range Road.