City commissioners support application for downtown Ironwood brewery

IRONWOOD — Plans to open a brewery in downtown Ironwood advanced Monday when the city commission voted to support an application to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

The Ironwood Brewery Company’s state application advanced on a 3-0 vote, with Jim Mildren absent and Mayor Annette Burchell abstaining because her husband is involved in the venture.

Former Mayor Bob Burchell said a group of investors purchased the former Gogebic County Senior Center building across from the post office. He briefly summarized the brewery proposal, saying a “tasting room” is planned.

“We hope it will be a nice addition to the downtown,” Bob Burchell said.

The city commission’s endorsement was needed in the brewer’s license application process to the MLCC.

On another matter, commissioners granted a sign variance request for Tractor Supply at 1420 E. Cloverland Drive, the former Kmart building.

After a public hearing, the commission approved an eight-foot high sign for the building, while the city zoning code specifies a sign may only be four feet tall.

Ironwood Community Development Director Michael Brown said the variance will allow Tractor Supply to have the same size for its sign here as it has at Houghton and Sault Ste. Marie.

No one spoke against the variance request.

The variance passed 4-0 after the public hearing.

Commissioners also approved pay packages for several projects and a few requests for proposals, including one for a zoning update.

The commission approved seeking bids for water leak detection services. Utilities director Bob Tervonen said it will cost around $16,000 for a company to come in and try to determine where water leaks exist on the 65 miles of pipe.

Tervonen said there has been an increase since March in pumping of around 250,000 gallons a day, or around 10 percent. He said he believes many small leaks might be responsible for the increase.

Mayoral and city manager appointments and reappointments approved Monday included Helen Slining to the library board; Sam Davey, Paul Anderson and Linda Jindrich to the parks-recreation committee, and Joe Cayer Sr. to the housing commission.