Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners commended the county road commission Wednesday evening for its response to the severe storm that devastated the area, particularity Little Girl’s Point, two weeks ago.
“On behalf of the county board, thank you for the road commission,” board chairman Joe Bonovetz said.
Road Commission Manager Darren Pionk said temporary repairs are still ongoing. He said the National Guard saved the road commission “a ton of money and time” needed to make the Lake Road and Powers Road area passable.
The road commission is currently working on the Wisconsin end of Lake Road to fix an area where culverts failed, he said. He said Coleman Engineering, of Ironwood, is helping out.
The county’s Emergency Service Management Agency Assistant Coordinator Heidi DeRosso said the National Guard’s last work day in the area will be Friday.
DeRosso said Emergency Services is making daily calls to the state government to keep them updated.
Pionk said he is looking for funding and at the cost of repairs. Pionk said he’s putting together estimates for roads that can receive federal aid, which include Lake Road and Black River Road near the Black River Harbor.
He said staff from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Quality have assisted the road commission in doing site reviews for the failed culverts.
“It’s a big job. You’re looking at 10 years worth of large culvert replacements and trying to get it done in two-and-a-half months,” Pionk said. “It’s going to be interesting.”
While responding to the storm, a Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department ATV was destroyed. On Wednesday, the board authorized the sheriff to purchase one to replace it. Additionally, the board authorized the sheriff’s department to purchase an Animal Control vehicle.