Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer — The city of Bessemer was finally able to not only meet and greet their new city manager, Charly Loper, they were able to witness Loper make a report, a request and take charge of the city’s master plan. But first, to old business.
The city council provided an update on the blighted property at 206 S. Sophie St. The property is referred to as the Keating property, after property owner Mike Keating. Keating was given until Oct. 31 by the council to take care of the property and bring it up to standard. The council informed the public Monday the date for compliance has come and gone and the fact Keating made an effort on Monday, Nov. 7 to remove some material, does not mitigate the obdurate stance Keating has taken till now.
Councilman John Frello, doubting Keating’s claim to have a potential buyer for the property, sought to initiate a bidding process immediately to demolish the property while placing a lien against the property and current property owner. Councilwoman Linda Nelson said if the property is not sold by Nov. 20, the property should be demolished the very next day. Frello offered a motion to pursue bids for demolishing the property while engaging the city attorney regarding methods to recoup the costs of the blight removal.
Ronald Zaleski of Hurley applied for the position of Gogebic County Council of Veterans Affairs representative to the city of Bessemer. The board approved the motion to accept Zaleski for the position. During public comments, Zaleski stood in the gallery and thanked the council and towns people in attendance for the acceptance of his resume.
Loper sought approval to attend the Redevelopment Ready Community Training event in Escanaba, on Jan 24, 2017. The request was approved unanimously. Loper also informed the council and citizens in attendance grant money is available for blight removal and she would begin pursuing these options so the city coffers are not decimated removing eye sore properties.
Election workers were approved for two shifts today, a morning and afternoon shift that would pay $8.50 per hour with a single election officer in charge over them being paid $8.75 and hour.