Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
SNOW FALLS at the entrance to Norrie Park in Ironwood Tuesday afternoon. A trail loop to the park along a former rail grade is being considered and funding will be sought for it.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood - A year ago, the Ironwood City Commission prioritized goals for 2016-17.
On Monday, commissioners and City Manager Scott Erickson reviewed the goals and the consensus was a great deal of progress has been made on almost all of them.
The number one goal - to complete the 16-inch transmission line to the city's well-fields, along with a phase 4 sewer-water project - will be accomplished this year.
Erickson said funding has been approved through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development for the project and bids will be sought in the next few months.
The second-rated priority was street maintenance and after the resurfacing of many more streets last summer, this year will bring much crack-sealing throughout the city. Filing street data into a computer program is also planned.
The third highest priority, sidewalk improvements, is at the stage where the planning commission is prepared to present a plan to the city commission soon.
Trail development and blight control were also high on the list of goals and progress has been made on both of those fronts.
Erickson discussed a possible grant for a trail loop to the Norrie Park area. He said title work has been completed to determine property ownership for the "Belt-Line" trail corridor along a former rail line. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund acquisition grant will be sought this year for trail work, he added.
A total of $390,000 will be available in grant funds over the next two years for the removal of an additional 20 blighted structures throughout the city.
Continued rehabilitation of the well system at the pump station remains as another goal and banners will be installed along U.S. 2.
Other goals met in the past year include cemetery road improvements, presentation of drug programs in the schools, along with many drug busts, and soil grading at the Little League field.
Commissioner Rick Semo called the response to the goals "impressive."
Commissioner Jim Mildren praised not only city staff for advancing the goals, but the public. "The goals are a reflection of the people who live in this town," he said.
Another goal-setting workshop is planned in the near future.
Erickson said the goals help city officials in budget planning and in setting schedules.
