Bessemer council stuck between factions

By IAN MINIELLY

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Bessemer - The Bessemer City Council meeting was over shadowed by the simmering sentiment of its citizens again. City resident Donna Brown submitted a letter to the city council that was read into the record regarding her unhappiness with Bessemer since marijuana came to town. Brown expressed her feelings that medical marijuana was snuck into the town by a prior council and city manager and that she is ashamed of what the city has become. During public comments the other side would express their feelings, but back to council business.

Dick Matrella, representing the Bessemer Area Schools provided a hand out from the Equalization Department regarding the amount of tax increase residents can expect, based on the value of their property, if the 4.7 mil tax increase is approved to close the Washington School and update the AD Johnston building.

According to Matrella, 76 percent of Bessemer residents and 80 percent of Township residents will pay $94 or less if the bond passes. Of that 76 and 80 percent of residences, over 52 percent of Bessemer residents and 61 percent of the Townships would actually pay less than $48. The bond vote is Tuesday, May 2.

Jim McDonald rebutted Matrella in the public comments section of the agenda to inform the council the group he is a part of decided against filing their consolidation petition because they did not want the blame when the bond issue failed. McDonald said they will file the petition for consolidation after the bond fails, which he is confident it will, bringing consolidation to a vote in November.

A letter from Jacobi Hill, freshman at ADJ was read into the record. Hill wrote the council regarding the accomplishments of the robotics team that placed first and were the regional winners in the Duluth robotics competition, which qualified the team for a robotics competition in St. Louis against teams from all over the United States and the world at large. The team has set up a Go FundMe account under Gogebic Range Robotics, is taking part in a 50/50 raffle, and is working the Home Show at GCC to fund the trip. The council and residents applauded the job of the robotics team.

The council approved giving Charly Loper, city manager, the authority to make emergency spending decisions up to $20,000, as long as the project stays within budget.

Jim Whittinghill from Eagle Waste and Recycling, Inc addressed the council and left them with one final word, Bessemer is one of the top municipalities in recycling out of the 56 they serve. Linda Nelson appeared to secure a pledge by Whittinghill to support the robotics team in a deft political move before Scott Jagger, local manager, said they are supporting a fundraiser for the team already.

In news that will please many Bessemer residents, the excavator is being traded in for a like-new backhoe from Fabic Cat, represented by Tom Olson. The excavator will yield $34,000 in trade-in value towards the price of the $82,000 backhoe. The council was unanimous in their support to finally be rid of the excavator and the purchase of the backhoe.

The council agreed to support the Tilden water tank inspection before the warranty expires and also agreed to supporting Loper's discovery of how to change the charter and its costs.

The other side of the marijuana debate took the floor during public comments. Chandra Portell, speaking on behalf of the proponents for marijuana said, "Reefer Madness is over," as she attempted to put to rest some of the fears around the marijuana industry. Neither side arrived at a conclusion before Kathy Whitburn closed public comments and reminded everyone in attendance where the proper time and location to debate the issue would be held.

The open forum April 5 from 4 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in city hall, will discuss the recent survey, taking on added importance in light of the four factions vying for the heartbeat of Bessemer.