Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By IAN MINIELLY
Bessemer — The eye sore on the western edge of town at 915 E. Lead street was condemned by the city council Monday evening. While no one knew for certain, councilman Rob Coleman thought about 25 years ago someone lived in the home for a short period while councilman Allen Archie said he moved to the area in the early 1970’s and it was abandoned then.
With Mondays ruling, the council paved the way for Charly Loper, city manager, to continue the process necessary to have the structure torn down. When money becomes available, the city can now proceed on removing the dilapidated house welcoming people traveling from the west to Bessemer.
Under old business the council:
—Passed Ordinance 364, replacing the old and outdated uniform traffic code and parking lots ordinance
—Agreed to wait on selling three lots due to potential conflicts regarding acceptance of bids for the properties or the outright selling of the property to interested buyers. Loper was assigned additional research.
—Passed the 2017-2019 budget.
—Settled on three charter revisions for this fiscal year: settling the city’s ability to sell property at greater than listed values, removing residency from two years to one year for those seeking office, and updating the charter to accurately reflect pay for the council.
—Tabled the special use permits public hearing until the next meeting due to its range and scope.
—And decided against passage of an ethics ordinance as unnecessary for a city the size of Bessemer.
Under new business the council agreed:
—To raise water rates $1.50 per month for both residential and commercial users for the “readiness to serve” availability of the utility.
—Agreed to pay $11,900 to Beacon if all local municipalities were in agreement and contingent upon an independent review of Beacon’s books.
—And agreed to send Ordinance 365 back to the Planning Commission to separate the individual elements of the combined ordinance into their own ordinances instead of lumping them together.