Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JEAN NORDINE
Bessemer — In a 4-0 vote the Bessemer City Council passed Ordinance No. 367 – Medical Marijuana as a Home Occupation ordinance at Monday’s meeting.
This was the second reading of the ordinance which has been fine-tuned to address concerns about locations, compliance with the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act and the General Rules of the Michigan Department of Community Health, request of the city to inspect facilities, odor, and building safety.
Council members did not want to delay passing the ordinance, so that other future start- up operations will have to adhere to the ordinance and would not fall under a grandfather clause.
The council heard from city manager Charly Loper that a draft for the rental inspection program is being formatted. Loper recommended the city starts with long-term rentals.
Previously the council accepted a bid from Eric Fitting for a parcel of land, west of Yale, at the corner of Eli and Kalla streets. This acceptance was contingent on its legality. Attorney Ray O’dea recommends that the council go out for bids once more, this time with the parcel split in two sections with a value of $3,750 parcel. The council then rescinded their previous acceptance and will split the parcel and advertise it.
In July, a bid was submitted by Corullo Forest Products to purchase two lots within the industrial park. As the council is curtailed because of their Charter rules, the council cannot sell this property without either further dividing it, lowering the price, or taking it to the voters. They decided to put on the November ballot a vote to be able to sell lots in the industrial park for an amount not to exceed $10,000 per lot. This will allow the city to sell industrial lot property without going against its Charter.
In other action:
—The council accepted a Housing Commission application from Joseph Hellman. Hellman applied for the open position on the Bessemer Housing authority Board. He informed the council, “I have worked at Gogebic Community Mental Health for the last 28 years and I have been aware of the fine work that has been done by the housing authority as many as the consumers that I have worked with have resided there and have had excellent living situations and stability in their lives.”
—A request for Loper to attend Brownfield Training through WUPPDR was approved.
—The council agreed to sell property on 4th Avenue where the fire department previously burned down a house. The property has been cleaned up and can be put up for sale. The assessor values the land at $902.
—The council received a quote from Rukkila Negro and Associates for $14,650 for their audit contract. Rukkila, Negro and Associates have been auditing the council for several years and as the council is satisfied with them they agreed to renew the contract.
—Concerning blight properties, 1713 Woolsey and 112 W. Colby are both going to be fixed up so the condemnation hearings for these properties have been cancelled.
—Heard a progress report from the Department of Public Works:
The DPW has swept streets and sidewalks, cleaned 307 4th Ave. demolition site, cleaned ditches and culverts, cold patched streets, picked up trash, graded gravel roads, storm damage repairs, road side mowing and brushed streets.
The DPW has been doing repairs to lights, cleaning and organizing and janitorial work.
The DPW has been mowing, removing dead streets, weed trimming, watered flowers, cleaning and playground equipment maintenance.
The DPW repaired meters, read meters, repaired booster pump, Miss Dig locates, repaired valve boxes, repaired hydrants and general water plant operations.
The DPW has checked manholes and Miss Dig locates.
The DPW has repaired equipment and doing preventive maintenance of equipment.