McLeod-Lowell intersection changed to four-way stop

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood - On a 3-2 vote, the Ironwood City Commission Monday agreed to change the McLeod Avenue-Lowell Street intersection to a four-way stop.

There are currently no stop signs on McLeod Avenue there and commissioner Jim Mildren said the intersection was too dangerous because of sight distance and pedestrian concerns.

Mildren, director of the Gogebic County Transit, noted there are concerns with walkers at the intersection dealing with speeding traffic. There are two businesses at the intersection with on-street parking, the Ironwood Daily Globe and Charter Communications.

Commissioner Kim Corcoran suggested a public hearing be held on the issue, since the item wasn't specifically on the agenda for Monday's meeting. The discussion came up under an agenda item called "stop sign installations and requirements and locations."

Corcoran and Rick Semo voted against the switch to a four-way stop, with Mildren, Joseph Cayer Jr. and Mayor Annette Burchell voting for the change.

Mildren said the commission had discussed the issue enough to bring it to a vote and repeated there are safety concerns.

City manager Scott Erickson said the commission was not required to conduct a public hearing before voting on the change.

There were no representatives of the Ironwood Public Safety Department at the meeting when questions arose about the number of accidents at the intersection.

Commissioners agreed to map out other possible stop sign changes throughout the city before taking action on other locations.

Erickson noted Xcel Energy is working in the city on two fronts, replacing many old street lights and installing new gas lines, including near the Memorial Building that houses city offices.