Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood Township — With the amount the township pays for sewer services going up, the Ironwood Township Board of Trustees voted 5-2 Monday to pass the increase on to its sewer customers.
“This just reflects our increase in cost, it does not reflect any increase in what we take in,” Supervisor Steve Boyd said, emphasizing the increase simply covers the extra amount the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Authority is charging the township.
Trustees Kevin Lyons and Marlene Saari-Mieloszyk voted against the resolution to increase the rates.
Both commercial and residential customers will pay an additional $2.02 each month, with the rates going from $22.15 to $24.17 per residential users and $35.25 to $37.27 for commercial users.
Approximately 60 percent of the township’s user base comes from residential customers, with the rest billed as commercial customers.
The increases are to the monthly operation, maintenance and repair charge — which is a flat rate and not based on usage amounts.
Township officials said the monthly rate of $7.30 per 1,000 gallons is unchanged.
The price increase is expected to generate the additional $1,071 the authority now bills the township each month.
The authority — which serves Ironwood Township, as well as the cities of Ironwood and Hurley — increased its prices in July. The increase is designed to ensure funds are available to replace equipment at the authority as it reaches the end of its life cycle. The authority’s asset management plan includes a rehabilitation and replacement schedule, plant manager Mark Bowman told the Daily Globe, which showed the implementation costs exceed the authority’s current reserves.
The township’s rate increase takes effect with the August bills, according to Treasurer Maria Graser, which should be mailed today.
In other action:
—The board approved spending $400 for the installation of a concrete slab connecting the township hall’s parking lot to its front door. Currently, people cut across the grass to enter the building.
—The board passed a budget resolution, moving a total of $1,050 between accounts to adjust for various expenses.
—The board authorized various township officials to attend an upcoming Michigan Townships Association conference.
—Township officials reminded residents the fall cleanup is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon, Sept. 22. The township-wide garage sale is scheduled for Saturday.