Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Bessemer — A resolution that outlines funding for the Bessemer to Ramsay stretch of the Iron Belle Trail construction project was approved by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday.
In February, the county board passed a resolution supporting submission of an application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for development of the three-mile non-motorized recreational trail.
The total project cost is $1,165,800, but it could be $1,428,000 if the trust fund money is approved.
Paul Anderson, of Coleman Engineering, and Scott Erickson, chair of the Western Gateway Trail Authority, addressed the county board prior to the board’s approval of the resolution.
Anderson said project cost estimates have changed, with the overall cost down slightly.
The chances of the Michigan DNR Trust Fund grant for $299,900 are “very, very good,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the fact that the Iron Belle Trail, spanning across the entire state, is a “pet project” of the DNR is beneficial. He also said comparative scoring ranks the project high on the DNR’s Trust Fund list.
The bulk of the project costs will come from a Michigan Department of Transportation TAP grant of $745,300. The county would again administer the Gogebic County Road Commission grant from MDOT, as was done for the first two phases of the trail project.
A DNR mini grant to the trail authority will provide $173,900 in funding, with the local contributions coming from the Gogebic Range Health Foundation for $200,000 and Western U.P. Convention and Visitors Bureau, at $8,900.
Anderson said a decision on the trust fund grant will be made by the DNR by December for construction in 2020.
The local Iron Belle Trail now extends from Ironwood to Bessemer.
