Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — The board of education of the Bessemer School District voted Tuesday to accept a resolution that superintendent Dave Wineburner said will facilitate “a continuation of our current levy” if local citizens pass it in the next election.
The unanimous vote at the special meeting was for a proposed 2.05 millage rate, which translates to $20.50 for every $10,000 of property on which a landowner is taxed.
Wineburger told the Globe Wednesday that the state treasury now must approve what he described as a “no-tax increase bond proposal.
“We’re looking to just maintain the status quo,” said Wineburner. “The projects themselves are pretty general. It’s going to the facilities, to fix the buildings. We have to do some of the work that’s been neglected.”
He said three projects are planned. Projects one and two address both A.D. Johnston High School and Washington Elementary School and include the following projected work: Roof and window replacement, foundation repairs, upgrades in security and in the heating system, and attention to instructional technology.
Project 3 funds are targeted for a bus garage.
“More detail will be provided once we have everything approved by the state and we are able to finalize project specifics,” stated Wineburner, adding that the district plans to schedule “a community information night” about the bond and will address specifics of why it is needed at that time.
Once the current resolution is passed by the treasury, Wineburner said the board will have another special meeting in February, after which the information will go to Gogebic County Clerk Gerry Pelissero.
After notification is published in the Globe, Wineburner said the bond proposal will go on the ballot in May.
In other news, the board moved its regular Jan. 23 meeting to Jan. 28 due to a conflicting meeting with the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District on the original scheduled date.
At a previous meeting, the board changed its regular meeting date from the fourth Mondays of the month to the fourth Wednesdays.
