Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
PUTTING AWAY demonstration materials on Tuesday evening at Ramsay Town Hall is Bob Berg, president of the Bessemer board of education. School board officials closed a public session at the hall when nobody showed up during the first 15 minutes.
By P.J. GLISSON
Ramsay - A Tuesday evening public session on a continuing millage proposed by the Bessemer board of education closed early after nobody showed up during the first 15 minutes.
The Q & A meeting was offered so the general public could learn details about why the board is asking citizens to vote for a levy of 2.05 mills at a May 7 election.
Superintendent Dave Wineburner said the lack of attendance probably suggested that local residents realize the importance of the requested funds.
"What we're all hearing from people is that they're supportive of it," said Wineburner of the millage request, which is the same amount taxpayers had been levied in 2018 to pay off the district's outstanding bonds.
"We're excited," he added about the possibility of garnering needed funds to tackle various projects.
The superintendent said the board was "very cognizant" of the fact that local citizens want to keep their current school system, so they tied the millage request only to immediate needs of both of the district's existing schools.
If granted, the new millage funds will pay for the following projects at both A.D. Johnston Junior and Senior High School and at Washington Elementary School: 1. Roof and window replacements, 2. Foundation work, 3. Heating system upgrades, 4. Technology upgrades, and 5. Security work.
A parking lot also is planned for Washington School, while gymnasium updates are planned for the junior/senior high school.
Finally, the new funds also would cover construction of a bus garage.
The sum total cost of all projects is estimated at $1,378,683.
According to the superintendent, the proposed projects would give both schools at least an additional 30 years of use.
The proposed millage rate translates to a tax payment of $102.50 per year for a home valued at $50,000.
Wineburner emphasized that the proposed millage represents only a continuation of the same amount now paid for the millage levied last year.
The district will offer a second public session on April 16 in the multipurpose room of the junior/senior high school in Bessemer.
