Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MEMBERS OF the Bessemer Downtown Development Authority share a laugh during their Thursday afternoon meeting in the Bessemer City Hall. From left are Dustin Filippini, Cheryl Leskoviansky, Kara Bjorkquist (back turned) and city manager Charly Loper. They are looking at member Dave Osier, who is not shown.
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer - The Downtown Development Authority in Bessemer voted Thursday afternoon to hire a filmmaker from Ontonagon County to create four videos to market Bessemer online.
Kristin Ojaniemi of Bruce Crossing was hired at a cost of $1,000 per video to record and produce vignettes of local residents while also showcasing local assets such as outdoor recreational options.
The DDA originally had hoped for six videos, but reduced the number to four to accommodate Ojaniemi's rates.
"I think they're of a higher quality," said city manager Charly Loper regarding Ojaniemi's videography, from which she shared a sample with authority members.
Ojaniemi, who is self-employed under the business name of Oja-Media LLC, states in her bid that she will meet first with "key people" to refine the concept and topics of the videos.
She then will spend several days filming interviews in various locations in town.
As a commercially-licensed drone pilot with the Federal Aviation Administration, Ojaniemi also plans to take aerial footage over Bessemer.
The award-winning videographer stated that her post-production work will include editing and the insertion of animated texts, graphics and music.
In other news, members also agreed that Loper should seek bids on the creation of a single opening of about seven feet wide in the brick wall of the Bessemer Ethnic Commons, which runs along Mary Street.
The entry would allow access to the parking lot that lies north of the wall, next to Stempihar Gas Station on the corner of S. Moore Street and U.S. 2.
DDA members originally wanted three entries, each about five feet wide, within the wall. Member Dave Osier suggested Thursday, however, that one opening should suffice and would look more aesthetic, and other members supported him.
The authority also voted to approve about $200 in costs to send Loper to Negaunee for state training regarding new DDA laws in Michigan.
The DDA's next regular meeting will be on June 13 at 4 p.m. in the DDA meeting room downstairs in the Bessemer City Hall. The public is welcome.
