County board OKs Germania Hill land purchase

HURLEY — They may never need it, but Iron County will be able to build a new route to its communication tower on Germania Hill in Hurley after the Iron County Board of Supervisors voted 13-2 to approve a land purchase Tuesday.

Supervisors Larry Youngs and Karl Krall voted against the measure.

The board approved purchasing a pair of lots, including 127 Germania St., from Kenneth Tilton for $10,500.

The purchase is viewed as a preventative measure, according to several board members, if there are further issues with a different property owner who owns some of the land that includes the tower access road.

Although the issues have been resolved for the time being, the county has had issues with the property owner seeking money for road maintenance and attempting to lock the gate blocking the private road to restrict the county’s access.

“This is just for future problems, … we’re not going to put the road in unless we have to,” Board Chairman Joe Pinardi said.

Although the county’s easement prevents the complete blockage of access, there seemed to be a feeling that constructing the new road may be less hassle in the long run.

Even if the county doesn’t wind up building a road through one of the parcels purchased Tuesday, it may still benefit from the sale as the other parcel isn’t needed and has a house on it that can be sold.

“When we take a look at the housing market now, houses are selling like crazy,” Supervisor Ken Saari said at the board’s March finance committee meeting. “I’d almost say put the ‘for sale’ sign in the lot right away, before rates start going up.”

In other action, the board:

—Passed a resolution allowing the county’s land and water conservation department to apply for grants to administer its resource management plan for 2021.

—Passed a resolution in support of obtaining a cost share grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to protect water quality in the county.

—Amended the county’s zoning ordinance to streamline the language regarding conditional uses.

—Designated April 26-30 as “Work Zone Awareness Week” in the county.

—Heard Pinardi reappointed Steve Finco and Gerald Luke to the county’s board of adjustment.

—Heard Dan Gardner, of Ironwood, will start as the county’s IT person in May.

—Approved the county forestry department’s annual report for 2020.