Ironwood to end moratorium on water fees

By TOM LAVENTURE

tlaventure@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — Ironwood residents who have not paid water or sewer bills during the COVID-19 pandemic will need to resume by June 1 or pay late fees.

The Ironwood City Commission 4-0 approved the request of the city water department to resume charges for city water and sewer along with late payment fees, and water turn on and off fees. Mayor Annette Burchell was not present on an excused absence.

The temporary waiving of the reconnection fees and penalties on monthly utility bills has so far resulted in the loss of $82,685 in revenue since the city commission approved the moratorium in April 2020, according to Bob Ternonen, city utilities manager at the meeting. These are funds that are not currently being reimbursed by any relief fund and are lost funds, he said. 

The state of Michigan moratorium prohibiting water service disconnection for non-payment from March 15, 2020 through March 31, 2021 has expired and municipalities are in the process of disconnecting service for delinquency, he said. City staff are working with account holders regarding payment agreements and referrals to Gogebic Ontonagon Community Action and other agencies that have revenue to assist with utility accounts, he said.

The request was amended to change the effective date from May 1 to June 1, at the suggestion of Commissioner Rick Semo. He said this would give residents, the city and agencies more time to adjust to the changes.

Scott Erickson, city manager, said the city has a payment plan with options that will help residents avoid accruing late fees or shut off of service. These plans have been in place for years, he said.

Joseph Cayer said he supported the action.

“Everyone was given a break for a year and it’s time for everybody to pay their fair share so the rest of us don’t have to have increased water rates,” Cayer said.

The commission approved a $24,135 playground bid on property donated by Zion Lutheran Church at Lowell Street and Midland Street. The parks and recreation committee recommended the bid from Penchura LLC, a playground equipment company from Brighton, which was one of five companies with 14 proposals ranging from $20,950 to $25,590. 

The commission approved a request to schedule a public hearing to show cause for a zoning violation by Tula Toilets & Septic, LLC, at 500 W. Cloverland Dr. The hearing is scheduled for 5:25 p.m. Monday, May 10. 

Tom Bergman, director of community development, said the hearing follows several attempts to communicate the alleged violation of a zoning ordinance at the northwest corner of U.S. 2 and Walnut Street. The violation was for no response to provide a timeframe to remove items stored on the lot that need to be inside of a structure at that location to comply with the ordinance. Ironwood Public Safety Department served a notice of a blight ordinance violation on Jan. 22 and a subsequent notice was mailed on Feb. 11.

In other business, the board approved:

—A $12,366 add on expense for additional work on a backhoe loader that was sent to Negaunee for other repairs to brakes and caliper replacement. 

—A $10,000 fee for the phase five water and sewer project engineering agreement with Coleman Engineering and to prepare U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Funding applications when funding opportunities are available. 

—The sale of the duty weapon assigned to Michael Rimkus, an officer with the Ironwood Public Safety Department. The $1 sale to the Ironwood Professional Police Association will follow with the customary presentation of the weapon to him upon his retirement.

—Directing the city to review a plan for street striping and parking ordinances to be consistent with ordinance and state laws on Norrie Street between Lowell Street and Hemlock Street.

—Directing the city to review laws of similar sized cities regarding animal ordinances on the limits to the numbers of dogs and cats for one residence.

—Authorizing bids for an asphalt hot box for the public works department.

—A $5,248 purchase of a decorative light post to ensure one spare is in inventory following the replacement of a light post that was destroyed in a vehicle crash.

—Authorizing $17,048 in emergency repairs to the high-lift booster pump No. 1 to Kleiman Pump and Well Drilling, Inc., of Iron Mountain.