Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Despite expressing regret at the current sting of inflation, members of the Bessemer City Council voted on Monday evening to deny a request from a contractor providing lawn services at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Joe Saari of Saari’s Lawn Service had requested an additional payment of $300 per cutting beyond the agreement in his current contract.
“A contract is a contract,” said Mayor Adam Zak.
“I agree,” said Councilman Charlie Tirpik.
“We don’t want to set a precedent with all the contractors we use,” said Councilman Rob Coleman. “It’s unfortunate that the prices increased, but it’s a contract.”
“I’m not in favor of setting a precedent and opening up a can of worms,” said Councilwoman Linda Nelson.
Zak said he would inform Saari that the council’s position is for the contract to be upheld.
In other news, the council voted to approve a zoning change from Country Estates (CE) to Mixed-Density Residential (R-2) on city-owned property behind the Iron Belle Trail, which runs behind Bessemer City Hall. The land is south of E. Colby Street, between S. Clayberg and S. Moore streets.
“Over the Fourth, I have had a few people voice their displeasure on that,” said the mayor regarding the zoning change.
City Manager Charly Loper said public hearings had been held by the council and the Planning Commission with no citizen input. She added that immediate landowners also had been notified.
“We can’t go door to door to tell people there’s a public hearing,” said Coleman.
Regarding the public hearing announcement, he added, “We put it in the paper as required by law.”
Council members also:
—Voted to request bids on a mini dump truck.
—After receiving no response on the first outreach, voted to request bids again on sand and mowers.
—Heard Gogebic County Sheriff Ross Solberg present a six-month report relating to the city’s contract with the county. Solberg reported 25 arrests, 24 traffic crashes, 443 calls for service/criminal incidents, 56 citations and 51 warnings from January-June. Tirpik asked whether current construction is contributing to accidents, but Solberg said most accidents relate simply to other vehicles and/or deer.
According to the sheriff, his office provided 2,172 hours of patrol for the city during the designated period.
Solberg also praised the city for having carried off a successful July 4 celebration despite construction obstacles and weather warnings.
The mayor specifically commended Linda Nelson, who chairs July 4 activities. She said the only casualty of the festivities was the weather-related cancellation of a flyover on the afternoon of July 4.
“That fireworks show was one of the best I’ve seen,” Zak said to Neal Nelson, Public Works lead and chief of the Bessemer Volunteer Fire Department. The BVFD was responsible for the fireworks.
Linda Nelson also noted that the July 4 Committee is always seeking volunteers for future celebrations.
All of the evening’s votes were unanimous with Councilman Terry Kryshak absent.
The council’s next regular meeting will be on July 25 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of the Bessemer City Hall. The public is welcome. Meetings also generally are reported live on Facebook, and minutes are available on the city website.
