Ironwood buys former Wells Fargo bank building

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Ironwood — Interim City Manager Andrew DiGiorgio told the City Commission Monday evening that the city’s bid to purchase the former Wells Fargo bank at 205 W. Aurora St. on tax sale was accepted.

DiGiorgio said the city’s bid wasn’t the winning bid at first, but the top bidder had withdrawn their bid, making way for the city’s second-place bid.

City Finance Director/Treasurer told the Globe Tuesday that the city paid $99,958.59.

DiGiorgio said they hope to work with a developer to move forward with the property.

He also pointed out that the former Sleight Elementary School, a property the city pursued buying earlier this year, was purchased by someone else.

DiGiorgio also told the commission that City Clerk Wendy Hagstrom will be leaving her position with the city in October. He said the news saddened him, and that her last day will be Oct. 8.

Hagstrom became clerk in November 2021. She told the Globe after the meeting she is taking a position elsewhere in the community.

In other action, the commission:

—Transferred existing tax exemptions for Ottawa Forest Products to Manufacturers Pallet Disposal Inc. which purchased OFP, located in the Industrial Park.

—Approved a new map as part of an existing lease agreement between ABR Inc. and city. Community Development Director Tom Bergman said ABR has two existing ski trail loops in the park, but now plans to construct a new trail across the park and “cross Norrie Park Road in a safer location for when they start to develop the trails on the north side.” Eric Anderson told the commission they plan to start work on the new trail this week.

—Approved payment of $33,905 to Nasi Construction for siding work on the city garage.

—Approved payment of $13,844 to Flowtrack Mountain Bike Trails of Marquette for work done constructing trails at the Miner Memorial Heritage Park. City Engineer said their work continues, having completed 7.5 miles of trail, but due to staffing shortages progress was slower than expected and they won’t be able to finish this year, and will probably finish in the spring or early summer of 2023.

—Approved payment of $5,556 to Nasi Construction on service and repairs to the garage doors at the city garage.

—Approve payment of $224,460 for the Francis Street sewer and water project.

—Approved $12,000 as a maximum bid for a new battery for the civic center’s Zamboni.