Jacobson hired as Ironwood City Clerk

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Ironwood — Monday’s Ironwood City Commission meeting included Paul Anderson attending for the first time in his new role as city manager.

His first day was on Oct. 31, and he also will assume the dual role of city engineer when Scott Erickson concludes that responsibility at the end of this month.

One of Anderson’s first recommendations was to encourage commission members to approve the hiring of Jennifer Jacobson as the new city clerk.

“The city received close to a couple dozen applications for this position,” said Anderson, who assured that Jacobson stood out as having “great references” and having had almost two decades of experience working for the city of Wakefield, where she had been the city clerk.

“We’re lucky to have her joining our team,” said Anderson.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Jacobson at a salary of $60,000 with incremental rises to $64,896 by Nov. 28 of 2024, along with full city benefits. They also issued a warm welcome to her.

Jacobson is scheduled to undergo training downstate, after which she is expected to begin her new role on Dec. 1.

After the meeting, Jacobson told the Globe that she also has been a volunteer firefighter in Wakefield for the past couple decades and has been employed for the past five years in U.P. recruiting for a couple of employers.

In other news, commission members also voted to adopt Resolution No. 22-028, ordering blight abatement at 127 E. and 123 E. Oak Street.

“It’s been a terrible mess for a long time,” said Commissioner Rick Semo.

The action occurred after a related public hearing.

Mayor Kim Corcoran suggested that the owner, who was present, work with the city’s blight officer to resolve the problems within two weeks.

Other members of the public also voiced complaints about overall blight issues in the city, ranging from junk cars to collapsed garages to piles of tires, etc. Mayor Kim Corcoran agreed that the city needs to take a more proactive role in resolving such problems.

Commission members also:

—Voted to appoint Anderson to the remaining term of the former city manager’s seat on the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Authority board. Commissioner Rick Semo noted that Scott Erickson will be missed. In related news, Anderson said he’d done a recent site visit in relation to the $25 million sewer plant improvement project and reported that it is currently under design. He added that he will report details on project timing soon.

—Voted to appoint Anderson as a member of Michigan’s Western Gateway Trail Authority Board, which includes oversight of the Iron Belle Trail. Anderson said he’d been involved with the board before and would be happy to rejoin the cause.

—Voted to adopt Resolution No. 22-029, authorizing the approval of Anderson as the city’s street administrator.

—Voted to authorize the purchase of two 2022 dump trucks from I-State Truck Centers in Marshfield, Wisconsin, at costs of $179,056 for a tandem axel unit and $179,972 for a single axle unit.

—Voted to approve applying for round 8 of the Neighborhood Enhancement Program Grant in the amount of $30,000, along with $1,000 matching city funds. “This is our third round with doing the housing rehab project,” said Tom Bergman, community development director. “It’s been a really successful project.” The state program falls under the National Council of State Housing Agencies.

—Voted to approve Change Order No. 6, relating to a $5,276.50 decrease for the city’s 2021 water and sewer project with Jake’s Excavating & Landscaping, LLC in Ironwood and also to approve to Jake’s for the same project a pay request of $3,623.50.

—Voted to authorize a payment of $13,080.58 to Flowtrack Mountain Trails, LLC in Marquette, Michigan, for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Mountain Bike Trail Project in Miners Memorial Heritage Park.

—Voted to approve a final pay request and change order of $88,288.60 to Angelo Lupino Construction, Inc. of Iron Belt, Wisconsin, for 2021 street work.

—Voted to adopt Resolution No. 22-030, establishing a Downtown Development Area Citizens Council as an element of the city’s 2023 Downtown Ironwood Development Authority and Tax-Increment Financing Plan.

—Voted to approve the authorization of a $15,500 payment to KBK Services, Inc. in Ashland, Wisconsin, for the emergency repair of a 16 inch water fitting at the Ironwood Water Pump Station.

—Heard Anderson thank Karen Gullan for filling in as city clerk until Jacobson starts her new role. Gullan, in turn, praised Nov. 8 election volunteers.

--Heard Commissioner Jim Mildren note Jay Kivisto’s work at the Ironwood Civic Center. “The new manager is doing a bang-up job,” said Mildren, who added that Kivisto has expanded hours and programs and has a “great Facebook presence.”

--Heard Semo point out that “Silent Sports” magazine has a “terrific article on Miners Memorial Heritage Park.