Ironwood City Commission looks ahead to projects

IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission approved vacating the alley south of the 400 and 500 blocks of East Birch Street, as well as Deane Street between the two blocks, at its meeting Monday evening.

Michael and Greta Erm requested the move, as they plan to build a home there on Birch Street.

Commissioner Jim Mildren said it was exciting to have someone building a new home in the city.

A brief public hearing on the matter was held before the meeting, at which no one spoke.

City Manager Paul Anderson told the commission there is opportunity to gain state funding to tear down two blighted buildings in the city. The commission approved Gogebic County Land Bank Access and Demolition agreements for structures at 916 E. Pine St. and 226 E. McLeod Ave. as a condition of a possible State Land Bank Grant.

The commission also approved easement requests by Xcel Energy as it plans to put in a new power line from Lake Road to the Big Springs well fields and the pump station. Anderson said Xcel expects to do the work this winter.

The commission approved various expenditures or calls for bids, including approval of:

—A call for bids for a culvert replacement project on Margaret Street. Anderson estimated the cost at $50,000.

—Payment of $28,092 to Kleiman Pump & Well Drilling for the replacement and installation of a motor on the high pressure booster Pump 3.

—A call for bids for a one-year contract to mow the cemetery. After vacating the former contract at the contractor’s request due to the cost of fuel and labor, a two-year contract was sought. One bid was received, from a different company, at twice the former contract — $50,400 for the first year and $55,440 for the second year. The commission agreed reject the bid and ask for a bid for one year.

—A call for bids for a new front end loader at the request of Department of Public Works supervisor Bob Richards.

—A proposal to spend $12,000 with Colligo to provide GIS service. Anderson said the old system includes an 8-year-old server and has various problems, adding the new cloud-based system will be updated with the city’s newest data and be more user-friendly.

—Purchase of $14,123 in audio visual equipment requested by Public Safety Director Andrew DiGiorgio. He said one 85-inch digital screen and accessories will be used for training and demonstrations in the Public Safety Building, while the other 85-inch LED television, web camera and computer will be placed in the Commission Chambers to be used by Public Safety and for other official city business, adding the purchase of the equipment is 100% funded by a Department of Treasury First Responder Grant.

—Seeking grant funding or the purchase of a patrol vehicle. DiGiorgio said they’re on a cycle of buying a new squad car every two years and they’ve been using a USDA Community and Facilities Grant and Loan Program which permits 55% grant with a 45% match.

—A contract with Merit for fiber optic internet for the Memorial Building and other city buildings at a cost of $5,490 a year, including an upgrade in speed from 40 Mbps to 50 Mbps.

Finally, in his manager’s report Anderson said the city is awaiting bids on Phase I of the water plant project, as well as separate pavement striping and Memorial Building fire alarm projects.

He said bids for the replacement of the Memorial Building boilers, HVAC controls and roof top units came in high and more time is need to find money in the budget.

He also reported that an MDNR Spark grant application for mountain bike trails on Mt. Zion was rejected, but a two more rounds of grant funding are available.

He said the city has pickleball equipment — paddles, balls and net — for those wishing to play in the gym in the Memorial Building. The items can be checked out from the city clerk’s office.

Lastly, he said a recent Ironwood Red Devil boys basketball victory over the Wakefield-Marenisco Cardinals led to him winning a friendly bet with Wakefield city manager Robert Brown, who was supposedly wearing Red Devil attire at the Wakefield city council meeting Monday.