Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
news@yourdailyglobe.com
Bessemer — At a Monday evening meeting of the Bessemer City Council, members voted to utilize a formulaic collection of data on applicants applying for the pending opening for a Department of Public Works director.
They also voted to advertise the job externally after having posted it internally since March 28.
As of their previous meeting on March 27, council members decided to start early in seeking a replacement for Neal Nelson, who is expected to retire by fall.
“These are not traditional resume-type jobs,” said Councilman Terry Kryshak, who suggested a formulaic comparison.
He added that the DPW job is “really an important position” that requires “a lot of skills.”
Among qualifications listed by the city for the role is a current state D3 Water Plant Operation Certificate and an S3 Water Distribution System Maintenance Certificate, or the ability to earn both within two years of being hired.
Council members also:
—Accepted a bid from 4 Seasons Lawn & Property Services of Hurley for the mowing of Hillcrest Cemetery in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The city will pay $2,259 per mowing. It was the only bid submitted.
—Learned that work halted last fall in relation to the city’s current 3-year utility and road construction is expected to resume next week.
—Approved for C2AE, an engineering and design firm with an office in Escanaba, the following two requests for the Galena storm sewer project: 1. A draw of $23,765.09 and 2. A change order of $9,680.
—Approved a disbursement of $49,136 to C2AE from the DWRF and Clean Water State Revolving Funds.
—Tabled approval of rental fees for the Bessemer City Hall and for Bluff Valley Park.
—Tabled bids on a new loader until more information is gathered.
—Tabled a right-of-way abandonment request from Ben Thompson until confirmation of related easements are received.
—Placed on file an April 2 letter from Star Kolesar, in which she reported that, on her 3-mile walk through town that evening, she counted 53 deer. On a separate route on the previous day, she’d also counted more than 50 deer. Kolesar urged the council to enforce its ordinance that prohibits feeding deer, which she said are a danger to traffic, destroy greenery and flowers, and harbor Lyme disease.
Kryshak said that persons should report known violations so that the city can send letters to the offending parties to inform them of the ordinance. Mayor Adam Zak said that he would prefer voluntary compliance and regards acting on the ordinance as “a last resort.”
All of Monday’s votes were unanimous with council members Linda Nelson and Rob Coleman absent.
At the end of the meeting, council members engaged in a budget workshop in relation to the pending 2023-24 fiscal year.
The council’s next regular meeting will be on April 24 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of the Bessemer City Hall.