Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — An attempt to resolve criticism in relation to a recent increase in renting city property reached an impasse at Monday’s meeting of the Bessemer City Council, wherein two motions failed in tie votes.
The issue relates to the new cost of $75 per use, along with a refundable $100 deposit, for renting space such as the auditorium in the Bessemer City Hall.
Gina Movrich, who rents the auditorium several times a month to run fitness classes, addressed the council with a group of her clients standing nearby for support.
“We enjoy this, mentally and physically, and to lose this during the summer is like losing family,” said Movrich, who noted that the higher fee is not viable.
Movrich said the previous fee system capped her rental cost at $100 per month. Rental fees under that system started at $35 but varied according to residency, weekday versus weekend use, events including alcohol, and number of rentals per month.
“With the low fee that I charge for attending my classes, my cost of liability insurance, and my cost of equipment provided, I would lose money each day and (would) be unable to provide this valuable service to our area residents,” she said in a June 26 letter.
Six of Movrich’s clients also submitted letters, along with Samantha Dorr, city secretary.
“I have been a constant figure in Gina’s classes for about a decade and cannot explain to you the tremendous changes I see in people who have joined us through the years,” said Samantha Leskoviansky in a June 23 letter. “Gina makes it a point to include everybody in our community, regardless of what their age, ethnicity, or disability may be.”
“Gina is a great workout instructor, teacher, person and friend,” said Chelsea Anderson in a June 28 letter. “Her classes are not only great exercise, but they also bring people in the community together.”
Dorr, who coordinates the Downtown Development Authority, suggested in a July 6 letter that the city consider creating a policy — under the new fee plan — wherein persons renting city space multiple times a month receive a discount.
Dorr said Movrich’s clients benefit the community by frequenting local restaurants and stores.
“It was an unfortunate oversight,” said Mayor Adam Zak in relation to how the new fee scale was established at a May 8 council meeting. He added that, when the council members made the decision to hike the fees, they had not considered all possible outcomes.
Although some discussion ensued regarding grandfathering Movrich in to prior rates, the mayor said he believes that any rates set should be available for all renters. “We’ve got to treat everybody fair,” said Zak, who said he is open to reducing rates for persons renting city property multiple times in the same month.
The mayor motioned to allow all rentals to continue at the prior, lower charge and then re-address the rates when City Manager Jennifer Adams returns from vacation. Charles Tirpik seconded the motion, which died when Linda Nelson and Robert Coleman voted against it. Councilman Terry Kryshak was absent.
“I would like to stick to our fees that we established,” said Nelson of the new rates.
But she motioned that Movrich be grandfathered in under the prior rates, and Coleman seconded the motion, which died when Zak and Tirpik voted no.
“I think you offer a very valuable community service,” said Coleman to Movrich.
Moreover, he said that nobody else would need to be grandfathered in, so Movrich would be the only exception if that option were granted.
After the meeting, Zak clarified that the new, higher rental rate remains in effect, and that the council can address the matter again at its next meeting with input from the full council and city manager.
In other news, the council voted unanimously to approved hiring Ruotsala Construction of Ironwood for a construction contract relating to Phase II of the city’s water system improvements. Project Manager Darren Pionk of C2AE, a Michigan engineering and design firm, recommended hiring Ruotsala for his low bid of $769,208.
The Michigan program known as the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will fund the costs.
Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping of Ironwood also had submitted a quote of $915,531.
Council members also voted unanimously to approve the reappointment of Angie Pope to the Bessemer Housing Commission.
The council’s next regular meeting will be on July 24 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
