Ironwood designates ARPA funds

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

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Ironwood — In a busy meeting Monday evening, the Ironwood City Commission designated more than $500,000 in ARPA funds to purchasing a fire truck and electrical upgrades to the Curry Park campground, hired a new Department of Public Works supervisor and heard “exciting” news from city manager Paul Anderson about a pair of more than $10 million grants to fund infrastructure projects.

Anderson said the city needed to designate its $511,782 in ARPA funds by the end of the year to qualify for an additional $3,118. The commission voted to divide the money in two parts — $344,000 towards a $875,000 fire truck that has been ordered but isn’t expected to arrive for two or more years. The remainder of the fire truck’s cost is expected to be funded by a $50,000 USDA Community Facilities grant and a Congressional Discretionary Spending request for $481,000 through U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman’s office.

The remaining $167,782 in ARPA funds was committed to helping fund an estimated $250,000 project at Curry Park to bring upgraded electric service to 30 more campsites, as well as making Wi-Fi accessible throughout the campground. An earlier project upgraded the electrical service to 12 campsites.

The commission approved an employment agreement with Jason Alonen to become assessor and supervisor of the Public Works Department with a salary of $68,500. Alonen was the city’s assessor and code enforcement officer. Anderson said his code enforcement duties would be shifted to the Public Safety Department.

Anderson said the city had recently received exciting news about funding for two future infrastructure projects, including $10.5 million in 100% grant funding for Phase 2 of the ongoing construction of a new water pumping and treatment facility in Ironwood Township; and $11.021 million in 100% grant funding for Phase 5 of the city’s ongoing citywide water project. He said, while unfortunately the sewer component of Phase 5 was not funded, the city would work to secure funding for at least 50% of that work.

Phase 5 would include work in the neighborhood south of Francis Street and west of Lowell Street. Anderson expected design work would be done this winter for a 2024-2026 construction window.

As for Phase 2 of the water plant, Anderson said even though the design is largely complete, work probably would not begin until after Phase 1 is complete late in 2024, meaning the new treatment facility, including its ability to remove manganese from the water, would not be operational until late 2025 or 2026. Even then, he said it will take a couple years for the manganese to be flushed from the system, including off the walls of the existing pipes.

As for Phase 1 of the water plant, Anderson said CD Smith Construction continues work, pouring the pump chamber walls and preparing more sections of the floors and walls. The commission approved a payment of $600,327 for the project. Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering, a sub-consultant for the design firm HDR, said the construction crew hopes to have the building enclosed so they can work through the winter.

Anderson also reported Jake’s Excavating’s work on the $3 million lead service line replacement project continues, beginning in the southwest section of the city with more than 200 individual service lines to replace by 2025.

After some bit of discussion, the commission decided to open up a portion of the city’s compost site this winter for public snow dumping by a single private entity. The city will call for proposals that will include a fee and agreements by the entity to plow the area and clean up afterwards in the spring. Anderson counseled against having the city plow and maintain the area, as it would mostly likely be used in the middle of the night and perhaps during snow events. He also said it would be easier to just let one private entity have the key and responsibility for plowing and cleanup.

The commission approved the purchase of four fire hydrants at a cost $7,000 each as part of the recent Hemlock Street project. While the Mueller brand hydrants are like the others in the city, which makes parts and maintenance more easy, the appropriate paperwork could not be obtained for the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Buy American policy for items used in projects it is funding.

The commission approved a resolution supporting Highland Copper Company’s proposed Copperwood Mine project. It reads in part that the city “acknowledges the commitment of Highland Copper Company to develop an environmentally sound copper mine that will maximize local employment and will provide expansive economic benefits to the Western Upper Peninsula, contributing to the revitalization of the local and regional economy.

At the beginning of the meeting, Copperwood’s new site manager Mike Foley spoke during public comment about the company’s ongoing work at the site tied to permits from the state. He said the company has all the necessary permits and is working to secure funding.

The commission also approved joining the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region Commission at a cost of $2,261. WUPPDR director Jerry Wuorenmaa spoke to the commission about the organizations varied projects across the region.

Mayor Kim Corcoran made three appointments including: re-appointing Bill Thomason and Jerry Gullan to the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center Board for three-year terms, and appointing Jennifer Sabourin to the city’s Human Relations Equity Committee for a three-year term.

Finally, Anderson’s manger’s report included:

— The Nov. 7 election is underway as the clerk’s office had sent out 731 absentee voter applications, with approximately 320 ballots out and 240 ballots back in so far. Absentee ballots can be received until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

— The city’s deer hunt started Oct. 1 and continues through Dec. 31. Applications are available at the clerk’s office. Nine hunters are participating so far, with two does harvested thus far.

— All DPW staff positions have been filled. “We ask for the public’s patience this winter as we get people trained in and for the crew to become familiar with their new plowing routes.”

— Mt. Zion access drive will be closed on Friday.

— There is an opening on the city’s Housing Board. Applications are in the clerk’s office.

— The Ironwood Chamber of Commerce will host a Volunteer Fair on Nov. 9 from 3 to 6 p.m.

— Halloween trick or treating hours have been set for 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31.

— Mt. Zion will host a national snocross race Dec. 15-17.