Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Individuals or businesses who donated to the cost of a new trailhead behind the Bessemer City Hall will receive a letter from the city in the near future.
City Council members agreed Monday night that the outreach should be made in case any donors may wish to retract their offer after the city failed for the second year in a row to qualify for a Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Officials will apply for the grant again this year, in hopes of being awarded funds to help pay for the projected trailhead that they hope to have constructed next to the Iron Belle Trail.
Councilman Adam Zak said, in relation to the 2023 application, the state had not invested as much money into the grant program as it had in the previous year. “Not as many people got funded” this time around.
Because of the delay in waiting an additional year for a new prognosis, Zak suggested sending letters to businesses and individuals that have sent community donations for the project to ascertain whether they wish their contributions to be held or refunded.
City Clerk-Treasurer Mandy Lake said the city is holding $24,846 in donations within a bank account. That does not include additional in-kind donations or pledged donations.
Lake said the city’s auditor has advised her that’s it’s OK for the city to hold the funds until a new grant application is submitted this year and until results are announced in 2025. But she added that the auditor also suggested reaching out to local donors as Zak advised.
“I think we should continue to move forward with this,” added Mayor Peter Tacconelli regarding reapplying for the grant and contacting donors.
“My recommendation is that we continue to hold the funds,” said City Manager Christopher Frazer.
He shared that he already has communicated with some of the larger donors and assured that they have no issue with their donations being held until 2025.
Moreover, the city manager said that he is optimistic that Bessemer will be awarded the state grant on the third try.
Council members voted to review a draft of the proposed letter, to be prepared by city staff, at their next meeting and then send it to donors.
The city manager also said that a joint meeting of the City Council, along with its other city’s boards and commissions, will be scheduled soon.
Lake suggested the council schedule workshops soon in relation to preparation of the 2024-25 city budget.
Frazer also commended Ben Tucker, Department of Public works lead, and his staff, for addressing a recent broken water pipe in the fire truck garage.
Council members also:
—Voted to authorize Lisa Selin, the city’s new utility clerk, as one of the city’s signators.
—Voted to approve for C2AE, the city’s designated engineering firm, two draw orders and two change orders in relation to construction work funded in part via the U.S. Department of Agriculture and one draw order regarding work funded in part by Michigan’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
—Voted to fund $149 for the city manager to attend a webinar on collective bargaining.
—Voted to table a decision regarding further potential training for the city manager. That vote followed an open discussion that originally had been scheduled as a closed session. Frazer requested that the session be open just before it started.