Ironwood City Commission looks to future

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

lholcombe@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission spent time looking forward at its meeting Monday evening, approving a list of goals and hiring a firm to update the city Comprehensive Plan.

Commissioners previously pared down a list of goals and then voted on the 12 remaining. City Manager Paul Anderson reported the results on Monday, listing them in a chart titled Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Goals. They included: 1. New Civic Center ice making system, 2. Coordinate, communicate and expand city recreational service and opportunities, 3. Address vacant buildings, 4. Address short-term rental and housing shortage, 5. U.S. 2 safe pedestrian crossings, walkability year round and develop sidewalk plan, 6. Improve safety on the Iron Belle Trail and in city parks, 7. Create a regional recreational authority to expand services and opportunities, 8. Increase ties with Hurley and Ironwood Township, 9. Support festivals and events, 10. Establish downtown ice space, 11. Create downtown social district, and 12. Update and increase way-finding signage.

As for the Comprehensive Plan, Community Development Director Tom Bergman recommended and the commission approved a $93,500 bid by HKGi. He said this was the low bid and the city has worked successfully with the firm on projects like the Downtown City Square. He also said there is a possibilty that a grant may pay for half of the cost.

The commission then jumped right into the first goal, by approving a letter of intent to purchase the land that the newly remodeled Civic Center sits on. Anderson said the city has been leasing the land from Gogebic Community College since the facility was built on its campus in 1982. Now the city is seeking a grant for replacing the facility’s ice making system and one of the requirements of the grant is that the city own the property. Anderson hoped the $1 purchase would take place next month.

On another goal — No. 4: Address vacant buildings, Anderson said there was recent news from the Gogebic County Land Bank that it had once again received money for another round of projects — some of which are in Ironwood including helping the school district raze the former Josephson’s Nursing Home, which it owns, as well as tear down a house at 121 N. Mansfield St. and stabilize a building at 210 S. Suffolk St. He said more details will be coming on these.

The commission also approved an $1,100 change order and then $82,214 payment to Jake’s Excavating for ongoing work on the lead service line replacement project.

Anderson said the lack of winter has kept their work ahead of schedule and they have replaced around 100 galvanized services with copper to date. He said they will soon shut down for the spring break up. He also said they will be back in the spring to do restoration work where they have dug, and that he hopes they can replace a line in Curry Park before the camping season, otherwise it will have to wait until fall.

Anderson also reported work on Phase 1 of the water plant continues apace and that plans for Phase 2 are scheduled to be complete by April, permitting in April-May, and out for bids in July-August, with construction set for after Phase 1, beginning in June 2025.

Anderson also reported:

—A transformer that blew at the Spring Creek well field is scheduled to be installed next week by Jolma Electric of Ashland.

—Phase 5 of the water system design continues by Coleman Engineering and the city is awaiting word from USDA-Rural Development on funding for the accompanying sewer improvements in the northwest Ironwood neighborhood.

—Luther L. Wright K-12 School officials are looking for input on celebrating the building’s 100th anniversary.

The commission also:

—Approved a one-year contract for 2024 for the mowing of Riverside Cemetery with Saari Lawn Service for $41,850 and a two-year contract for 2024-2025 for mowing the city parks with 4 Seasons Lawn for $17,486 total. Anderson said he’s hopeful the city will have enough summer help to do some of the work, thus proportionately reducing the amount due.

—Agreed to purchase a 2022 Ram 2500 truck from Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram near Chicago for $50,585, and declare the replaced 2011 Ford F-250 (with Boss v-plow) as surplus equipment with a minimum bid set at $5,700.

—Approved calling for bids for a generator for the Bonnie Road sewer lift station.

—Approved the following appointments by Mayor Kim Corcoran to the Zoning Board of Appeals: commissioner Rick Semo and herself for terms expiring in 2025 with their commission terms, Nancy Korpela for a term expiring in 2025, Richard Jenkins for a term expiring in 2026, and Steve Lehto Jr. for a term expiring in 2027.