Ironwood continues to fund work of veterans affairs

By LARRY HOLCOMBE

lholcombe@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The city of Ironwood will continue to help fund the work of the Gogebic County Council of Veterans Affairs, but only after a memo of understanding is approved by the city commission.

The commission asked for such a memo to be drawn up after hearing from several officials at its meeting Monday, including city manager Paul Anderson, city attorney Timothy Dean and Gogebic County Veterans Services Officer John Frello.

Anderson said the issue arose in February after city finance director Paul Linn questioned Frello’s annual request as well as other requests for funding by local non-profits; all in light of information from the Michigan Municipal League about how Michigan law prohibits donations of public funds to non-profits.

Frello told the commission Michigan law does permit a unit of government to spend money on services it could provide, but has chosen not to. He said what is needed is a memo of understanding between the parties.

Dean said he researched the situation and came to the same conclusion. Since the city has chosen not to provide veterans services, it can enter an agreement with another party to do so, as long as there’s a memo of understanding.

Frello said, while the county and all the cities and townships in the county contribute to the Council on Veterans Affairs, only the county and Ironwood Township have memos of understanding related to the funding. He said he hopes to draw up a memo for all the other units of government.

Frello said a memo of understanding could carry over from year to year, with the idea that either party could get out of it. Dean said the city would have to ensure there were public funds available.

In the end, Frello thanked the commission for its support and Anderson called the Council of Veterans Affairs a “wonderful organization providing needed services,” a sentiment echoed by commissioner Jim Mildren.

The Council of Veterans Affairs annually makes requests of each unit of government in the county based on its population and state equalized value, compared to others in the county. The request of Ironwood for 2024 is $8,517, compared to a total of $33,876 for all cities and townships.

The commission also heard a presentation from Carnegie Library Director Lynn Wiercinski. She said the addition of a first floor restroom and new programming aimed at seniors have been popular. She also said they’ve hired an architect to help them add and improve their use of space after receiving a $750,000 state grant aimed at gathering spaces.

Wiercinski said the library board talked seriously about the idea of moving the library to another location, but decided to stick with their historic 125-year-old building, working to enlarge and improve its layout and programs. She called this Phase 1 and said she’d be back in a few years with Phase 2.

Before the meeting, Mayor Kim Corcoran and Anderson presented certificates of appreciation to residents Donny Peterson and Steve Frank for their “dedication and many years of service doing roadside clean-up within the city.”

Corcoran said she thought Earth Day was an appropriate day to honor their volunteer efforts.

Frank shared with the commission a few a stories, including numbers of bags collected, cigarette butts picked up, and tires removed. He said they’ve found everything but the kitchen sink, on second thought, he found four of those, as well as televisions, vaccums and a table saw. He thanked the city crew for picking up their bags left along the road.

He said garbage along the roadside is something that can unite people because everyone is against it. He said not everyone can climb in and out of the ditch to remove something, but everyone should be able to find time to just walk around the block and pick up.

In other action, the commission:

—Approved agreements with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, securing $11.021 million in grants to fully fund Phase 2 of the water treatment plant. They include a $9.168 million American Rescue Plan State Revolving Fund Grant and a $1.853 million Drinking Water Infrastructure Grant. Anderson said Phase 1 should wrap up by the end of the year and construction on Phase 2 could begin in summer 2025, adding in between there will be sufficient testing of Phase 1. He also thanked the state for the funding.

—Approved the sale of two adjacent lots at 238 E. Ayer St. for $5,950 to Up-N-Smoke BBQ, which has been leasing the property for three years. Community Development Director Tom Bergman said the owners have “developed a successful food truck business that has become a great asset for the downtown,” and before they expand their business, they’d like to own the property.

—Approved Payment No. 6 to Jake’s Excavating for $38,631 for the ongoing lead service line replacement project, as well as a related $1,286 change order.

—Approved a second change order with Jake’s Excavating, extending the state funded lead service line project to Curry Park for $99,571. Anderson said the entire system there is galvanized pipe and needs to be replaced. They hope to have the work done by May 26, when the campground is scheduled to open.

—Approved two change orders on Phase 1 of the water treatment plan project, one for $20,366 for piping outside the structure and the other for $54,253 for electrical systems outside and a planned doorway to Phase 2. Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering said both changes will make the transition to connecting to Phase 2 more efficient and cut down costs of the combined projects. Anderson said the changes were approved by Rural Development and are covered by contingency funds in the project’s budget.

—Approved a bid of $64,633 to Northland Electric of White Pine to update the electrical service at Curry Park, including to the campsites. Anderson said the city is contributing to the project by also using a DNR grant and ARPA funds to purchase a 3-phase transformer, an electrical cabinet and pedestals for the campsites. He said work won’t begin until fall, so they hope to have it done in time for the 2025 camping season.

—Accepted a bid for $109,706 for an annual road crack sealing project by Pitlik and Wick of Eagle River, Wisconsin. Anderson said they hope to continue to cover a third of the city each year.

In the manager’s report, Anderson said:

—The city compost site will open Thursday, May 2.

—Spring clean-up days will be behind the Public Safety building on Friday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturday, May 4, from 8 to 11 a.m.

—The Department of Public Works will be flushing water mains May 5-10.

—The city is still accepting applications for summer help, having filled three of five spots.

In other matters, Bergman said they have planned a ribbon cutting for the mountain bike trails in the Miners Memorial Heritage Park for Friday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bonnie Street Trailhead.

Commissioner Rick Semo said he heard a pair of recent presentations hosted by the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce about the economic impact of tourism, and arts and culture on the community. He said while the impact of tourism may be obvious to many, he said the economic impact of the arts is “really significant and we have done a really good job with this.”