Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted April 24 to approve a request to place a millage renewal proposal for Gogebic County Transit on the Aug. 6 county ballot.
“This is the millage rate that has been in effect from 1985 through 2024 and represents a renewal of that millage rather than an increase,” said James D. Oliver, director of county transit, in an April 11 letter to commissioners.
The 4-year millage noted is for one-third mill or 33 and one-third cents per $1,000 of state taxable property. It is expected to result in $213,826.66 of revenue to help operate what is known as the county’s “Little Blue Bus” service.
“The successful passage of this renewal is essential for Gogebic County Transit’s continuation,” said Oliver, who added that the bus service for county residents has increased to its highest point of the past decade.
He said that bus service is now available five days a week in the Watersmeet and Marenisco area.
According to Oliver, the Little Blue Bus provided service even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We now offer a Rides to Wellness program that was established in 2020 and continues today,” said Oliver. “We provide non-emergent medical rides to Gogebic County residents. This has allowed many Gogebic County residents to get to needed medical appointments out of town and locally that they otherwise would not be able to attend. We gave approximately 900 rides per year.”
Oliver also said that county transit has benefitted from state aid.
“We now have a brand new inter-city building that is available at our site in Ironwood,” he said. “This building was paid for by the state of Michigan and FTA. It is open so that riders that are waiting for the Indian Trails bus will be in a heated building in the cold months and an air-conditioned building in the warmer months.”
That site is at 235 E. McLeod Ave. in Ironwood
On the other hand, Oliver also noted the challenges of inflation, pointing out that the cost of a new bus has doubled in the past two years.
If granted by voters, the renewal would be for a 4-year period, 2025 through 2028.
More information is available on the transit website at gogebiccountytransit.com.
In other news, commissioners voted to deny a request for $5,000 made in an undated letter to County Administrator Juliane Giackino by Jay Kivisto, manager of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood.
In the letter, Kivisto stated that the Civic Center is “working on a project that aims to improve a major infrastructure cost associated with the process of making and maintaining ice for our community-wide programs.”
He added that the existing system was purchased in “used” condition in 1982 with an expected life of 15-20 years and high maintenance costs. “It also uses an R22 refrigerant which is no longer produced due to its negative environmental impact.”
Kivisto said that a new system “will be reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and meet all EPA standards.”
Before the board voted against granting the request, commissioner Joe Bonovetz said that it does not appear to meet the board’s criteria in relation to funding programs relating to youth and schools.
All votes were unanimous with George Peterson absent.
During the public comment session, Fair Board member Linda Nelson said that plans for this year’s annual fair at the alternate location of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center are going well.
The board’s next regular meeting will be on May 8 at 5 p.m. in the Gogebic County Courthouse.
