Adjusted location now target for Bessemer museum

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — Members of the Bessemer City Council learned Monday evening that the Bessemer Area Historical Society has targeted a different location for a pending new museum.

In recent months, the BAHS had considered a site on E. Sellar Street, but complications with real versus perceived plot ownership foiled those plans.

Now, Richard Steiger — who is the society’s treasurer — said at Monday’s meeting that BAHS is looking seriously at the corner of Ssophie and Sellar streets as a possible site.

Steiger said that BAHS will pay for a related title search, which he intended to pursue on Tuesday.

“We want to be sure there’s no problem, no surprises,” he said, “and then we’ll come back to the city.”

Steiger said he expected the title search to take about a month, after which he would ask the city to pay for a related warranty deed within the following month.

“That’s got to be done for all the trouble we’re going through,” he said.

Steiger also said that, if those processes go well, the society will ask the city for a variance in order to enact a setback of as much as 35 feet.

Regarding construction of a new museum, which had been expected this summer when the previous site was being reviewed, Steiger said, “It won’t be anymore this summer.”

Instead, he said, the goal for construction now will be next summer.

In other news, the council also voted to authorize its executive committee to begin reviewing applications received so far for the position of city manager.

The vote included a call to renew the job posting with the Michigan Municipal League “until someone is hired,” said Councilman Adam Zak in his motion.

Deputy Clerk Samantha Dorr said that 28 applications have been received to date, with 16 of them meeting the city’s minimum requirements.

Council members also:

—Approved an agreement regarding the demolition of a house located at 304 E. Lead St.

—Approved an engineering amendment for $1,500 in relation to Drinking Water Asset Management funds.

—Approved a quote of $2,255 from Lynx Systems Inc. of Detroit for an emergency computer system.

The votes were unanimous with all members present.

Council members also heard a report from Daniel Matonich, manager of the city’s Hillcrest Cemetery, who said several, large cemetery trees have been damaged by Emerald Ash Borer.

Zak asked Ben Tucker, who leads the city’s Department of Public Works, to organize bid information in relation to removing the trees.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on July 22 at 6 p.m. in the council chamber of the Bessemer City Hall.