Bessemer council interviews for city manager

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — The Bessemer City Council is in the process of interviewing candidates for its vacant city manager position.

Interim city manager Mandy Lake is among the candidates and was expected to be interviewed on Wednesday, when another candidate also was scheduled.

Two additional candidates were interviewed on Monday via ZOOM.

During a Monday evening meeting, council members also took the following action:

— Approved Darren Pionk, project manager of the city’s engineering firm, C2AE, based in Escanaba, to deliver at the council’s next meeting a change order in relation to the city’s USDA funds, so as to allow the pending funds to replace water service in Washington Elementary School before the start of the school year.

— Approved a bid of $8,600 from Jake’s Tree Removal of Marenisco for the removal of diseased trees in Hillcrest Cemetery.

— Approved Bessemer Small Engine to mow Hillcrest Cemetery grounds for the remainder of the season for a cost not to exceed $6,000. The agreement was made after the city received notification from 4 Seasons Lawn and Property Services, which had been maintaining the cemetery, was closing its business, effective immediately.

— At the recommendation of Lake, approved the continuation of trash collection for three Bessemer Township residents who until now have received that service from the city.

— Approved the $240 cost of a sign from Rapid Grafiks and Signs in Ironwood for placement at the Osmose Road compost site. The sign will include rules and hours of operation.

— Learned from Deputy Clerk Samantha Dorr, who was acting in place of the interim city manager, that a state grant application was submitted in hopes of making improvements including bridge repairs at Bluff Valley Park.

— Learned from Dorr that the city website and Facebook page now include information about the pending rise in water rates.

— Approved a draw of $152,863.29 for Jake’s Landscaping and Excavating of Ironwood from the city’s U.S. Department of Agriculture water project funds. Also approved a draw of $60,274.94 for the same company from the city’s USDA wastewater project funds, as well as an extended warranty on the water services component of that company’s work.

— Approved a draw of $61,671 from city funds, for a combination of engineering and construction costs, allotted from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

— Voted to delay taking action on the pending Iron Belle Apartment project until the next meeting.

— Tabled a decision on awarding a screened sand bid until Ben Tucker, lead of the city’s Department of Public Works, to review the bids.

All votes were unanimous with all members present.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. in the council chamber of the Bessemer City Hall.