Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Ironwood — At a Monday evening meeting, the Ironwood City Commission approved the awarding of a $10,084,625 bid to C.D. Smith Construction Inc. of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for the city’s Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant Project.
City manager Paul Anderson, who is also the city engineer, said there were no other bids.
He expects the project, 100% grant-funded and estimated to take two years, to start no later than the first quarter of 2025.
During his manager’s report, Anderson added that related scheduling now will be addressed.
In addition, he said that staff is applying for a $47,000 fluoride system grant through Delta Dental “as directed by the City Commission a couple of years ago.”
In other news, commissioners also acknowledged the introduction of two ordinances created to amend the city’s existing ordinance rulings in relation to weaponry.
The first ordinance, no. 551, shall amend original ordinance no. 456, specifically a section titled “Discharge of Firearms and Weapons,” to include crossbows or any other archery equipment within weapons that cannot be discharged in the city except under the listed exceptions.
Those exceptions, which originally included lawfully acting in defense of persons or in the enforcement of the law or while practicing at an established range, now also include approved archery target practice or participation in the city’s comprehensive deer management archery hunt.
The second ordinance, no. 552, amends ordinance No. 457, specifically a section titled “Wild Animals,” to add to the means of the city’s deer harvest, in several references, the use of “archery equipment, including the use of a crossbow.”
City Clerk Jennifer Jacobson explained that Michigan law, since 2009, has accommodated these updates, whereas Ironwood is just now catching up. She added that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources sees no reason to disallow the updates.
The next step in the process of official adoption will be a Sept. 9 public hearing.
In other news, commissioners also:
— Approved a resolution declaring Sept. 8-14 as National Suicide Prevention Week.
— Approved a resolution amending a management agreement between the city and the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Authority.
— Authorized the city manager to send roof drain disconnection letters to 15 businesses in violation of those standards. Anderson said the owners, whose roofs allow drainage into the sanitary sewer, will have until next summer to address upgrades for which city staff have been seeking related funding.
— Approved removing outdated items from the city’s Code of Ordinances. Andrew DiGiorgio, director of the Ironwood Public Safety Department, said the items to be removed are in conflict with updated state law or are no longer enforceable. A related public hearing will be held on Sept. 9.
— Approved a change order increase of $7,300 for L.C. United in relation to the Jessieville spheroid elevated water tank improvements project.
— Approved a change order increase of $7,846 for Midwest Overhead Crane of Ramsay, Minn., in relation to the crane replacement project for the city’s Department of Public Works.
— Approved change order increases in relation to two vehicle purchases: $3,889 for a 2022 single-axle sand truck and $3,223 for a tandem axle dump truck.
— Approved two change order increases for Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping LLC of Ironwood in relation to the city’s lead service line project: one for $14,417 and one for $166,867.22.
All votes were unanimous with all members present.
The city manager also reported that Sept. 13 and 14 will be clean-up days in the city.
Doug Lein, chief operating officer of a hockey team called the Ironwood Lumberjacks, also introduced himself to commissioners and explained that the Lumberjacks unit is now the city’s newest business.
“We’re just absolutely excited to be part of the community,” said Lein, explaining that 30 to 45 games are expected in the pending season.
The team recently received permission from the Board of Governors of the Superior International Junior Hockey League to move from Wisconsin to Ironwood.
Lein expressed appreciation to city officials, including Jay Kivisto, manager of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center, and President Chris Patritto of Gogebic Community College, for providing ongoing support.
“It’s a win-win all the way around,” said Mayor Kim Corcoran. “We’re excited to have you.”
The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor commission chambers of the Ironwood Memorial Building.