ABR Foundation announces 'Happy Trails'

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — For the past few decades, ABR Trails in Erwin Township has provided what it describes as a “full service ski touring center” for cross country enthusiasts who travel from near and far to use its 75 kilometers of trails.

Located on more than 1,000 acres by the Montreal River, the operation has been run by Eric Anderson and Angela Santini, who have pledged to transfer it by the spring of 2025 to the Anderson Bluffs and River Trails Foundation, a 501(c)3 entity.

At a Monday evening meeting of the Ironwood City Commission, Scott Anderson — an ABR board member who is Eric’s brother — emphasized the magnitude of the gesture.

“They’re giving nearly 30 years of life work to the foundation,” he said, referring to the land, the equipment and associated construction.

Scott — who repeatedly spoke in terms of “community connection” — also explained the impact of the foundation, along with the latest plans of its nine-member board.

He said the trails allow skiers to appreciate the land, but said the board now wants to take that even further. “We also want to highlight the mental health benefits,” he said, adding that we all need those benefits in some form.

Hence, the board is creating an exploratory committee, including membership from a variety of health professionals and organizations.

Scott said the committee, thus far, has been called “Happy Trails.”

He added that the board also wishes to share the local history of Nordic skiing and of camps associated with the Civilian Conservation Corps. He said the development of kiosks along trails could help to achieve that objective.

In general, Scott said that the ABR board wishes to help strengthen the area economy by encouraging tourism.

Commissioners Rick Semo and James Mildren commended ABR’s place in the community. Semo said he would be “thrilled to cooperate” with its objectives, and Mildren said that ABR’s plans have sealed Ironwood’s park system as an all-season “mecca.”

While thanking Anderson for his presentation, Mayor Kim Corcoran said of ABR, “It’s a world-class facility.”

In other news, commissioners also adopted a resolution governing the city’s 2024 comprehensive deer management archery hunt. They also adopted an ordinance to amend the city’s current ordinance titled “Discharge of Firearms and Weapons,” as well as an ordinance to amend an existing ordinance titled “Wild Animals.”

“To date, I’ve had about 12 people reach out with interest,” said city clerk Jennifer Jacobson of the archery hunt.

Council members also:

— Approved an allocation of $300,000 of HUD Housing Support Funds for the 9 Ironwood Low Income Tax Credit Housing Project pending in downtown Ironwood. City manager Paul Anderson said there may be only a 50% chance of the funds being granted, but he said if they are, construction of the $10 million pending project in downtown Ironwood could begin after the start of 2026.

— Acknowledged the introduction of an ordinance to amend an existing ordinance in relation to a pending expansion of Miners Memorial Heritage Park and to schedule a related public hearing for Sept. 23 at 5:25 p.m.

— Adopted an ordinance to remove several outdated sections of Chapter 30 of the city’s Code of Ordinances.

— Approved payments totaling $563,478.08 from the city’s USDA Rural Development pay package in relation to the Water Treatment Phase 1 project and also approved a change order decrease of $8,891.37 for C.D. Smith Construction of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for the same project.

— Approved a request by the city’s department of public works to authorize a bid process to sell surplus equipment. “We do this about once a year,” said Jason Alonen, DPW supervisor.

— Authorized the seeking of bids for 1,500 tons of street sand for maintaining roads during winter and also authorized bid-seeking for 500 tons of road gravel for alley and street maintenance.

— Approved a bid of $510,000 to Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping of Ironwood in relation to grant funds received to ascertain the status of remaining city water lines that may contain lead.

— Adopted a resolution to consider the condemnation of a structure at 1010 N. Hemlock Street and scheduled a related public hearing for Oct. 14 at 5:25 p.m.

— Also approved the scheduling of public hearings on Sept. 23 and Sept. 27 in relation to resolutions regarding bight violations on other property sites.

All votes were unanimous.

The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chamber of the Ironwood Memorial Building.