Ironwood shines on lead service line work

IRONWOOD — Members of the Ironwood City Commission learned at their Monday meeting that the city is “leaps and bounds ahead of the majority of Michigan communities on lead service line work.”

Those were the words of Ironwood City Manager Paul Anderson.

In a series of grants resulting from state and federal sources, the city has received millions of dollars to address water service lines.

“We’ve done a really great job in going after these grants,” said Anderson. “It’s really something to be proud of. Kudos to everybody involved.”

He said that Ironwood’s $3 million lead service line replacement project continues as the city also begins this week a separate project made possible by a $598,000 TMF grant.

TMF grants are issued by the state, so as to provide community, technical, managerial and financial help in relation to assessing water lines that may be lead. According to Anderson, the city has more than 500 unknown water service lines.

Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping LLC of Ironwood is in charge of both projects.

— Pamela Jansson