Progress continues on Curry Park Campground

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — Curry Park Campground in Ironwood is continuing to undergo a number of upgrades at its U.S. 2 site that borders the Gogebic County Fairgrounds.

At a Monday evening meeting of the Ironwood City Commission, city manager Paul Anderson said that Northland Electric of White Pine completed electrical project work at the park last week.

He added that Ironwood contractor Nathan Hobbs also is expected to remodel shower walls and floor drains in the campground’s bathroom building, where he also will address exterior cosmetic walls that are deteriorating.

Ironwood Department of Public Works employees also are expected to improve and restore some of the park’s gravel pads over the next couple weeks.

Anderson said that, as soon as the city receives a bid spec review from Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, bids will go out for site furniture improvements in the park.

Bid spec reviews compare bid proposals against related specifications to assess whether they meet project needs.

Overall, said the city manager, “It’s going to be a worthwhile investment in the park that’s going to last for decades to come.”

According to Anderson, the campground had 1,502 total reservations this year, or a dozen fewer than last year’s total of 1,514. However, he said this year’s revenue of $70,735 was about $2,000 higher than last year’s total of $68,645.

In other news, commissioners also approved the appointment of commissioners Rick Semo and James Mildren to a new committee that will review and address aging bylaws at the city’s Pat O’Donnell Civic Center.

Paul Linn, the city’s treasurer and finance director, said that other members on the committee will be himself, center director Jay Kivisto, and selected members of the center’s Board of Directors.

Major Kim Corcoran thanked Mildren and Semo for volunteering to take on the extra responsibility.

Linn said that, once the bylaws committee makes its recommendations, the center Board of Directors then will act on it.

Ironwood commissioners also took the following action on Monday:

— Approved a payment of $1,103,341.63 for construction and engineering fees in relation to Phase 1 of the city’s water treatment plant project and also approved an additional services request by HDR Michigan Inc. for $37,500 in relation to the same project.

— Approved an agreement with Delta Dental Foundation for a $47,700 grant award for the Phase 2 water treatment plant project, and in relation to the same project also approved a change order decrease of $250,800 for C.D. Smith Construction Inc.

— After related and separate public hearings, took the following action in relation to the stated city properties: Approved a resolution condemning 1010 N. Hemlock, approved a resolution “ordering removal and abatement of the hazard and nuisance” at 205 N. Curry St., and tabled until the next meeting action on a resolution relating to proposed recommendations regarding 922 E. Ayer St.

— Approved a bid of $14,985 from Jake’s Excavating for 1,500 tons of sand and gravel and also approved to the same company a payment of $35,745.51 for the 2024 street improvement project and a change order increase of $8,762.96 for that project.

— Approved the $3,000 sale of a 2000 Ford F750 sander truck to Jake’s Excavating, as recommended by Jason Alonen, DPW supervisor.

— Voted to approve a resolution opting out of provisions for state Public Act 152 regarding medical plan coverage. Linn explained that the city always has opted out and, instead, has negotiated cost-sharing with employees.

— Approved the city manager as a second signatory, after Linn as the first, for matters relating to the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System.

— Approved a plan for easement access to the Civic Center via a roadway of Gogebic Community College.

— Learned that the city’s Oct. 4 Plaidurday celebration downtown included more than 800 people in the related photo. That was the highest number ever achieved at the local event.

The Ironwood Memorial Building will be closed today after 11 a.m. for staff training.

Fall water main flushing will occur during the week of Oct. 28. Anderson said the city will notify residents in advance to expect dirty water and will provide bottled water to those in need.

The final session of a series of housing development meetings will take place on Nov. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Ironwood Memorial Building. The session is titled “Get it Done!” and is open to anyone from developers, property owners, real estate officials, and other local officials to “a dreamer with a big (or not so big) idea.”

The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chamber of the memorial building.