Ironwood soon to have new personnel on board

By PAMELA JANSSON

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Ironwood — Members of the Ironwood City Commission learned Monday evening that the city is close to welcoming a new human resources director and an assistant finance director.

City manager Paul Anderson said that final hiring decisions have been made, and he hopes to have employees for both positions on board as of December.

In other news, commissioners also approved resolutions relating to removal and abatement of blight on the following properties: 130 N. Mansfield St., 249 W. Oak St., 614 N. Lake St., 738 Celia St. and 821 Celia St. Related public hearings took place just prior to the meeting.

Anderson reported that the city also used blight elimination funds to pay for the removal in the past month of a burned house on Greenbush Avenue. He said that, at the time of the meeting, the Gogebic County Land Bank also was in the process of tearing down homes on Leonard and Mansfield streets.

He expressed appreciation to the Land Bank and to Gogebic County treasurer Lisa Hewitt for facilitating that work.

Commissioners also:

— Approved a special water rate in relation to the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus, scheduled for

Jan. 3-5 at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds in Ironwood.

— Approved the amendment of a fee schedule that will include a higher EV charging rate and also will update Curry Park campground rates.

— Approved a change order for C.D. Smith Construction in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in relation to a decrease of $67,207.38 for the water treatment plant phase 1 project.

— Approved a change order for Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping LLC in Ironwood, resulting in an increase of $1,160,254.32 relating the head service line replacement project. Anderson said most of that amount is for payments to C.D. Smith.

All votes were unanimous with commissioner David Andresen absent.

At the end of the meeting the commission entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters.

After the closed session, commissioners unanimously expressed that city clerk Jennifer Jacobson had received an “exemplary” annual evaluation.

Anderson also commended her for ably handling five elections during the past year.

Commissioners also approved a $5 per hour raise for Anderson, effective immediately, with future cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to non-union staff, effective July 1, 2025.

The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chambers of the Ironwood Memorial Building.