|
|
Local
News Archive 2016
The Dickinson
County Board of Commissioners, at the urging of officials in
Breitung Township, have decided to join the fight against
the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
The decision came at the Monday night meeting of the County
Board, and was passed at the urging of Board Chairman, Henry
Wender. Wender pointed out that Breitung Township has
already invested a good deal of money in this fight. The
Board approved up to $1,000 to assist in legal expenses.
They join a growing list of municipalities that are joining
the fight against decisions that are reducing local
government tax bases, thus local tax income. Dickinson
County and Breitung Township have already taken substantial
hits on their tax bases, and the City of Iron Mountain is
beginning the feel the pinch as well. The Iron Mountain City
Council last week appropriated an additional $5,000 toward
this fight.
Kingsford City
Manager Tony Edelbeck said that as of this time the City of
Kingsford has not been affected by the Tax Tribunal rulings,
but that they are keeping a close eye on the situation and
keeping in touch with Legislators. Edelbeck said that
even though Kingsford has not yet been impacted, there is a
potential for such an impact.
The Tax Tribunal has drastically reduced the taxable
valuation of many properties, especially the so-called "big
box" stores, such as Home Depot, and Lowes. The case
currently before the State Supreme Court, the one
specifically mentioned in the Board's action this week,
involves a decision by the State Court of Appeals,
overturning a Tax Tribunal action on the Lowes Store in
Delta County. This case is not likely to have an specific
effect on the situation in Dickinson County.
The fight comes over how property is valued for taxation
purposes. Local government units assess taxes based not only
on the actual value of the property, but on it's business
functionality. Property owners cry foul, saying they already
pay other taxes specifically based on those business
activities, though that money does not generally go to the
local community.
Dickinson County and the Breitung Township School District
have been especially hard hit by a number of the tax
tribunal decisions.
Sheriff Scott
Rutter issued his department's activity report for the month
of February, indicating another full month of activity for
Sheriff's Department personnel.
The Sheriff's Road Patrol served a total of 82 civil process
papers, investigated 80 complaints, handled 28 accident
investigations, issued 25 citations and 72 verbal warnings.
In addition the Road Patrol reported 24 arrests, 168
property checks, eight prisoner transports and two mental
health transports.
The Correctional Center reported a total of 103 bookings for
the month of February, for a daily average of 3.4. The
average daily population at the County Jail during February
was 78, which was two more than the January average.
The enhanced 911 Dispatch Center handled over 4,000 calls
during the month of February. Here's the breakdown:
emergency 911 calls - 448, Non-911 calls - 2,461, calls for
other law enforcement agencies - 922, calls for ambulance
service, 272 and calls for fire service, 42.
Individuals assigned to the Sheriff's work van logged a
total of 243 hours of community service for the month of
February, performing chores and assistance at: The Dickinson
Iron Community Services Agency, Dickinson County Landfill,
The Northern Lights YMCA, The Cornish Pump and Mining
Museum, The Almost Home Animal Shelter , The Dickinson
County Historical Building, and the Welcome Center.
The Northern
Lights YMCA Dickinson Center has launched its annual
campaign to ensure that everyone in the Dickinson County
region has access to vital community programs and resources
that support youth development, healthy living and social
responsibility.
Every day, the Northern Lights YMCA Dickinson Center works
to support the people and neighborhoods that need it most by
addressing community issues, youth swim lessons, senior
exercise classes, homelessness initiatives and personal
wellness goals.
“Throughout Dickinson County, countless people know the
Northern Lights YMCA. But there’s so much more to our Y than
one might think,” said Jonathan Ringel, Northern Lights YMCA
Center Director. “The Y is more than a gym. It’s a cause. As
a charity, we’re dedicated to nurturing the potential of
every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and
well-being, and giving back and providing support to our
neighbors.”
This year, the Northern Lights YMCA Dickinson Center hopes
to raise $80,000. Funds raised will support youth swim
lessons, summer day camp, senior health classes, scholarship
opportunities and program support.
“We’re excited by what the YMCA has brought to Dickinson
County over the past 6 years”, said Campaign Co-Chairs Jeff
& Kim Webb. “We would like to see a lot more children,
adults, seniors, veterans and families benefit the way we
have from our participation in the Y. In order to do that
it’s important for the Y to reach all income levels in our
area.”
Last year, charitable gifts from YMCA donors made it
possible for: 91 children to have a safe place to learn and
build confidence after school; for 256 seniors the
opportunity for mobility strengthening and diabetes
prevention; and 407 people access to education and training
to reach their full potential.
To learn more about how you can support the Y’s cause,
please contact Jonathan Ringel, NLYMCA Dickinson Center
Director at 906-774-4076 or
jringel@nlymca.com
or visit www.nlymca.com
for more information.
Pictured above, left
to right; Michael Colavecchi, Kim Webb, Grace Webb, Jeff
Webb and Matthew Colavecchi.
Only one of three
recipients was on hand at Monday night's City Council
meeting, where they were to be honored with presentation of
resolutions, thanking them for their service to the City.
The Council adopted resolutions honoring Fire Department
Engineer Perry Tomkins, who retired from service after 25
years; Michael Barlow, Sewerman II for the Public Works
Department, retiring after ten years and ten days; and
Michael Mooney. Mooney retires as Deputy Director of the
Police Department, after 25 years and one day of service to
the City.
Mooney is pictured above, receiving the framed resolution
from Mayor Dale Allesandrini. Mooney was the only one of the
three recipients at the meeting.
The resolution presented to Mooney reads, in part:
Whereas, MICHAEL MOONEY served the City of Iron Mountain for
a period of 25 years, 1 day, during which time he exhibited
interminable vigilance and care for his community, and
Whereas, MICHAEL MOONEY exemplified superior rectitude for
offering exemplary public service and dedication to the City
as Deputy Director of Police Services.
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the MAYOR and City Council of
the City of Iron Mountain do hereby publicly express their
admiration on behalf of the citizens, and joined by City
Officials and Employees of the City of Iron Mountain
resolved that MICHAEL MOONEY will always be remembered for
his outstanding commitment to ensure and advance the quality
of our community.
Despite continuing
objections and a NO vote from long-time Councilman and Mayor
Pro-Tem Bill Rervord, the Iron Mountain City Council on
Monday night approved the final step in the establishment of
a Commercial Rehabilitation District for the City of Iron
Mountain.
The general purpose of the district, which follows the same
boundaries as the Downtown Development District, is to
attempt to spur economic development and job growth within
the district. Business and property owners can earn tax
abatements depending on a rather complex set of criteria.
However, for those who qualify the tax savings can be
significant for up to ten years. Revord's main objection to
the plan was the complexity of the criteria.
Business owners who may currently have projects underway
will, in most cases, qualify. One of those, with a major
project currently underway is Solberg's Greenleaf Bar and
Grill on Carpenter Avenue. Operator of the facility, Ed
Felton, appeared before Council at a special meeting on
February 27th to inquire regarding his project's
eligibility, and was informed by City Manager Jordan
Stanchina that it would be eligible. Felton said he is
currently involved in a $300,000 improvement project to the
facility.
The new plan will allow those who qualify to reduce the City
portion of their tax bill. It will have no effect on taxes
due to the County, the Schools, extra voted millage, etc. It
will also have no effect on routine maintenance to
properties, which would have no effect on the tax bills.
Information on how to apply is available at the City of Iron
Mountain Website, or by calling the Iron Mountain City Hall
at 906-774-8530. |
|
|
The Iron Mountain
City Council, following lengthy discussion, agreed on Monday
night to form a mutual aid pact with the Beacon Ambulance
service, as well as with Integrity EMS. The
purpose of the agreement is to improve response time in
those incidents where the ambulance services may be involved
with other emergencies, as well as to provide an additional
set of hands in life-threatening situations.
Iron Mountain's
Director of Police and Fire Services, Ed Mattson, addressed
the Council to answer some of the concerns expressed.
Mattson said that at present, "we are wasting a valuable
resource," since all firemen have undergone EMS training, as
a statutory requirement, since 2006. This training
would allow them to act until an ambulance arrives in some
cases, and to provide the extra set of hands that can be
vital in an emergency situation.
Mattson stressed
that this would be accomplished at no additional cost to the
City.
City Manager
Jordan Stanchina said that figures show there would likely
be no more than 40 such call-outs a year, and that they
would be accomplished with existing, on-duty personnel.
Support for the
proposal was also voiced by the City's newest Council
member, former Dickinson County Sheriff, Scott Celello, as
well as by Councilman Kyle Blomquist.
In the end, the
agreements were approved unanimously by the Council.
The Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT) will undertake two improvement projects at major
Dickinson County intersections during the upcoming
construction season.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-May on the North
Junction of Highways US2, M95 and 141. MDOT says that the
basic "T" configuration will not change. Changes planned
include the conversion of some of the shoulder and boulevard
areas into turning lanes, and the relighting and repaterning
of the lanes to provide more efficient traffic flow.
No Definite date has been set for the start of construction
at the South Junction, since the MDOT has not yet secured
rights to all of the property it would like to have
available for the project.
Both projects are expected to be wrapped up by the end of
this November.
|
NORWAY
SENIORS
SHOW INTENSE
DISLIKE FOR DICSA
If anyone attended today’s special meeting
of the County Board of Commissioners expecting it to end in
a koombaya moment; they left the meeting very disappointed.
The meeting involved members of the Dickinson Iron
Community Services Agency (DICSA) and representatives of the
Norway Vulcan Senior Center with the County Board in the
middle.
The special session, which was actually the Board
meeting as a committee of the whole, was requested by
Commissioner John P. Degenaer, Jr., who represents the
Norway-Vulcan area.
The meeting even drew the attendance of State
Representative Ed McBroom who said that his office would do
whatever it could to help. He didn’t offer any suggestions,
apparently not anxious to put himself in the middle.
In sometimes rambling fashion, representatives of the
Norway center reviewed the center’s history, back to it’s
incorporation in 1971 and up to it’s current dispute with
DICSA. Board Chairman Henry Wender at one point tried to end
the address, but the Board decided to let everyone have
their say.
The most recent disagreement between the center and
the agency erupted when the DICSA board, in a cost-cutting
measure, decided to close the kitchen in the Norway center
and supply meals from the central kitchen facilities in Iron
Mountain.
The announcement drew heated protest before it was
even initiated and it’s been downhill ever since.
It would appear that there is little if any hopes of
achieving any lasting peace between the Norway seniors and
the DICSA board anytime soon, so the battle has pretty much
moved into the next phase, “How to divvy up the cash.”
The County Board appears willing to allow the Norway
group to get a share of the taxes collected under the
special millage for seniors. But, they can’t have all of it
because DICSA continues to provide other services, including
meal delivery and in home assistance.
Nothing more can happen at this point until the Norway
group executes or renegotiates a contract that was
apparently provided to them some time ago.
Commissioner Ann Martin was critical of the contract
saying that it should be written in language that the
average person can understand, apparently a reference to
legalese that only makes sense to lawyers.
With everything as much up in the air as it was before
it started, the meeting ended abruptly after slightly less
than an hour.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The
Dickinson County Board of Commissioners Monday night voted
to put strict limits on the amount and type of refuse that
can be hauled into the Niagara of Wisconsin landfill,
located in Breitung Township.
The matter last came before the board in early September, when
the Dickinson County Solid Waste Planning Committee
recommended opening the landfill to household garbage, and
to allow it to take in non-hazardous waste materials from
all Upper Peninsula counties.
At that time, the Board sent the matter back to the Solid
Waste Planning Committee, and many believed that to be the
end of the matter. However, as explained by Commissioner Ann
Martin (R - Dist 2), the fact that the matter came back to
the Board is part of the process. Martin's comments were in
response to a lineup of Breitung Township residents who took
advantage of the Board's "Citizen's Time" to protest the
fact that the Board was again considering the matter. One of
the protesters suggested that perhaps the Board had waited
until after the election to act on the landfill matter.
Martin made it clear that the Board was simply following the
process.
The Board once again voted unanimously to send the matter
back to the Solid Waste Planning Committee. Before the vote
took place, Commissioner Joe Stevens (R - Dist 1) said that the residents of Breitung Township, and
Dickinson County, have spoken loud and clear on the matter,
and he felt that the Board should honor their concerns.
As a result of the Board's action, the landfill will be
permitted to accept no more than 15 trucks per day, each
carrying a maximum load of 24 tons of non-hazardous
materials, from Dickinson County only. The Solid Waste
Planning Committee had recommended that the landfill be
permitted to accept non-hazardous waste from all of the
counties in the Upper Peninsula. The Board also made clear
their intent to not allow the facility to accept household
wastes, which are defined as Type 2 waste material. The
facility will be permitted to continue accepting Type 3
waste, which consists primarily of things like foundry sand,
papermaking waste, fly ash, and demolition and construction
debris.
Reportedly, the Solid Waste Planning Committee is working
with Eric Spirtas, President of Niagara Worldwide, hoping to
find alternative routes into the landfill, which is located
between Kimberly Road and the Menominee River, between
Quinnesec and Norway. Spirtas is reportedly attempting to
develop a rail spur into the facility, while at the same
time seeking an arrangement with Verso Mill in Quinnesec, to
allow truck traffic to cross their property, traveling from
US-2 to the Kimberly Road. So far, there has been no
reaction to the proposal from Verso.
The Solid Waste Planning Committee could send the matter to
the County Board of Commissioners yet another time. However,
the Board's firm resolve would seem to indicate that such
efforts will likely meet a similar fate.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Council
Moves One
Step Closer To Allowing
ORVs On City Streets |
The Iron
Mountain City Council, following more than an hour of
discussion and public comment, took the next step in
allowing ORVs to use City streets, by scheduling the matter
for a public hearing to be held on December 5th.
The question of opening City streets to ORV traffic has been
in the works for nearly a year, as the City's infrastructure
committee worked to come up with the proposed ordinance
language.
The City has been seeking public comment since the November
7th Council Meeting, when the matter was first proposed to
the Council. Monday night's meeting saw plenty of comment,
with the vast majority of those addressing the Council
favoring the proposal.
It is hoped that the ordinance, if passed, will not only
make it more convenient for City residents to move access
trail systems, but will hopefully improve the business and
tourist climate, by opening the City to the numerous trails
that criss-cross the Upper Peninsula and Northeastern
Wisconsin.
Originally, the proposed ordinance would have prohibited ORV
traffic on Woodward Avenue, Stephenson Avenue, Carpenter
Avenue, H Street between Carpenter and Stephenson, and the
M-95 corridor. After discussion, Woodward Avenue was removed
from the list of prohibited streets.
The ordinance would permit ORV traffic on all City streets,
with the exception of those mentioned, between the hours of
7:00 AM and 9:00 PM. ORV's needing to cross the prohibited
streets would be permitted to do so at designated locations.
The next step is the public hearing, which will be held at
6:30 PM on Monday, December 5th. Those wishing to address
the issue, pro or con, will be permitted to do so at that
time. Following the hearing, it is likely that the Council
will approve the ordinance.
While there is no sunset provision built into the ordinance,
the Council indicated that they could revisit the issue at
any time, and reverse the proposed action, if problems
arise.
Councilman Bill Revord stressed that this new ordinance will
apply only to ORVs, meaning four-wheeled off-road-vehicles
and the very popular "side-by-sides." Use of snowmobiles on
city streets will continue to be prohibited.
Among those speaking in favor of the proposal was the
Director of Police and Fire Services, Ed Mattson. Mattson
said he does not anticipate any serious problems, nor does
he think the ordinance is likely to produce any undue burden
on the Police Department.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Iron
Mountain Council
Approves License For
New Pawn Broker |
With Iron
Mountain's only pawn shop about to go out of business, the
City Council has approved a license for a new pawn broker /
second hand or junk dealer.
The new business, will be called U.P.pawn Northside Treasure
Shop, and will be located within the Broullire Corner
properties at 627 North Stephenson Avenue.
The business will be operated by Donald and Bobbie Jo
Nelson.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Council
Moves Ahead
On Creation of Commercial
Rehabilitation District |
The Iron
Mountain City Council, hoping to spur investment and
development within it's commercial district, appears ready
to adopt a Rehabilitation District.
The measure adopted by the Council is the first step in the
establishment of a Commercial Rehabilitation District, under
Michigan Public Act 210 of 2005. The act gives the City the
authority to abate a portion of the taxes on any
rehabilitation or improvements on properties within the
district. The City would only have the authority to abate
it’s portion of the tax defined as: 17.4488 mils for City
operations, 3.3321 mils for the police and fire pension fund
and 1.5 mils for the Downtown Development Authority. Any
entity qualifying for the abatement would still have to pay
the school taxes; 17.937 mils for school operations and six
mils representing the State school funding assessment. The
abatements would only apply to the value of the new
investments and improvements. All previously established
taxes on the abated property would still have to be paid.
The steps taken are preliminary. Now that the Council has
approved the language in the proposal, it will be forwarded
to the County Administrator for review by the County Board
of Commissioner. Before becoming law, the matter would have
to get the approval of the County Board.
City Manager Jordan Stanchina said that it makes sense to
get all of the language in place before bringing the matter
to the County Board. If the County Board outright rejects
the plan, it would likely go no further. Should they
indicate a willingness to proceed, the matter would then be
scheduled for a public hearing before the City Council. If
approved by the Council, the matter would go back to the
County Board, which would have 28 days to act.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Iron Mountain To
Consider
Allowing Use of ORV's
On City Streets |
The Iron Mountain City
Council is expected to look into allowing ORV drivers to use
some City streets. The matter will come before the Council
as the result of a review by the City's Infrastructure
Committee, into sample ordinances that address this issue.
City Manger Jordan Stanchina laid out the basics of the
proposed ordinance, in a memo to be reviewed by the Council
at it's regular meeting on Monday evening.
If given final approval, the ordinance would allow ORVs on
any public street except for Stephenson Avenue, Carpenter
Avenue, H Street between Stephenson Avenue and Carpenter
Avenue, and Woodward Avenue. Crossing of those streets would
need to take place at intersections designated in the
ordinance.
This is the the first step in the process. Should the
Council express interest in the proposed ordinance, public
input would be sought as the next step. Based on input from
the public, the Council could then proceed to schedule the
matter for a public hearing, or drop it altogether.
Stanchina stressed that input by affected residents would be
a major factor in deciding whether to proceed to the next
step, which would be the scheduling of a public hearing.
That hearing could be scheduled as early as December 5th,
should the council decide to proceed.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
City of Norway To
Receive
More Than Half Million $$
For Sewage System Planning |
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
today announced the awarding of nearly $97 million to 137
municipalities to assist with costs of planning for their
sewer system maintenance needs from the Stormwater, Asset
Management, and Wastewater (SAW) program.
The SAW program provides grant assistance for the
development of asset management plans for wastewater and
stormwater, stormwater management planning, stormwater and
wastewater project planning and design, and testing and
demonstration of innovative technology.
This is the fourth round of SAW grant awards and is further
progress toward funding the complete list of 579 SAW grant
applicants. This most recent achievement now brings the
total number of SAW grant applicants to be awarded funding
to 478 and the total dollar amount of SAW grant funding
awarded to approximately $365 million.
Municipalities applied for SAW grants to the MDEQ in 2013
and approved applications were posted in their funding order
per a lottery process in March 2014. No new SAW applications
are being accepted by the MDEQ as the total dollar amount of
the approved applications exceeds the $450 million available
for the SAW program.
The Michigan Department of Treasury will issue general
obligation debt to fund the SAW grants as authorized in the
Great Lakes Water Quality Bond. The SAW program, signed into
law in 2013 to support water pollution control efforts in
Michigan in conjunction with the previously established
State Revolving Fund and Strategic Water Quality Initiatives
Fund loan programs.
Under the grants announced, Norway will receive $503,450.00.
For more information, visit the DEQ’s SAW
Program highlight page
For more information on the SRF/SWQIF loan programs, visit
the DEQ’s
Clean Water State Revolving Fund page
Return
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Breitung
Township To
Consider Medical
Marijuana Regulations |
The
Breitung Township Board of Trustees will hold it's regular
meeting at 7:00 this evening, at the Breitung Township Hall,
located in Quinnesec.
Among the items listed on tonight's agenda is: Regulation of
retail medical marijuana facilities.
The issue arises out of new regulations being proposed by
the State of Michigan. Those regulations allow the Township
to absolutely ban these facilities within the Township,
should that be their desire.
However, these new regulations do not go into effect until
December of 2017. In an opinion issued to the Board by it's
attorney, William Fahey, the Board was advised that the
Township will have a chance to say Yes or No to the
establishment of medical marijuana growers or provisioners
in Breitung Township. If the board says No, it's pretty much
a dead issue.
However, Fahey said that there is a "carrot" being offered
to Townships, in the form of up to $5,000 in assistance to
enforce their regulatory ordinances for such uses, and they
would benefit from the additional sales taxes being
generated by the business.
Fahey said it is not known at this time exactly how much
control Townships will be able to exercise, since the
regulations have not yet been drafted.
The new regulations, which will control medical marijuana
from "seed to sale," are currently being drafted by the
State of Michigan.
It is not known at this time whether the Board is likely to
act on the matter at this time, since implementation of the
regulations won't happen until the end of next year.
The whole question might have become moot, had a Michigan
Court of Claims not thrown out some 200,000 signatures that
had been raised, in an effort to place the question of
marijuana legalization on this year's ballot. The State of
Michigan, which has been attempting to undo the medical
marijuana system since it was imposed by the voters, claimed
that the 200,000 signatures were collected before the
beginning of the 180 day period permitted for collection,
and thus they were "stale."
The Court did not give the group that had collected the
signatures any opportunity to counter the State's claims,
before handing down the ruling.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
A Boondoggle
that's not getting any better
The Iron
Mountain City Council on Monday night once again revisited a
question that's been hanging over the City for more than a
decade: What to do with the 11 acre City-owned property
where the Khoury Brothers Furniture Factory used to be.
Khoury Brothers had operated as a builder of small
furniture, utilizing locally harvested timber products, for
more than half a century at their North Side Iron Mountain
factory. The factory, as you likely recall, was located
adjacent to Highway US-2. In 2004, after the City and the
company were unable to come to an agreement on what the
company called "unspecified differences," Khoury Brothers
moved their operation into the City of Kingsford, taking
over another furniture manufacturing plant, which had
recently been vacated by Foley Martens, a Nationally-known
manufacturer. Shortly after that move, Khoury Brothers
ceased operations altogether.
A decade ago, the City, through it's Tax Increment Finance
Authority, purchased the property for $895,000. The assessed
value of the property today is around $525,000. At least one
attempt has been made to develop the property over the
years, when Iron Mountain natives, nationally recognized
athletic figures Tom Izzo and Steve Mariucci, attempted to
develop a conference and convention center on the property.
That effort ended in failure, when the developer announced
that they were unable to come to terms with the City Council
over a variety of matters, primarily involving tax
abatements.
The property has now stood vacant for more than a decade,
resulting in zero tax dollars for the City, since it owns
it. As Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem Bill Revord said on
Monday evening, "It's a bad deal that's never going to get
any better."
The current discussion revolves around splitting the eleven
acre parcel into a number of smaller parcels, in the hopes
that the property may become a retail area. City Manager
Jordan Stanchina said that most retailers want parcels of at
least 1.5 acres, and that only seven or eight of the
eleven acres would actually be suitable for development.
Mayor Dale Alessandrini, appeared to favor the proposal, as
long as it can be done with minimal development expenses
being incurred by the City.
We'll be hearing more about this issue at future meetings.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
The City of Iron Mountain recently underwent an audit by the
Internal Revenue Service, and passed with only minor issues.
The audit was for the year 2014.
Among the items that the IRS flagged were the issue of
on-call employees commuting too and from work with a
City-owned vehicle, the requirement that firemen and Public
Works Department employees provide receipts for things such
as safety glasses, safety boots, uniforms, etc.
Some City employees, generally supervisory, are permitted to
use City-owned vehicles to commute to and from their homes,
when they are "on call." As explained by City Manager Jordan
Stanchina, this is not for the employee's convenience.
Having a fully-equipped vehicle at their immediate disposal
when these employees are on call is of much more advantage
to the City than to the employee, since it allows them to
immediately proceed to the site of a problem, rather than
having to first retrieve their work vehicle. This being the
case, the City will pay the applicable taxes. The IRS is
charging the City $2,700 for this item.
Under the terms of their contract with the City, firemen are
given an annual allowance in the amount of $150.00 for
"uniform maintenance." While there is nothing wrong with the
allowance itself, firemen will now be required to present
receipts for the uniform maintenance items purchased. Any
amount that can't be covered by receipts will be taxable
income. The amount the IRS assessed against the City in this
instance was $300.00.
The situation is much the same for the Department of Public
works, where employees are given an annual allowance of
$200.00 for the purchase of such things as safety boot,
safety glasses, etc. While these allowances will still be
permitted, any amount not covered by receipts for the
purchase of such items will be reported as taxable income.
The IRS assessed a charge of slightly over $1,000.00 for
this item.
Another item challenged by the IRS was the manner in which
the City reported funds paid to employees who have opted out
of the City-provided health insurance plan. While that issue
had already been corrected, according to the City's Chief
Financial Officer, Heather Lieburn, the IRS assessed a tax
of slightly over $2,100.00 against the City.
Most of these charges will be paid out of the general fund.
The IRS also challenged the City's past practice of paying
individuals on a contractual basis, rather than treating
them as employees. The instance involved work done on behalf
of the Downtown Development Authority. This situation has
been corrected, according to Lieburn, and all payments are
now being run through the payroll department. The IRS
assessed approximately $2,500.00 in this matter. That amount
will be paid by the Downtown Development Authority.
The audit also went through the City's W9's and 1099's that
are issued to vendors. These are usually problem areas in
any audit. However, Iron Mountain had only two very minor
problems in this area, and there would be no penalties as
long as proper documentation is provided.
All in all the City appears to have survived the audit in
pretty good shape. The auditor commended the City on "a job
well-done" with these forms. Thus, there were no tax charges
assessed.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
The Iron Mountain City Council again addressed the matter of
the Civil Service proposal which will appear on the November
8th General Election ballot.
The Council's discussion followed remarks by City Manager
Jordan Stanchina, who said he was responding to an item
which had appeared in a local newspaper.
Stanchina said the item was filled with incorrect
information, and did not reflect the situation that would
exist if Civil Service is eliminated.
The Manager said that contrary to statements made,
elimination of the Civil Service System would not result in
the ability to hire friends or relatives, since this
practice is specifically prohibited in language written into
the City Charter in 1985.
Stanchina said that while Civil Service solved many problems
when it was adopted in 1935, it no longer serves any useful
purpose, and often makes it difficult, if not impossible, to
hire the most qualified individuals.
Council members discussed various methods that might be used
to promote passage of proposal #1, but were advised by the
City Attorney that there are statutorial limitations on what
the Council can do. The Council is specifically prohibited
from spending City funds to promote the issue.
The City Manager urged voters to visit the City's website
at: www.cityofironmountain.com
where specific information on
the proposal is available.
Dickinson County News also has
information available regarding proposal #1 at:
www.dickinsoncounty.news
Return
|
|
|
|
|
A war of
words between a Dickinson County Commissioner and the Iron
Mountain City Council escalated on Monday night, when Iron
Mountain Councilman Bill Revord (pictured on left above)
unleashed a verbal attack on County Commissioner Barbara
Kramer (pictured on right above), after she posted a social
media article critical of the Council over the Commonwealth
Development decision.
After a special hearing on September 28th, the Council voted
to table a request by Commonwealth Development, to allow the
company to pay fees in lieu of taxes on a proposed housing
development in the now abandoned Central Middle School
building. Under the proposal, known as PILOT, or payment in
lieu of taxes, the developer would pay to the City a
percentage of rent collected, rather than the usual ad
valorum taxes normally paid on real property.
While the City did not reject the plan, the Council did
agree to table the matter for further study.
Kramer, in an article published on her Facebook page, was
very critical of the council's action, saying in part, "This
decision should have been quick and sure, because it will
benefit the entire community. Iron Mountain City Council's
decision puts the Commonwealth project's MSHDA financing
success at greater risk as well as the school district's
option to pay off the bond earlier, which will save us
taxpayers some money. What is more important? Serving the
entire community or protecting special interests?"
The
payment by Commonwealth to the Iron Mountain School District
would allow the district to retire some $144,000 in
outstanding bond obligations, resulting in a substantial
cash savings to the district.
Councilman Revord called on County Board Chairman Henry
Wender to "rein in" his Commissioner. He said that the
Council does not make quick decisions on matters of this
importance. While the project plan is still
proceeding, it is unlikely that it would come to fruition
without the Council's action.
No timetable has been set for the Council to revisit the
matter.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
The
Dickinson County Board of Commissioners on Friday evening
put the final nail in the coffin for a proposal to import
waste from other areas, for burial in a Breitung Township
landfill. The proposal was one of five recommendations made
in August by the Dickinson County Solid Waste Planning
Commission.
The
controversy surrounds a landfill, located in Breitung
Township between Quinnesec and Norway, operated by Niagara
Development, LLC., of Niagara, Wisconsin. One of
the proposals would have allowed the importation of
non-hazardous waste from other counties.
Currently the landfill receives such things as fly ash,
paper making waste and construction and demotion debris only
from Dickinson County. The other proposal would
have allowed Niagara Development to apply to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality for a permit to accept
household waste.
The Board's action was a foregone conclusion, based on
sentiments expressed by it's members at previous sessions.
Several Quinnesec residents appeared before the board,
making final appeals before the board voted unanimously to
send the the matter back to the Planning Commission with no
comment. The proposal is almost certain to be dropped, at
least for the time being.
Residents objected to any garbage being buried in Dickinson
County. That apparently includes our own.
In other action, the board failed to take action on a
proposal which would have resulted in the transfer of as
much as $56,000 of money raised for senior citizen programs
to the Norway-Vulcan Senior Center. The Center is
experiencing financial difficulties, since it broke away
from the Dickinson Iron Community Services agency earlier
this year.
The Center had requested that all monies raised by the
senior citizen program millage in the City of Norway, as
well as Norway and Waucedah Townships, be allocated to the
Center.
DICSA Director, Sandie Essendrup argued against the
proposal, since DICSA continues to provide many services to
the residents of the Norway area, including adult day care,
in-home services and meals
delivered to recipients homes.
Dickinson County Clerk Dolly Cook, who serves as a member of
the DICSA Board of Directors, said that the agency is
presently working with UPCAP to come up with a plan to
provide a set level of funding, based on meals served, to
the Norway Center.
No further action will be taken by the Board of
Commissioners until those negotiations have been completed.
You can view a video recording of the meeting here:
Jason Asselin Video
Return
|
|
|
|
|
The
Dickinson County Board of Commissioners has gone on record
supporting the retention of Sky West as the essential air
carrier for the Dickinson County Ford Airport.
The Commission's unanimous vote came on a motion by
Commissioner Ann Martin (R - Dist 2). Martin said that after
reviewing the two bids submitted, their recommendation was
that Sky West remain as the carrier.
Sky West's proposal calls for seven non-stop weekly round
trips to Detroit's Metropolitan Airport, and six weekly
non-stop trips to Minneapolis St. Paul International
Airport. Sky West is requsting an operating subsidy of
$3,924,000.00.
If the Sky West proposal is approved by the Department of
Transportation, they will continue serving Dickinson County
with the 50 seat CRJ-200 regional jet aircraft.
The other proposal was submitted by Choice One, which is
headquartered out of St. Louis, Missouri. Air Choice one
proposes a different schedule, utilizing a much smaller
aircraft. Their schedule would provide 18 weekly non-stop
trips to Minneapolis St. Paul, and 13 weekly non-stop trips
to Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
Air Choice One proposes utilizing what it describes as a
twin-engine, nine-seat turbine jet. They are requesting an
operating subsidy of slightly over 4.5 million dollars.
While the Dickinson County Commissioners' vote is advisory,
it is likely that the DOT will retain Sky West as the
carrier. A decision must be made before February 2017, when
the current contract expires.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
Dickinson County Commissioner Barbara Kramer, (R-Dist 3)
took advantage of Commissioner's Privilege at Monday night's
County Board of Commissioners meeting, to answer
long-standing charges lodged against her by Gerald McCole,
of Channing. McCole refers to himself simply as a "concerned
citizen."
In prepared remarks delivered at the meeting, Kramer said:
"During recent meetings, I was accused of wrongfully getting
paid for DICSA meetings that I was authorized by the County
Board to attend. The attacks came as a total surprise."
"When my accuser challenged my integrity, he also
attacked
the veracity of our County Board. His analysis was
distorted, based on insufficient research and without
substance. I also question whether his agenda to discredit
me may have been politically motivated due to the upcoming
election."
Commissioner Kramer continued:
"I have discussed his allegations with a member of the State
Ethics Committee, my fellow Commissioners and my attorney. I
have been assured by competent legal counsel that the
accusations have no basis and are without merit."
"I take my duties as a County Commissioner very seriously.
We are responsible for monitoring dollars which taxpayers
allocated to agencies through voted-on millage. Since
"Senior Millage" money (approximately $365,000.00 annually)
passes through DICSA for disbursement, the most efficient
and cost effective way to monitor the use of those funds is
to attend the monthly DICSA meetings, which I have done
under the direction of the Dickinson County Board of
Commissioners."
Commissioner Kramer concluded her remarks, saying:
"Having been twice elected to this County Board speaks to
the confidence people have in me and my commitment to the
community in which I was raised. It is an honor to represent
my constituents and the Board and I will continue to execute
the duties for which I was elected and I look forward to
serving in the future."
Kramer is one of only two Commissioner who face challenges
in the November 8th General Election.
In a long standing complaint against Kramer, McCole has
claimed that the money she had been paid to attend the
DICSA meetings was being paid illegally, since she was not a
member of the DICSA board.
Other sources contacted by Dickinson County News,
with knowledge of the situation and the law, have agreed
with Kramer's evaluation, saying that without comment on the
propriety of the arrangement, they feel that no laws have
been broken.
McCole has made a number of attempts to seek criminal
charges against Kramer, first through complaints to the
Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney, then through the
Michigan State Police, all apparently to no avail. McCole
recently advised Dickinson County News that he is now
appealing to the Michigan Attorney General, asking for the
appointment of a special prosecutor.
The charges have been widely discussed on several local web
sites and blogs.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
The
Dickinson County Board of Commissioners will hold the first
of their two regular monthly meeting on Monday evening. The
meeting will begin at 6:00 PM, and will be held in the
Circuit Courtroom of the Dickinson County Courthouse.
While the agenda for the Monday meeting generally looks like
a "sleeper," one item of significance will come before the
Board; that being the selection of an essential air carrier
for the Dickinson County Ford Airport.
The County is currently served by Sky West. Sky West
operates out of St. George, Utah, and has hubs in many major
American cities. The Sky West proposal for the Ford airport
includes the use of the CRJ200 aircraft, pictured above,
which seats 50.
Sky West is proposing to continue serving the Ford Airport
for another two year period, with an annual subsidy of
$3,924,000.
There is another proposal in the offing, this one from Air
Choice One, which is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
Air Choice One is proposing service to the Ford Airport
utilizing what they describe as a twin engine, 9 seat
turbine. The annual subsidy required by Air Choice One would
be in excess of 4.8 million dollars.
The only appreciable difference between two, besides the
apparent difference in the aircraft itself, is that Sky West
offers connections to Detroit, while Air Choice One offers
connections through Chicago O'Hare Airport.
The Board's decision will only be an advisory one. The final
decision will be made in Washington, by the Department of
Transportation.
Return
|
|
|
|
Dickinson
County Commissioners on Monday night approved a resolution
honoring Iron Mountain native Tom Izzo for his nationally
recognized accomplishments.
The Commission officially honored the famous Yooper with the
following resolution:
WHEREAS, Tom Izzo is a Yooper and hometown son of Iron
Mountain in Dickinson County, Michigan, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Izzo has inspired and continues to rouse the
dreams and aspirations of innumerable youth, and has
fostered the careers of academic achievements of his
players, both on and off the basketball court, emphasizing
hard work, discipline and determination, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Izzo has served and continues to serve with
honor and distinction throughout his tenure as a player and
coach with a career coaching record of 524-205, and an
impressive roster of accomplishments including the 2000 NCAA
National Championship, seven Big Ten Championships, seven
Final Four appearances, eight National Coach of the Year
awards, and 19 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and,
WHEREAS, Mr. Izzo has been recognized and honored by his
peers with his election and induction into the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners
extends it's profound felicitations to Mr. Tom Izzo on this
prestigious and much deserved honor.
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Board.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The threat alert system created by Public Act 235 of 2016 is
now operational. This new alerting system can be used in
cases where there is a public threat, which is defined as a
clear, present, persistent, ongoing and random threat to
public safety. A public threat includes, but is not limited
to, an act of terrorism, an unresolved mass shooting or an
unresolved mass shooting spree.
Upon activation by law enforcement, similar to how an AMBER
Alert is issued, the Emergency Alert System can be utilized
to interrupt radio and television broadcasting in the
affected region. A Wireless Emergency Alert can also be
issued through mobile carriers, which will appear on mobile
devices similar to a 90-character text message.
“It is extremely important to make the public aware of a
potentially life threatening situation, as accurately and
quickly as possible, so our residents can stay out of harm’s
way,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan
State Police (MSP). “Nearly everyone has access to a mobile
phone, and unlike other emergency notifications, you do not
have to opt-in to receive these important alerts.”
The Public Threat Alert System is activated by the MSP
Operations Unit upon request of law enforcement, when the
following criteria are met:
1 - A specific and identifiable threat exists that is not a
natural disaster.
2 - The threat is immediate and ongoing.
3 - The threat impacts the safety and welfare of the general
public.
4 - The suspect(s) have not been apprehended and remain a
threat to public safety.
5 - An area-wide broadcast via the Law Enforcement
Information Network (LEIN) has been issued.
6 - Sufficient information to protect the public from danger
is available to disseminate.
State Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo, who sponsored the
legislation creating the Public Threat Alert System added,
"I'd like to thank the MSP and Gov. Rick Snyder for their
assistance and coordinated efforts in implementing this
precautionary measure and bringing it online so quickly. It
has and always will be my intention to ensure the public
safety of all Michigan residents and my hope is that we
never have to use this system; however, if tragedy should
strike our local communities rest assured you will be
alerted promptly."
Return
|
|
|
|
Dickinson
County Undersheriff Scott Rutter, who is seeking the
position being vacated by his boss, Sheriff Scott Celello,
has been advised that he has received the endorsement of the
Police Officers' Association of Michigan. Rutter has been
with the Dickinson County Sheriff's Department for 18 years,
and is currently serving in the department's number two
position of Undrsheriff. Celello is retiring from his
position as Sheriff to seek a seat in the Michigan
Legislature.
In a letter dated September 15, the association stated: "The
Police Officers' Association of Michigan (POAM) is pleased
to provide our endorsement for your election as Dickinson
County Sheriff."
The POAM represents over 12,000 police officers in the State
of Michigan, and is the largest such organization in the
State.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On
November 8th, Iron Mountain voters will be faced with the
choice of eliminating or perpetuating the Civil Service
hiring system, which has been in place for the past eight
decades.
Under the current system, the Civil Service Commission acts
as the hiring arm for the City. Most non-administrative
positions fall under the jurisdiction of the Civil Service
system. Every two years the Commission advertises for
applicants, who are then tested and reviewed by the
Commissioners.
The Commission then provides the City with a list of
qualifying applicants ranked in order of their test scores.
The City has little flexibility in deviating from that list.
The basic problem is that by the time two years have passed,
many of those on the list, especially the most qualified,
are often no longer available.
Based on recommendations by City Manager Jordan Stanchina,
the City Council agreed to put on the November ballot, a
proposal to eliminate the Civil Service system.
Many have wondered: What would replace Civil Service if the
voters agree to eliminate it?
Hopefully we’ll get some preliminary answers to that
question on Monday evening, when the Council meets for it’s
second regular monthly meeting.
Stanchina told Dickinson County News that he will be
presenting “talking points” on the matter to the Council on
Monday. It is not known if the Council will take any action
at this point.
Return
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board Narrowly Approves
Lake Antoine Fish
Habitat Project |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Both Iron Mountain and Kingsford will be receiving shiny new
fire trucks in the near future, as the result of action
taken by the respective City Councils on Monday night.
Both cities solicited bids for new trucks, and both received
a single bid from the same company, Pierce Manufacturing, of
Appleton, Wisconsin. Pierce manufactures a wide range of
emergency response vehicles, and distributes products
Worldwide.
The bid received for the Iron Mountain truck was slightly
over one-half million dollars.
The Kingsford bid was just over $360,000.
According to Kingsford City Manager Tony Edelbeck, the unit
being purchased by Kingsford will be somewhat cheaper
because of different specifications. Among those is a
smaller four man cab, compared to Iron Mountain's six man
cab. There are other differences in specifications, based on
the respective department's needs, that also account for the
price difference. Edelbeck said the specifications for the
new truck are very similar to those of the late 1990s model
truck that it will be replacing.
Edelbeck said the City could realize additional savings if
they are able to pay for the truck "up front," thus taking
advantage of an additional discount that the manufacturer
would offer.
Iron Mountain will need to borrow the money to pay for the
truck. In this case the new truck will replace a 15 year old
unit. City Manager Jordan Stanchina, in his original
recommendation to the council, said that borrowing the money
at this time makes sense because of historically low
interest rates. In his report to the Council on Monday
evening, Stanchina said that he had obtained a low interest
quote of 1.5% from UP State Bank. Based on that quote, the
Council authorized a Municipal Installment Purchase
agreement.
It will take approximately ten months for Pierce to build
the Iron Mountain truck. Pierce has indicated that it will
make adjustments to compensate for the interest costs that
the city will incur during that period.
The Kingsford truck should be delivered in less time, since
it is similar to the stock trucks that the company offers
for sale.
Dickinson
County News was able to confirm shortly before noon on
Tuesday that both trucks are on order. The
specifications for the Iron Mountain truck had already been
reviewed and deemed to be in compliance.
Kingsford Public Safety Services Director Brian Metras said
shortly before noon that he reviewed the specifications this
morning, and that they were in compliance with the City's
requirements. He said the paperwork had been
turned over to the City Manager, and that the truck is
on order.
Return
|
|
|
|
Lukewarm reception after
issue stirs controversy.
The Iron
Mountain Central Middle School development project will move
to it's next step, though the City Couincil expressed
skepticism and concerns on Monday night. The Iron Mountain
City Council, at their regular meeting on Monday night,
scheduled a public hearing, on what has become an
unexpectedly controversial issue.
The project
is being proposed by the Commonwealth Companies,
headquartered out of Louisville, Kentucky.
|
 |
Appearing on
behalf of the company at the Monday night meeting was the
Vice President of Development, David Ritchay, pictured on
the right. |
 |
Ritchay
outlined to the Council the many benefits he felt would
arise from the project, not the least of which is providing
affordable housing, which the company states as it's primary
goal. Ritchay also stressed the benefits of restoring and
maintaining historic properties.
The issue stirred enough controversy to generate the largest
crowd witnessed at a City Council meeting in some time.
Ritchay's
comments were followed by a string of citizens, almost
equally divided on the subject. Some expressed concerns
about the traffic problems that might be created, others
about the lifestyles of the individuals who might qualify
for the low-income housing. Other's favored the project,
stating the obvious need for housing in the area, and the
benefits of restoring and preserving the historic structure.
Perhaps the
most compelling plea came from members of the Iron Mountain
Board of Education, who expressed concern for the building's
future if this project does not go forward. Addressing the
Council on behalf of the Board of Education were the Board's
President, Jeff Michaud, as well as Vice-President Rob
Langsford and member Lisa Carollo. The primary concern is
that the now abandoned building will deteriorate over time,
and may eventually become useless. They indicated that there
has been no other interest expressed in the building.
Nevertheless, the Council seemed unconvinced. The Company is
seeking the adoption of an ordinance, implementing what is
known as a PILOT, or Payment In Lieu of Taxes program. This
would allow the developer to pay 10.32% of the rent
collected to the City, in place of the ad valorum taxes
usually assessed.
Mayor Dale
Alessandrini seemed to express the general sentiment of the
Council, saying that if they gave every business this kind
of a break, they'd have people lined up waiting to move into
the City. Others on the Council seemed a bit more interested
in pursuing the matter, and it was eventually set for public
hearing. That hearing will be held in the council
chambers of City Hall on September 28th.
|
 |
|
The proposed
$5.4 million dollar project would convert the former school
building into 28 apartments, and result in the construction
of two, six-unit condominium apartment buildings. Nothing
can proceed until the Council takes action on the PILOT
ordinance, after the hearing on the 28th. |
|
|
|
|
Commissioners To
Consider Resolution
Honoring Tom Izzo |
|
 |
|
The Dickinson County Board
of Commissioners will hold the second of it's two regular
meetings on Monday.
Among the items listed for consideration by the Board is a
resolution Honoring Tom Izzo, Iron Mountain native who has
earned National recognition as Head Coach of the Michigan
State Spartans.
Since 1995 Izzo has presided over a prolonged period of
success. On April 4 of this year, Izzo was elected to the
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Under Izzo, Michigan State has been one of the most
successful collegiate basketball programs in the country.
Izzo has led the Spartans to the 2000 NCAA Division I
National Championship, the 2009 NCAA National Championship
Game, seven Final Fours, seven Big Ten Championships, and
five Big Ten Tournament Championships in his 21 years at
Michigan State. The coach with the most wins in school
history, Izzo's teams have earned invitations to 19
consecutive NCAA tournaments, in addition to setting the Big
Ten record for the longest home winning streak. These
accomplishments led analyst Andy Katz at ESPN to deem
Michigan State the top college basketball program for the
decade from 1998 to 2007.
Currently the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten
Conference, Izzo, whose teams are often recognized for their
rebounding prowess and defensive tenacity, has won four
national coach of the year awards and maintains a
considerable coaching tree—several of his former assistants
are currently head coaches at other Division I schools. Izzo
is just the fifth coach in Big Ten history to win seven
conference titles. His immense success during the NCAA
Tournament has earned Izzo the nickname "Mr. March" among
active coaches.
Return
|
|
|
|
Dickinson County District Judge Christopher Ninomiya has
announced the appointment of Ms. Emily Ellis, of Iron
Mountain, to serve as Magistrate for the 95-B District
Court.
The appointment had been questioned by Commissioner John
Degenaer, Jr., (D-Dist 5) when the matter came before the
budget conscious Board several weeks ago. However, the Board
had no choice but to go ahead with the authorization, since
the position is required by Michigan law. (MCL 600.5801)
In his notice to the Board, Judge Ninomiya is submitting an
accompanying request asking authorization to send the newly
appointed Magistrate to the Michigan Association of District
Court Magistrates annual conference in Grand Rapids.
Return
|
|
|
|
Fish Habitat Project
At Lake Antoine
To Be Considered
By County Board
|
|
|
|
The
Dickinson County Board of Commissioners is expected to join
the City of Iron Mountain, in authorizing a fish habitat
project at Lake Antoine. The project has been proposed by
the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Approval of both governing bodies is required, since the
project will be conducted in parts of the lake that fall
into both jurisdictions.
The proposal is similar to a project conducted on Lake
Antoine several decades ago, when fish habitats consisting
of bound logs were placed on the ice, and allowed to sink
into the lake with the spring thaw.
This project will involve what is called coarse woody
habitat, and consists of logs, branches, limbs, trees and
wood particles that are bound together and anchored. As with
the earlier project, the habitats will be placed on the ice
and allowed to sink into the lake.
They will be placed in areas near the shore, where they will
not interfere with recreational use of the lake. These
structures serve as cover for prey fish, as well as
providing habitat for perch spawning .
The project would be conducted during the Winter of 2018, at
no cost to the local government units. If approved, it would
be funded by a grant from the Glacial Lakes Fish Habitat
Partnership.
Return
|
|
 |
|
Kingsford
Council Approves
Fireworks Permit for
Kingsford/Gladstone Game |
|
The
Kingsford City Council on Monday night approved a request to
permit a fireworks display at the Kingsford vs. Gladstone
High School Football game, to be played on Friday, October
14, at Flivver Field.
The fireworks display will begin at approximately 9:00 PM,
and will originate on the Flivvers practice field.
According to the conditions of the permit, the fireworks
will be stored at an off site location until one-half hour
before the start of the display and will be transported to
the firing site just before the start of the show.
Public Safety Services Director Brian Metras assured the
council that the show would be properly supervised, and felt
it could be conducted safely. City Manger Tony Edelbeck said
the permit has been granted for a number of years, and there
have been no incidents.
The permit was requested by Todd Dooley, representing the
Spread Eagle Fireworks Co.
Return
|
|
|
|
Kingsford
Public Safety
August Activity Report |
|
 |
|
Brian Metras,
Director of Public Safety Services for the City of
Kingsford, has issued the Department's activity report for
the month of August. The report is included in material to
be reviewed by the Kingsford City Council when it holds it's
regular meeting tonight (Monday).
The report shows that the Department handled 188 calls,
logged 9,355 road miles, and handled 671 property checks and
inspections.
Among other things, the Public Safety Department handled 1
felony aggravated assault complaint, five complaints for
contempt of court, three for operating under the influence,
one investigation of a natural death, and two accidents.
You can view
the entire report by clicking
HERE
|
|
|
|
City To
Hold Silent
Auction For Used
And Surplus Equipment |
|
 |
|
The City will hold it's
version of a yard sale, when it auctions off a myriad of
used and surplus equipment that's been cluttering up the
Public Works building.
The Council approved the auction on Monday night, on
recommendation of City
Manager Jordan Stanchina.
The auction will include items such as used vehicles, used
tires, liquid storage tanks, floor jacks, used street signs
and used playground equipment. Also included in the auction
is one used Grundfos CR16 pump. If you know what that is;
this auction is for you.
The auction will occur between now and October 17. Watch for
the announcement.
The items listed for sale will be available for viewing at
the Public works department prior to the auction. Bid forms
are available at the Iron Mountain City Hall.
Return
|
|
|
|
Cities Agree
To Proceed
With Wastewater Treatment
Plant Upgrade Project |
|
 |
The City
Councils of both Iron Mountain and Kingsford Monday night
gave the green light to a project which will result in a
repair and upgrade project at the jointly owned wastewater
treatment plant, located on the Menominee River near the
Highway M-95 interstate bridge. The estimated cost of the
project is $5.4 million.
The recommended project is the result of a study by the
Joint Wastewater Treatment Authority, operated by the two
cities. The action taken by the Councils will allow the
authority to proceed with bid solicitation and grant
applications. The final cost of the project will not be
known until after the bids are received.
According to Gary Lessard, Superintendent of the WWTP, some
of the equipment in use today dates back to the 1970's. Some
of it is beyond repair, and repairs to other components
become more and more expensive as parts become difficult to
locate. Lessard said that in many cases it's cheaper to
replace equipment than it is to keep repairing it. This
project will allow the plant to operate efficiently and
reliably into the future.
The WWTP was originally constructed in the late 1960's,
after both Michigan and Wisconsin sued to stop the discharge
of raw sewage into the Menominee River. The equipment used
as well as practices and procedures have changed greatly
since that time as technology has advanced in the field. The
plant has undergone a number of extensive upgrades since
it's original construction.
While the funding needed for the project will result in
borrowing, and increases for water and sewer rates in both
cities, the exact amount of those increases won't be
determined until all factors are in place.
Return
|
|
The Iron Mountain City
Council is expected to approve a PILOT, or payment in lieu
of taxes ordinance, to help move along the development of a
low-income housing project in the former Iron Mountain
Central Middle School building.
The project is being proposed by The Commonwealth Company,
of Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin. The company specializes in
converting former school properties into apartment and
condominium units. On it's corporate website, the company
states the following: "It's our mission to build or renovate
housing stock that provides high-quality, affordable places
for people to live. As well, we seek to preserve and restore
the architectural legacy of the communities in which we
work."
Commonwealth is proposing to convert the former Central
Middle and elementary building into 28 apartment units, and
the building of 12 new townhouses, to be located in two
buildings of six units each.
The company is applying for what is known as a PILOT, or
payment in lieu of taxes on the proposed development.
Taxable value upon completion is expected to be in excess of
$3.2 million. Under the PILOT program, the development would
pay to the City, 10.32% of all rents collected, in lieu of
normal property taxes.
The PILOT program is authorized under Michigan law, and is
part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.
Their mission is to help provide low-cost housing for
low-income individuals and families.
If the proposed development proceeds as expected, payments
to the Iron Mountain School System will help retire an
outstanding $144,000 debt obligation that the School
currently holds.
Passage is expected when the Council meets at 6:30 PM on
Monday.
Return
|
|
Iron
Mountain Adopts
Sister City Program
The Iron
Mountain City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, to
invite Sassoferrato, Italy to be it's Sister City.
The Sister City relationship with Sassoferrato was suggested
to the Council by Albert Santoni several weeks ago. In the
interim, a resolution was drafted by the City Attorney, and
presented to the Council on Tuesday evening. Mr. Santoni was
present during the Council's vote. He said he hopes that the
relationship can eventually result in exchange visits
between the two cities.
The Italian city is a natural match for Iron Mountain,
considering this City's long-standing Italian heritage and
traditions.
This is the text of the resolution adopted by the Council.
CITY OF IRON MOUNTAIN
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN, AND SASSOFERRATO, ITALY
WHEREAS, the City of Iron Mountain, Michigan, United States
of America, wishes to have a Sister City relationship with
the City of Sassoferrato, Italy; and
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Iron Mountain extend a
hand of friendship to our potential Sister City,
Sassoferrato, Italy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Iron Mountain's City Council is
interested in fostering environments through which municipal
partnerships can learn, work and solve problems together;
and
WHEREAS, the Iron Mountain City Council is interested in
cultivating cultural and educational experiences for the
citizens of Iron Mountain;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF IRON
MOUNTAIN, DICKINSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, THAT:
The City Council and the Mayor of the City of Iron Mountain
extend through this resolution a formal invitation to the
Mayor and people of Sassoferrato to join with Iron Mountain
as a Sister City and as such to conduct such mutually
beneficial programs as to bring our citizens more closely
together and thereby strengthen international amity.
Dated: September 6, 2016
BY ORDER OF MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL FOR AND ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF IRON MOUNTAIN
As expected, the matter received enthusiastic support from
the council.
Return
|
|
|
|
Kingsford
Council Approves
Changes To Master Plan
The
Kingsford City Council on Tuesday evening approved a number
of changes to the City's master plan. The "master plan" is a
means of insuring that future growth and development within
the city occurs in an orderly manner.
Kingsford City Manager Tony Edelbeck said that most of the
changes approved to the master plan are technical in nature,
and came about as the result of changing circumstances such
as new streets being developed, changes in maps, and zoning
changes. He said that some of the changes came about as the
result of census figure adjustments, and information made
available to the City by CUPPAD, or the Central Upper
Peninsula Planning and Development District.
Edelbeck said the changes will now go before the City's
Planning Commission, where approval is expected at their
September 26th meeting.
Return
|
|
Opposition
To Breitung
Landfill Growing
Dickinson
County Clerk Dolly Cook reported today that she has received
more than five hundred petition signatures, opposing action
expected to be taken tonight by the Dickinson County Board
of Commissioners.
The Board is slated to act tonight on approval of amendments
to the operating license for a landfill located in Breitung
township. between Quinnesec and Norway. The landfill is
operated by Niagara Development LLC, a division of Niagara
Worldwide. According to reports received by Dickinson County
News; Eric Spirtas, President of Niagara Worldwide, arrived
at Ford Airport this afternoon, and is expected to represent
the company at tonight's meeting.
The question of expanding the role of the 25 year-old
landfill came to fore when the Dickinson County Solid Waste
Planning Commission made several recommendations that would
widen the area from which the landfill can collect refuse,
and possibly upgrade their operating license to allow them
to accept household or Type II waste materials. Currently
the facility is licensed to handle only Type III materials,
which includes such things as demolition and construction
debris, foundry sand, paper sludge and fly ash.
The
matter will be presented to the board tonight by Tony
Edelbeck, Kingsford City Manager, and Secretary of the Solid
Waste Management Planning Committee.
The proposed amendments had been expected to win quick approval by the
Board. That was before the significant objections that have
surfaced. A large contingent of Breitung Township residents,
led by members of the township's Board of Trustees, is
expected to be on hand at tonight's meeting.
The County Board meets in the Circuit Courtroom of the
Dickinson County Courthouse. The meeting begins at 6:00 PM,
and is open to the public.
Return
|
|
County Board
Faces Decision
On Breitung Township Landfill
On Monday
evening, the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners will be
called upon to make one of the more controversial decisions
they've had to make in some time, when they vote on the
future of the Niagara Development Landfill near Quinnesec.
The Board will be asked to approve four amendments to the
facility's operating license.
Briefly described, those amendments would lift the current
restrictions and allow the landfill to accept non-hazardous
waste from other UP counties, would change the current
no-limit intake to 15 trucks per day, would permit Dickinson
County to export waste to a broader area, and would allow
Niagara Development to make application to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality to handle Type II, or
household waste. This would only provide permission to apply
for the license.
If approved by the Board of Commissioners, the amendments
would then require the approval of at least seven of the
governmental jurisdictions in the County. This includes the
County's three cities and seven townships. If the
Board fails to approve the amendments, the matter would be
referred back to the Dickinson County Solid Waste Management
Planning Commission.
A large crowd is anticipated at the Monday night meeting,
based on the number of people who attended similar meetings
on this matter at the Breitung Township Hall. Members of the
Breitung Township Board of Trustees are also expected to be
in attendance, and will likely address the Board of
Commissioners.
The meeting will begin at 6:00 Monday evening, in the
Circuit Courtroom of the Dickinson County Courthouse.
As always, the meeting is open to the public.
You can read a complete evaluation of the landfill issue by
clicking here.
Return
|
|
William J.
"Bill" Ragio
William
Joseph “Bill” Ragio, 71, of Spread Eagle, formerly of Alpha,
passed away Sunday, September 4 at the Oscar G. Johnson VA
Medical Center in Iron Mountain.
|
 |
|
He was born
November 22, 1944 in Milwaukee, to the late William and Dena
(Carloni) Ragio.
Bill
graduated from Muskego High School in 1962. After high
school he enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he served in
Vietnam as a Radio Telegraph Operator. He earned the Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Rifle
Marksmanship Medal and was honorably discharged in 1966. |
Bill was
self-employed. He owned and operated Ragio Concrete,
retiring in 2008. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, hunting,
going to his grandkids’ sporting events, spending time with
his friends, family, and pets. He worked hard but always
made time to have fun and partied like a Rockstar. “We will
miss you Wild Bill”.
He is survived by his son, Tony (Brenda) Ragio; brother, Al
(Karen) Ragio; sisters, Linda (Nunzi) Catania, Nancy (Tom)
Dixon, Dena (Marty) Rivera, Wildene Obrenovich, and Anita
Ragio; 2 grandchildren, Billy and Kelsey Ragio; and many
nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Dena
Ragio; and sister, Ilene Madison.
Private services will be held for family and friends.
The Nash Funeral Home of Crystal Falls is in charge of
arrangements.
Condolences
may be expressed to the family of William Ragio online at
www.nashfuneralhome.net
Return
|
|
Councils
Take No Action
On Township Request
Iron
Mountain and Kingsford City Councils both received an appeal
from the Breitung Township Board of Trustees, asking that
they go on record opposing amendments to the Dickinson
County Solid Waste Management Plan. Those changes would
allow for expansion of a landfill, located in Breitung
Township, between Quinnesec and Norway. The landfill is
operated by Niagara Development LLC, a subsidiary of Niagara
Worldwide.
The changes being proposed are:
1. To allow Niagara Development to accept the same waste
(Type III) they are currently permitted for from other U.P.
counties.
2. To limit Niagara Development to 15 trucks per day.
Currently there is no limit.
3. To permit Dickinson County to export all types of waste
to other U.P. counties. At present only Alger county is
listed. The other counties would have to approve this plan
as well before it could be implemented.
4. To allow Niagara Development to apply to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality to modify their current
landfill permit, the allow them to accept Type II
(household waste) materials. This would only give them permission to
apply. The MDEQ would have the final say.
Currently the landfill is only permitted to accept Type III
material, consisting of things such as foundry sand, paper
sludge, and construction and demolition debris. These
materials are defined as non-hazardous.
Iron
Mountain City Manager Jordan Stanchina said he did not
understand why the Township was objecting to all four of the
amendments, but added that any action by the City Council at
this time would be premature. It was much the same story in
Kingsford. City Manager Tony Edelbeck said the matter didn't
even come before the council. The reason: Any action at this
time would be premature.
The matter must first be voted on by the Dickinson County
Board of Commissioners. That vote will take place at next
Monday's night's meeting of the County Board. Mayor Dale
Allesandrini expressed concern over the 15 truck daily
limit, since the daily refuse haul from the three cities
(Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Norway) would likely
exceed that limit, if the landfill is authorized to accept
Type II material (household waste).
If the Board of Commissioners approves the plan, it would
then be voted on by the three cities and the seven
townships. Seven of those ten governmental units would have
to approve the amendments before the plan could proceed. If
the County Board rejects the amendments, the plan would go
back to the Solid Waste Management Planning Committee for
possible revision.
Return
|
|
Busy Summer
For
Kingsford DPW
It's been a
busy Summer for the Kingsford Public Works Department,
according to a report received by the City Council Tuesday
evening.
In his report to the Council, Public Works Department
Director Justin Wickman listed the following activities:
Completion of 18 ramps to comply with the Americans With
Disabilities Act, two catch basin repairs and two manhole
repairs, in preparation for local paving work this fall.
Wickman said the crews completed the monthly sewer flush
during the second week of the month. they also completed
three manhole and two catch basin top rebuilds, and one
complete catch basis rebuild.
According to Wickman, the crews have been busy patching
potholes throughout the city. He said there were a few spots
that were beyond cold patch, and needed some hot mix asphalt
for repairs.
Work will continue as long as weather permits.
Return
|
|
Students
Bolster City
Council Attendance
There was an
unusually large crowd on hand at Tuesday night's meeting of
the Iron Mountain City Council, thanks to students attending
the meeting as part of a class assignment.
The students
are part of instructor John Hogberg's Civics class at the
Iron Mountain High School. The students were assigned, among
other things, to attend one City Council and one County
Board meeting.
Return
|
|
Drink Up
Kingsford
Your Water Is Safe
The Kingsford Municipal Water System received passing grades
in all but one category, in a recent survey by the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality.
The City received a report of "No
Deficiencies/Recommendations," in all but one category,
after a recent on-site inspection by the DEQ. That
single category is in the City's distribution system, where
the DEQ feels there may be inadequate controls over
cross-connections. The report did note, however, that they
commend the city crews for the work they are doing on this
deficiency, and are recommending to the City Council that
they adopt an ordinance governing such cross-connections. No
problems have been reported from this issue. The steps being
taken are preventative in nature.
The system did receive passing grades in the following
categories: water source, water treatment, finished water
storage, pump stations, monitoring and reporting, management
and operations, operator certifications and security.
The information is contained in a report issued by the DEQ
on August 17th. It is expected to be presented to the City
Council at it's regular meeting tonight (Tuesday).
Return
|
|
Iron Mountain
To Buy
New Fire
Truck
The City
of Iron Mountain, following several months of research,
Tuesday night agreed to spend more than one-half-million dollars
for the purchase a new fire truck.
The City only received one bid for the truck, that came from
Pierce Manufacturing, of Antigo, Wisconsin. Pierce
specializes in fire and rescue vehicles and distributes
products worldwide. The Pierce bid was slightly over
one-half million dollars.
That bid approval was deferred for several weeks, due to the
complexity of the specifications for the truck. The City's
bid specifications covered 131 pages, and the Pierce bid was
submitted with an equally daunting amount of paperwork. The
specifications have now been reviewed by the Fire
Department, and according to the latest information, the
bids meet the City's specifications.
This purchase is not currently budgeted for, and the City
will have to borrow the money through the sale of bonds.
In his original memo to the Council, City Manager Jordan
Stanchina said it makes sense to borrow the money at
historically low interest rates, rather than to put the
purchase off for the seven or eight years that it might take
the city to set the funds aside.
The new truck will replace a 16-year-old unit, that is in
need of upgrades. The current number one unit will become
the Department's number two, or standby unit.
In order to make the purchase, the City will have to adopt a
Municipal Installment Purchase agreement. Steven Mann, the
Detroit representative of the international legal firm
Miller Canfield, will act as bond counsel for the City on
the borrowing.
In his latest memo to the Council, Manager Stanchina said
that several borrowing options will be presented to the
Council at it's September 19th meeting, including possible
financing through local financial institutions.
The Council unanimously approved the purchase on a voice
vote. However, you don't just pull a new fire truck
off the shelf. According to Manager Stanchina,
it will take approximately ten months to build the new
truck.
Return
|
|
|
When You
Call 911
An inside look at
Dickinson County's Emergency Response Center
|
On a recent
trip to the Sheriff’s Department, Deputy County Emergency
Services Director Pete Schlitt gave us a tour of the
Emergency Response Center. The 911 Center is highly secured, located deep within the
Sheriff’s Complex, behind two keypad coded doors.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
The Center
is manned by at least two trained dispatchers at all times. This allows one
dispatcher to handle routine traffic in the
event that the other is tied up in a ongoing emergency
situation.
|
|
|
Dispatchers
are able, with the click of a mouse, to immediately contact
first responders, including police, fire and ambulance.
In addition they can also contact other agencies such as the
Road Commission, which may be needed in the event of an
emergency.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
In the event of a major emergency, there is a third fully
equipped work station which can quickly be brought into
service.
Schlitt said the center recently underwent major upgrades
thanks primarily to millage approved by County voters.
|
|
|
|
|
Dickinson County Undersheriff Scott Rutter told Dickinson
County News that they’re not done with the upgrades.
One that they are in the process of implementing is GPS
tracking of all first responders.
Currently, when an emergency occurs, dispatchers usually
have to poll first responders to find out who is nearest the
emergency. Once this new system is fully deployed,
dispatchers will have a real-time display showing where all
of the first responders are located. This will allow
them to immediately dispatch the closest units to the scene
of the emergency. Rutter said this upgrade will save
precious minutes when lives may be at stake.
Here are some of the statistics relating to the center’s
2015 operations:
911 calls, including wireless and text ….. 6,574
Non-911 calls handled by dispatch ….. 54,921
Law enforcement incidents handled ….. 11,808
EMS calls handled by dispatch ….. 2,909
Fire calls handled by dispatch ….. 689 |
|
While there
has been major controversy state-wide over the funding of
the 911 emergency response systems, we see the arguments
over funding as being another matter entirely.
Experience has shown us over the years how vital minutes can
be when first responders are called upon to handle an
emergency situation. There is no doubt that this
investment is one that pays dividends to the residents of
Dickinson County on a daily basis.
Return
|
|
|
Breitung Township Landfill
Now A County-Wide Issue
Approval will be needed
by seven of
Dickinson County's Ten Sub-jurisdictions
Click here to jump to part 2
While a landfill located within
Breitung Township has raised eyebrows with citizens there,
the Township’s government has only a limited voice in the
matter, regardless of any objections that might be raised.
The landfill is located on property previously used by
the paper making operations at the Niagara paper mill. A
portion of the property had been used as the mill’s pulp
intake point. The landfill is located to the east of the
former pulp yards, near the area that had been used for the
papermaking operation’s effluent settling ponds.
The landfill is operated by a company called Niagara
Development, a limited liability corporation. While the
exact corporate structure is not clear, Niagara Development
LLC is apparently owned by a company called Niagara
Worldwide.
|
The company's President is a gentleman by the name of
Eric J. Spirtas. While his business card lists a Niagara,
Wisconsin address, and a local Niagara telephone number, a
call to that number was answered by a very foreign sounding
gentleman, and Mr. Spirtas' return call came from the St.
Louis, Missouri area code. |
|
 |
Mr. Spirtas addressed a
standing-room-only crowd at a special meeting of the
Breitung Township Board of Trustees on Monday evening. That
meeting had been called specifically for the purpose of
exploring the landfill issue.
The Landfill
The landfill is located to the South of the Kimberly
Road, which connects Norway and Quinnesec. It is located
within a large parcel of land that had previously been used
by the Niagara papermaking operations. The Google Earth
image shown below indicates the exact location of the
current landfill operation.
The entry point to the landfill area is shown on the
right side of the image. That road connects the landfill area
to the former pulp yards which had previously served as the
intake point for the wood used in the papermaking operation.
Immediately to the left (East) of the entry road you can
see the settling basins into which the papermaking operation
used to pump it's effluent. Those basins appear to be
unaffected by the current operation, which can be seen
farther to the left (East) in the above image.
Current Operation Has Room To Grow
The current landfill operation occupies a 12 acre plot
(or 2.4%)
within the 500 acre parcel controlled by Niagara
Development. At present, according to Spirtas, only fly ash,
paper sludge, foundry sand and construction and demolition
debris are being processed at the landfill. Spirtas said
that the materials being taken in are non hazardous, and are
being buried in a double-lined pit, to guard against possible
leakage. The best image we can provide of that is a portion
of the Google Earth image above.
Company could apply for permit to
accept household waste
The landfill is in the news today, and has recently
become controversial, due to recommendations made on August
9th of this year by the Dickinson County Solid Waste
Management Authority Planning Commission, or DCSWMAPC. This
is an advisory group, part of the Dickinson County Solid
Waste Management Authority, or DCSWMA.
The former, the Planning Commission, is recommending that
the following amendments be made to the current governing
ordinances and regulations.
1. To allow Niagara Development LLC to accept the same
solid waste (Type 3) they are currently permitted from other
UP counties.
2. To limit Niagara Development LLC to 15 trucks per day.
Currently there is no limit.
3. To permit Dickinson County to export all types of
solid waste to other UP counties. Alger County is currently
the only one listed. Other counties would have to amend
their plans to accept Dickinson County waste.
4. To allow Niagara Development LLC to apply to the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for permission
to modify their current landfill to accept type 2
(household) solid waste. The Commission stresses that this
is only permission to apply for the permit. MDEQ approval is
not guaranteed.
The proposal has now gone through the first four steps in
the approval process. The next step is for the matter to
come before the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners.
That will happen at the Board's September 12th meeting.
Members of the Breitung Township Board of Trustees are
expected to attend that meeting as a group.
Dickinson County News, in a conversation with Mr. Spirtas
on Tuesday, requested permission to access the property to
take photographs so that you can judge for yourself. While
we were told that permission would be granted, we are still
awaiting confirmation. We'll keep you posted on that.
Part Two
Breitung Township Opposes
Landfill Expansion
Letter sent to all other governmental
units in Dickinson County
After hearing complaints and objections
at a special meeting this past Monday evening, the Breitung
Township Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a position in
opposition to any of the amendments proposed for the
operating license of a landfill located within the township.
The landfill is located on property formerly occupied by the
papermaking operations in Niagara. It is located between the
Kimberly Road and the Menominee River, on a 500 acre parcel
owned by Niagara Development, LLC, of Niagara, Wisconsin.
Niagara Development LLC is apparently owned by Niagara
Worldwide.
Currently, the landfill is only licensed
to receive non-hazardous waste materials described as: fly
ash, paper sludge, foundry sand and construction and
demolition debris. Currently they are able to accept these
materials only from Dickinson County. If the proposed
amendments are approved, the facility would be permitted to
receive such materials from throughout the Upper Peninsula.
In addition, it would be allowed to apply to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality for permission to accept
household waste.
Proposal on it's way to approval?
The proposed amendments have already passed the first four
hurdles in the approval process. The next step is for the
matter to be considered by the Dickinson County Board of
Commissioners. That will take place at the Board's regular
meeting on September 12th.
Breitung Township Trustees are expected to attend that
meeting as a group. Based on the reaction at the Breitung
Township Board meeting, one might expect that there will be
a considerable presence at the County Board meeting as well.
The Township will express it's disapproval formally in a
letter being sent to the County Board of Commissioners, as
well as to the Boards of Trustees of Dickinson County's
other six townships, and to the councils of the cities of
Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Norway. That letter reads:
"At their specially scheduled board meeting on August 29,
2016, the Breitung Township Board of Trustees, with six out
of seven members attending, unanimously voted to oppose all
four of the amendments currently being considered to the
Dickinson County Solid Waste Management Plan.
They encourage your opposition to these amendments as well.
Please share this communication with all of your elected
officials.
Sincerely,
John M. Gaudette, Breitung Township Superintendent
Next Step -
County Board of Commissioners
All of this could become moot, if the matter is turned down
by the Board of Commissioners. One might be forgiven for
anticipating that the matter will receive a friendly
reception by the County Board, as County Board Chairman
Henry Wender was seen seated next to the Niagara Worldwide
President, Eric Spirtas and his entourage, prior to the
Township Board's meeting on Monday.
If the Board rejects the proposed amendments, the matter is
dead, at least for the moment. It will be sent back to the
Dickinson County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee
for possible revision and reconsideration.
Size doesn't
matter
If this proposal is approved by the County Board of
Commissioners, it will then face as undemocratic and
seemingly unfair a process as any we have seen.
By population, Breitung Township is the second largest
governmental unit in the County. The only unit with a higher
population is the City of Iron Mountain. Here are the
numbers:
Iron Mountain - 7,600
Breitung Township - 5,930
City of Kingsford - 5,100
City of Norway - 2,800
Sagola Township - 1,169
Norway Township - 1,639
Breen Township - 999
Wauceda Township - 800
Felch Township - 726
West Branch Township - 67
While Breitung Township's population is greater than that of
the other six townships combined, it's single vote will
carry the same weight as that of the 67 residents of West
Branch Township.
If seven of the ten governmental units listed above approve
the plan, (if approved by the County Board) it will become
reality, whether the 5,930 residents of Breitung Township
like it or not.
Landfills are always controversial. We all produce waste,
but landfills always face the NIMBY factor.
What don't
they want you to see?
Landfills are an absolute necessity and if operated
properly, can function with minimal environmental impact. We
would like to think that the Niagara Development operation
in Breitung Township is operated responsibly, in an
environmentally conscious manner. However, perceived secrecy
surrounding the facility does raise suspicions.
In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Niagara Worldwide
President Eric Spirtas assured Dickinson County News that we
would be granted access to the site in order to take some
photographs for publication. Mr. Spirtas raised further
suspicions when he told us that there is nothing there to
see. That it would be a boring five mile ride down a wooded
road. As you can see by the images above, one would have to
drive in circles for some time to log a five mile drive in
that parcel.
We were assured that we would be contacted with further
information regarding photographic access. As of this
writing, that permission has not been forthcoming, leading
us to wonder:
What do they not want you to see?
The decision on the landfill's future in now in the hands of
the County Board of Commissioners.
Return
|
|
No Love Expressed
For Breitung Landfill
Once again the Breitung Township hall was host to a
standing-room-only crowd, as Breitung Township residents
gathered to protest the proposed expansion of a landfill
located on the former Kimberly Clark property between
Quinnesec and Norway. The landfill is positioned between the
Kimberly Road and the Menominee River
The meeting was called by Township Board Chairman Denny
Olson, after objections to the landfill erupted at last
week's regular Board of Trustees meeting. While this was
apparently planned as an informational meeting, it was clear
that most of those present wanted nothing to do with a
landfill. Many appeared unaware that the landfill has in
fact been operating at it's present location for nearly 25
years.
On hand to explain the landfill's operation was Niagara
Worldwide's President, Eric J. Spirtas.
On it's website, Niagara Worldwide describes itself as an
Internationally Recognized, Innovative Firm, Specializing
in: Trading, Mining, Consulting, Construction Services,
Demolition, Environmental Remediation along with "Full"
scale Property Development Services. The company describes
it's mission as striving to be the preferred full service
property development company that educates, trains, and
invests in local, state and regional resources, inspiring
community growth through the re-purposing of idle assets,
revitalizing area economics.
The landfill currently occupies a 12 acre site, within a 500
acre parcel owned by Niagara Development, LLC. The area in
question was previously used as a wood handling facility and
as settling ponds for the effluent from the papermaking
process.
Spirtas went into great detail, explaining what types of
material the landfill is able to accept. He said currently
the only materials being accepted for processing are fly
ash, paper sludge, and foundry sand, none of which are
considered hazardous, and some of which can actually be put
to beneficial use.
However, the explanations Spirtas delivered were obviously
not what most of those at the meeting hall were there to
hear. During the question and answer period after his
address, most of the questions and statements had little to
do with the actual operation of the landfill, expressing
more concerns about the truck traffic that will result from
materials being hauled through Quinnesec, to the landfill.
Attendees voiced objections and concerns over everything
from traffic patterns, to noise, to possible decreases in
property value. None of these are within control of the
speaker.
The Township Board in fact has little control over the
future of the landfill, other than to voice it's own
objections to the County Board of Commissioners, which will
consider the questions at it's September 12 meeting.
County Board of Commissioners Chairman Henry Wender was in
the audience at the Township Board meeting Monday night.
Return
|
|
Kingsford
Council To Adopt
Deer Harvest Resolution
The
Kingsford City Council is expected to adopt a resolution
covering the harvesting of deer within the City Limits.
The resolution sets terms for the harvest, including
locations where the bow hunters are allowed to hunt, minimum
qualifications for the hunters, as well as licensing and
registration requirements for those wishing to participate.
The resolution is expected to get routine approval, since
the Council has already approved the harvest itself,
including the issuance of 65 permits.
All hunters must comply with all State and Local laws.
Return
|
|
Iron
Mountain Looks
To Adopt Sister City
If all
goes as expected on Tuesday evening, the City of Iron
Mountain will be on it's way to establishing a "sister-city"
relationship with Sassoferrato, Italy.
The question of entering a sister-city relationship with
Sassoferrato first came to issue at a meeting of the City
Council several weeks ago, based on a suggestion or proposal
brought before the Council by Mr. Albert Santoni.
For those of you who may be better informed on geography
than this writer, here is the Google Earth image for the
Sassoferrato region.
The
Italian city is a good match for Iron Mountain, considering
this City's long-standing Italian heritage and traditions.
Following is the text of the resolution to be submitted to
the Council on Tuesday.
CITY OF IRON MOUNTAIN
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN, AND SASSOFERRATO, ITALY
WHEREAS, the City of Iron Mountain, Michigan, United States
of America, wishes to have a Sister City relationship with
the City of Sassoferrato, Italy; and
WHEREAS, the people of the City of Iron Mountain extend a
hand of friendship to our potential Sister City,
Sassoferrato, Italy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Iron Mountain's City Council is
interested in fostering environments through which municipal
partnerships can learn, work and solve problems together;
and
WHEREAS, the Iron Mountain City Council is interested in
cultivating cultural and educational experiences for the
citizens of Iron Mountain;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF IRON
MOUNTAIN, DICKINSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, THAT:
The City Council and the Mayor of the City of Iron Mountain
extend through this resolution a formal invitation to the
Mayor and people of Sassoferrato to join with Iron Mountain
as a Sister City and as such to conduct such mutually
beneficial programs as to bring our citizens more closely
together and thereby strengthen international amity.
Dated: September 6, 2016
BY ORDER OF MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL FOR AND ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF IRON MOUNTAIN
The matter is expected to receive unanimous, if not
enthusiastic support from the Council.
Return
|
|
Iron
Mountain Council Defers
Action On BT Board Request
The Iron Mountain City Council on Tuesday night deferred any
action on a letter submitted by the Breitung Township Board
of Trustees. The letter was signed by Breitung Township
Superintendent John Gaudette, on instructions of the
Township Board, requesting that the Council voice it's
opposition to four amendments being offered to the County's
Solid Waste Management Plan.
The Township Board is objecting to all four amendments to
the Solid Waste Management Plan, offered by the Solid Waste
Management Planning Committee. These amendments refer to the
operation of a landfill located in Breitung Township,
operated by Niagara Development, LLC, a division of Niagara
Worldwide. The landfill is located between the Kimberly Road
and the Menominee River, on property formerly occupied by
the Niagara Papermaking operations.
At present, the landfill accepts foundry sand, paper sludge
and construction and demolition debris, all considered
non-hazardous waste.
The four amendments offered by the planning committee are:
1. To allow Niagara Development to accept the same waste
(Type 3) they are currently permitted for from other U.P.
counties.
2. To limit Niagara Development to 15 trucks per day.
Currently there is no limit.
3. To permit Dickinson County to export all types of waste
to other U.P. counties. At present only Alger county is
listed. The other counties would have to approve this plan
as well before it could be implemented.
4. To allow Niagara Development to apply to the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality to modify their current
landfill permit, the allow them to accept type two
(household waste). This would only give them permission to
apply. The MDEQ would have the final say.
Iron Mountain City Manager Jordan Stanchina said he did not
understand why the Township was objecting to all four of the
amendments, but added that any action by the City Council at
this time would be premature. The matter must first be voted
on by the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners. That vote
will take place at next Monday's night's meeting of the
County Board. Mayor Dale Allesandrini expressed concern over
the 15 truck daily limit, since the three cities daily
refuse haul would likely exceed that limit, if the landfill
is authorized to accept type 2 material.
If the Board of Commissioners approves the plan, it would
then be voted on by the three cities and the seven
townships. Seven of those ten governmental units would have
to approve the amendments before the plan could proceed. If
the County Board rejects the amendments, the plan would go
back to the Solid Waste Management Planning Committee for
possible revision.
Return
|
|
Dickinson Courthouse
Radon Safe
The Dickinson County
Courthouse appears to be radon safe, though there were some
concerns expressed about how the sampling was conducted.
|
The information was revealed
in a report delivered to the County Board of Commissioners
on Monday evening, at the Board’s regular meeting. The
report was prepared by Daren Dayaert, Environmental Health
Director for the Dickinson-Iron County District Health
Department.
Dayaert said that six of the
eight test kits used in the sampling were improperly
located, so their results were not included in the study.
Dayaert said that the two properly placed kits showed
sampling rates within the prescribed safe levels.
|
|
 |
Dayaert said that the
department is not currently recommending remediation, they
are recommending another round of testing to be conducted
during the Winter months.
Appearing before the
County Board Monday night, Dayaert assured the board that
the Health Department will work with the County, to insure
that future testing is done properly and that conditions are
monitored to insure the safety of both County employees and
citizens visiting the Courthouse facilities.
Return
|
|
County To Seek Funding
For Sheriff’s Road Patrol
The Dickinson County Board of Commissioners on Monday
approved the signing of a grant application to fund the
Sheriff’s secondary road patrol and accident prevention
program.
If approved by State and Federal officials, the County
would receive $137,000 in Federal funds, and $45,000 in
State funding.
In it’s action on Monday, the Board authorized Chairman
Henry Wender to sign the ageement to initiate the
application process.
Before it's vote, County Sheriff Scott Celello addressed
the board regarding the secondary road patrol. Celello said
that the secondary road patrol is not a separate arm of the
Sheriff's Department, but a regular function. He said that
outside of the city limits, the Sheriff's department is the
only one that actively patrols the county's secondary roads.
In addition, only the Sheriff's Department provides 24 hour
availablity in the event of an accident or other emergency.
Celello said that the patrol would be necessry, even
without the grants. With the grants, the bulk of the cost
will be borne by the State and Federal governments, rather
than by County Taxpayers.
Return
|
|
Minor
Injuries In
Norway Crash
One
individual received what appeared to be minor injuries, in a
car-truck crash at the intersection of Highways US-2 and
US-8 shortly after one PM today (Friday)
|
|
According to
witnesses, the red vehicle was traveling west on Highway
US-2, and was attempting to drive around a
semi-tractor-trailer which was stopped on US-2 waiting to
make a left turn onto US-8.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Exactly how
the accident happened is still under investigation, but
witnesses said the red vehicle shown here T-Boned the
Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck pictured on the left. |
|
|
|
Only minor
injuries were reported to a passenger in the red vehicle.
The injuries were treated at the scene by North Alert EMS
Services.
Norway City Police are investigating. |
|
 |
Return
|
|
Get Your
Pooches Primed
For The Annual Dog Show
The Almost Home Animal Shelter will hold it's annual Fun Dog
Show at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds, on Sunday,
September 4th.
|
Registration for the event begins at 11:30 AM, with the show
scheduled to get underway at 1:00 PM.
The show will be held in the rotunda at the Fairgrounds.
Shelter officials said everyone, young and old is invited to
join the fun. Mutts as well as purebreds are welcome to take
part. Participants do not need to be residents of Dickinson
County. |
|
 |
The Open Fun Classes will include:
1. Obstacle course. (Two classes, one for large dogs and one
for small)
2. The longest "watch me."
3. The best food catcher
4. The best hot dog bobber
5. The fastest come
6. The fastest retrieve.
You can view the requirements at the Shelter's website by
clicking here.
There is a $3.00 entry fee per class, or you can enter your
pooch in all six classes for a $15.00 entry fee.
Ribbons will be awarded to the first through third place
winners. Judge's decisions are final.
Return
|
|
Just
When You Think
You've Seen It All
On
Monday night we attended a meeting of the Breitung Township
Board, where a large group of citizens had gathered to
discuss the proposed expansion of a landfill located in
Breitung Township.
|
 |
|
When the meeting was opened at 7:00 by Board Chairman Denny
Olson, (pictured left) everyone stood for what most expected to be the
pledge of allegiance to the flag. Instead, we heard a
prayer, or invocation, delivered by the Board Chairman.
Having attended hundreds, if not thousands of similar
meetings over many years, we kind of thought we couldn't be
surprised. But, we were wrong. |
Several people questioned after the meeting said they found
it a bit awkward, having never been to one of the Township
Board meetings before. But, nobody seemed to mind.
Just an observation that we thought you might find
interesting.
Return
|
|
Citizens Voice Objections
Over Landfill Expansion
A
large crowd turned out at Monday night's meeting of the
Breitung Township Board of Supervisors, objecting to
proposed changes to a Breitung Township landfill.
The landfill, located south of the Kimberly Road in Breitung
Township, is operated by a Niagara Company called Niagara
Development, LLC. The landfill currently accepts such things
as foundry, and construction and demolition debris from
Dickinson County. Under the expansion proposed by the
company, and endorsed by the Dickinson County Solid Waste
Management Authority, the landfill would be permitted to
accept such waste from all over the Upper Peninsula.
Residents at Monday's meeting objected to all phases of the
proposal, citing concerns about traffic problems,
environmental hazards, and property values.
The landfill expansion is a long way from fruition. The plan
must now go before the Dickinson County Board of
Commissioners. If approved there, the authority will have to
seek the approval of at least seven of the ten governmental
jurisdictions in Dickinson County, including the three
cities and the seven townships. Even then, the plan
could face hurdles in the licensing process with the State
Department of Environmental Quality.
County Board of Commissioners Chairman Henry Wender, who was
present at the Township Board meeting, said that the County
Board will be discussing the matter at it's September 12th
meeting.
|
 |
|
Some of those present voiced fears that the landfill will
proceed, regardless of anything that the residents of
Breitung Township, or the Township Board, might do.
Board Chairman Denny Olson said it's a bit early to start
worrying about that, saying that there are many steps before
that can happen. |
Olson said that Township officials are scouring Township
Board actions back into the 1990's, in an effort to find
previous board actions which might affect this current
situation.
Chairman
Olson said that the Township Board meeting scheduled for
September 12th may have to be rescheduled to a later time,
since he plans to be in attendance that same night at
the County Board meeting. Olson suggested that
the Township Board meeting, usually scheduled for 7:00 PM,
may have to be moved to 8:00 that evening to allow members
of the Township Board who wish to do so to be present at the
County Board meeting.
Return
|
|
Are Prayers
Before
Public Meetings Legal?
Following
our report earlier this week that Breitung Township Chairman
Denny Olson had opened a Township Board meeting with a
prayer, or invocation, we had a number of inquiries asking
if this was legal.
We looked it up, and sure enough, it is perfectly legal.
Here's the authority:
On May 14, 2014, The US Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that
Christian prayers said before meetings of an Upstate New
York town council did not violate the constitutional
prohibition against government establishment of religion;
the justices cited history and tradition.
“Ceremonial prayer is but a recognition that, since this
Nation was founded and until the present day, many Americans
deem that their own existence must be understood by precepts
far beyond the authority of government,” Justice Anthony M.
Kennedy wrote for the court’s conservative majority.
The ruling reflected a Supreme Court that has become more
lenient on how government may accommodate religion in civic
life without crossing the line into an endorsement of a
particular faith. All nine justices endorsed the concept of
legislative prayer, with the four dissenters agreeing that
the public forum “need not become a religion-free zone,” in
the words of Justice Elena Kagan.
But there was sharp disagreement after that, and the
majority ruling could encourage public bodies to give more
leeway to religious expression in their ceremonial prayers
and less deference to the objections of religious
minorities.
The court’s five conservatives said legislative prayers need
not be stripped of references to a specific religion — the
prayers at issue often invoked Jesus Christ and the
resurrection — and said those given the opportunity to pray
before legislative meetings should be “unfettered” by what
government officials find appropriate.
“Absent a pattern of prayers that over time denigrate,
proselytize, or betray an impermissible government purpose,
a challenge based solely on the content of a particular
prayer will not likely establish a constitutional
violation,” Kennedy wrote.
He was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and
Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito
Jr.
Return
|
|
Shirley J. Pietrantonio
Shirley
J. Pietrantonio, 84, of Kingsford, passed away Sunday,
August 28 at ManorCare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in
Kingsford. A lifetime resident of the area, Shirley was born
September 4, 1931 in Iron Mountain, daughter of the late
Elmer and Leona (Eastman) Arvey.
|
 |
|
She
graduated from Kingsford High School in 1949. Shirley
married John Pietrantonio in 1950 in Kingsford and stayed
home to raise their four children.
Shirley and John were both very active in the American
Legion. Shirley served as the Aux. President of the American
Legion #363. She had a love for reading and a talent for
arts and crafts. She booked for Yorkshire Tours for 14
years. Shirley used to hunt with her husband, John, and
always loved family outings. |
Shirley
is survived by her three sons; John (Pam) Pietrantonio of
Sagola, Danny (Cheryl) Pietrantonio of Iron Mountain, and
Randy (Amy) Pietrantonio of Kingsford; one daughter, Linda
(Jerry) DeBernardi of Norway; brother, LeRoy Arvey of Muskegon; sister,
Carol Guldswog of Norway; best friends; Karen Erickson and
Eldin Paquin; grandchildren, Jason (Bonnie) Pietrantonio,
Thomas T.J. (Shari) Pierantonio, Chase Pietrantonio, Bryce
Pietrantonio, Jamie Tomosaski-Miller, Tami Miller, Dante
DeBernardi, Summer (Andy) Hendricks, Samantha Pietrantonio,
Christopher (Andra) Pietrantonio; and 15 great
grandchildren; Tyler, Kyle, Jacob, James, Gavin, Seth,
Callie, Brianna, Sierra, Elle, Macy, Paityn, Presley, Alayna,
and Parker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; sisters,
Gloria Cesar and Joyce Suduc; son-in-law Jerry DeBernardi, and granddaughter, Sarah Pietrantonio.
Visitation will be held at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral
Home in Iron Mountain from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday,
September 1. Service will be offered at 7:00 PM by Rev.
Lee Liverance at the funeral home. There will be a graveside
service at 9:00 Friday morning at Memorial Gardens in Iron
Mountain.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain is
in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Shirley
Pietrantonio online at
www.ernashfuneralhomes.com
Return
|
|
Wind Power ?
Worth Exploring ?
The most interesting ideas at City Hall don't always pop up
at the City Council meetings. Conversations before and after
Monday night's meeting proved very interesting to this
reporter, so we thought we'd pass them along to you.
Iron Mountain Mayor Dale Alessandrini said he has been
toying with the idea of looking into a windmill for the
City, possibly to be located on Pewabic Hill, where there
are fairly steady prevailing winds.
While a few of those present chuckled at the idea, we think
it's worth looking into.
The City spends approximately $30,000 a month on
electricity, a big chunk of the budget. A windmill would
help to greatly reduce that amount, while providing clean
energy.
According to the Mayor's thoughts, the City would not be
dependent on power from the windmill. Excess power produced
when the wind is blowing would be sold to the power company,
thus reducing the City's electric bill.
One of the downsides expressed was possible environmental
concerns. Those, of course, would have to addressed in an
Environmental Impact Study before anything could be done.
Just an idea that the Mayor has been toying with. We think
it's something worth looking into.
Return
|
|
Iron Mountain's
Civil Service System
To Appear On November Ballot
Iron
Mountain City Manager Jordan Stanchina reported to the City
Council Monday night that the Michigan Attorney General's
office has approved the ballot language for placement of the
Civil Service System question on the November 8th General
Eelection ballot.
The Council had earlier approved putting the question before
voters, but the exact wording to be placed on the ballot had
to be approved by the Attorney General's office before the
City could proceed.
Stanchina had recommended the change to the Council, saying
the current Civil Service system is outdated, and often
stands in the way of hiring the individual most qualified
for a position. The Civicl Service Commission tests
applicants every two years, and supplies a list to the City.
Only those on this list are eligible to be hired for many
City positions. Stanchina said that what often happens, is
that those at the top of the list find other jobs or just
lose interest while waiting for a City position to open up.
This can leave the City with no choice but to hire those
possibly less qualified, who did not score so well on the
test.
Return
|
|
City To Change
Leadership
Structure at DPW
The Iron Mountain City Council Monday night agreed to a
recommendation submitted by City Manager Jordan Stanchina,
which will change the way the Department of Public Works is
run.
The Manager had recommended that upon the November retirment
of current DPW Supervisor Donald Dinocenzo, that position be
left vacant and that the City instead hire a Public Works
Director. The recommendation fills a position that had
already been in existence, but had not been filled. The
director's position would require substantially greater
qualifications, and would not fall under the jurisdiction of
the Civil Service Commission, allowing far greater
flexibility in selecting the most qualified person.
The basic qualifications, as laid out by Stanchina, would be
either a B.A. or a B.S. in management or engineering; or at
least five years of experience in a leadership position in
the field. Applicants holding a degree would also be
required to have one year of experience.
Return
|
|
North Side
Home
Destroyed By Fire
31 year-old
woman being held on arson charges
Iron
Mountain Police have arrested a 31 year-old woman, charged
with second degree arson, in connection with a fire that
destroyed a home on Vulcan Street Friday night.
Firemen received the call to 507 Vulcan Street shortly after
9:30 PM on Friday, and remained on the scene until the early
morning hours on Saturday.
Charged in the incident is 31 year-old Theresa Nowaczyk. She
is being held on $20,000 bond, pending a preliminary
examination in District Court. That hearing has been
scheduled for September 22. According to information
released by Iron Mountain Director of Police and Fire
Services, Ed Mattson, their department was assisted in the
investigation by the Michigan State Fire Marshall's office.
While the home was occupied, there were no injuries
resulting from the fire. The family is being assisted by the
American Red Cross.
View
video of fire here.
Photos and video courtesy of Jason Asselin.
Return
|
|
|
$500,000
Fire Truck Purchase
Likely To Be Approved Tuesday
The City
of Iron Mountain, following several months of research,
appear poised to spend more than one-half-million dollars
the purchase a new fire truck.
The City only received one bid for the truck, that came from
Pierce Manufacturing, of Antigo, Wisconsin. Pierce
specializes in fire and rescue vehicles and distributes
products worldwide. The Pierce bid was slightly over
one-half million dollars.
That bid approval was deferred for several weeks, due to the
complexity of the specifications for the truck. The City's
bid specifications covered 131 pages, and the Pierce bid was
submitted with an equally daunting amount of paperwork. The
specifications have now been reviewed by the Fire
Department, and according to the latest information, the
bids meet the City's specifications.
This purchase is not currently budgeted for, and the City
will have to borrow the money through the sale of bonds.
In his original memo to the Council, City Manager Jordan
Stanchina said it makes sense to borrow the money at
historically low interest rates, rather than to put the
purchase off for the seven or eight years that it might take
the city to set the funds aside.
The new truck will replace a 16-year-old unit, that is in
need of upgrades. The current number one unit will become
the Department's number two, or standby unit.
In order to make the purchase, the City will have to adopt a
Municipal Installment Purchase agreement. Steven Mann, the
Detroit representative of the international legal firm
Miller Canfield, will act as bond counsel for the City on
the borrowing.
In his latest memo to the Council, Manager Stanchina said
that several borrowing options will be presented to the
Council at it's September 19th meeting, including possible
financing through local finacial institutions.
The matter will be before the Council at it's meeting on
Tuesday evening. While meetins are normally held on the
first and third Monday's of the month, this meeting was
delayed due to the Labor Day Holiday.
Return
|
|
Iron Mountain One Step Closer
To Buying New Fire Truck
Only one bid was received for a new fire pumper truck, being
sought by the City of Iron Mountain.
The only company responding to the bid was Pierce
Manufacturing, of Antigo, Wisconsin. Pierce specializes in
fire and rescue vehicles and distributes products worldwide.
The Pierce bid was slightly over one-half million dollars.
That bid could not be acted upon Monday night, due to the
complexity of the specifications for the truck. The City's
bid specifications covered 131 pages, and the Pierce bid was
submitted with an equally daunting amount of paperwork. The
specifications will be studied by staff and the Manager, and
will report their findings back to the Council as soon as
the evaluations are complete.
This purchase is not currently budgeted for, and the City
will have to borrow the money through the sale of bonds.
In his original memo to the Council, City Manager Jordan
Stanchina said it makes sense to borrow the money at
historically low interest rates, rather than to put the
purchase off for the seven or eight years that it might take
the city to set the funds aside.
The new truck will replace a 16-year-old unit, that is in
need of upgrades. The current number one unit will become
the Department's number two, or standby unit.
In order to make the purchase, the City will have to adopt a
Municipal Installment Purchase agreement. Steven Mann, the
Detroit representative of the international legal firm
Miller Canfield, will act as bond counsel for the City on
the borrowing.
The Council also authorized advertising for bids for a
replacement plow truck for the Public Works Deparment. This
purchase would replace a 27-year-old Mack truck, currently
in service. The City has set aside $160,000 for this
purchase.
Return
|
|
|
|
