DIDA Welcomes New Members - Applies for Blueprint Program

IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, April 25, 2008 - The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority held their regular meeting yesterday, Thursday, April 24, 2008 in the Community Development Conference Room on the second floor of the Memorial Building.

Prior to the meeting, newly appointed Authority member Louise Demasi asked DIDA Secretary Jane Bowman why the terms for newcomers Steve Frank and Cory Gresham weren't assigned by Mayor Noren when he appointed them to the DIDA. Ms. Bowman told Demasi that the Mayor had requested that the terms be assigned by lot to be fair.

When Mayor Noren arrived, Demasi asked Noren if this was going to be the new way of doing things or if this was just a one time thing. Noren told Demasi that it was his decision to draw lots and that he believed it was the fair way of doing things. He said he would do the same thing in the future if two simultaneous appointments for unexpired terms had to be made. Demasi was satisfied with that explanation, "As long as it's the new procedure in the future!" she said.

Before the meeting started, Jane Bowman administered the oath of office to newly appointed Authority members Steve Frank and Cory Gresham. Frank and Gresham are taking over the unexpired terms of resigning members Rachael Hubbard (expiring June 06, 2008) and Elaine Erickson (expiring June 06, 2011).

Cory Gresham is an insurance agent for LBS & Twin City Insurance in Ironwood, selling primarily commercial insurance. He was born and raised in Ironwood. He attended local schools, graduating from Luther L. Wright High School in 1997. After graduating high school he attended the University of River Falls studying psychology and chemistry. He recently moved back to the Ironwood area, and he applied for the DIDA because he wants to help improve the area. His main goal in the first few meetings is to "learn the ropes" and get a feel for what the Authority is all about.

Steve Frank is an advanced math tutor at Gogebic Community College. He is also the co-manager of the Knight Club Billiards pool room in downtown Ironwood. Frank is the educational director of the Focus Center, and he assists high school and college students with their math studies at the Knight Club most evenings. Steve was born in Florida. His mother was originally from the Ironwood area, and his father was from Chicago. When Frank was six, his family moved back to the area. Steve attended local schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1988. After graduation, he attended Gogebic Community College where he earned an associates degree. He went on Northern Michigan University (NMU) where he double-majored in sociology and psychology. He has a bachelor's degree from NMU. The reason Frank applied for a position on the DIDA is because he has attended every meeting for the past two years and he got tired on not having a vote. Frank believes the DIDA is the organization that can have the most impact in revitalizing the Ironwood area. "For two years, I've offered good ideas that have been virtually ignored." Frank said.

At 8:00 AM DIDA Chairman George Goerig called the meeting to order. DIDA Secretary Jane Bowman recorded the roll. All members were present for the meeting, except Wayne Ozark who was unexcused. Attending yesterday's meeting were: Louise Demasi (owner/operator of Pizza King Joe's, Ironwood); Cory Gresham (agent for LBS-Twin City Insurance, Ironwood); Steve Frank (co-manager of Knight Club Billiards, Ironwood); Mayor Bruce Noren (manager of Big Powderhorn Lodging Association, Bessemer); Chairman George Goerig (owner/operator of DLG Services, Ironwood); Jackie Powers (ABR Trails); Eva Smith-Furgason (manager of the Northwind Natural Foods Co-Op, Ironwood); and Joe Karius (publisher of the Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood).

Also in attendance at the meeting were: Jane Bowman (DIDA Secretary); Dan Petersen (Ironwood's Community Development Director); Scott Erickson (Ironwood City Manager); Eric Sharpe (writer/reporter for the Ironwood Daily Globe); Arvo Toolanen (photographer for IronwoodInfo.com); Lou Bonagura (reporter for IronwoodInfo.com & representative of the Master Gardeners); Karen Gullan (Ironwood City Clerk); Larry Peterson (local historian & citizen); and yours truly.

Chairman Goerig welcomed Steve Frank and Cory Gresham to the DIDA board.

The Authority approved the minutes from the March 27, 2008 Regular meeting, and when Chairman Goerig asked for approval of the docket, Lousie Demasi voiced objection.

"At the last meeting," Demasi said, "A motion was made by me to cut everything else out of here (the agenda) but the goals and objectives – nothing else on the agenda. It was put in, it was seconded, and it passed. Now we have a bunch of stuff on here! The only two things I'll bend a little bit on here are number 8 and number 9. (Approval of the Pocket Park Maintenance Budget and the Appointment of a Business Liaison & Approval of a DIDA Contact From)"

Besides the items #8, #9 and #11 (goals and objectives) that Demasi was willing to discuss, there were only two other items – #7 Consider Action on Chamber of Commerce Request to Partner to offer customer service workshops & Downtown Restroom Storage and #10 Historical Plaques. Demasi made it clear at her first meeting that she opposed partnering with the Chamber. She also made it clear, after the last City Commission meeting, that she did not favor Frank's appointment to the DIDA. Her opposition to item #10 on the agenda could be largely due to the fact that Frank had asked the item to be considered.

The Maintenance Budget for the Pocket Park was approved by a 7 to 1 vote of the DIDA. Steve Frank voted no to the expenditure on principle. At the most recent budget workshop, City Manager Scott Erickson, Financial Director Julie Frederickson and Mayor Noren were asked why the Pocket Park was part of the DIDA's limited budget. Shouldn't the Pocket Park be financed through the Parks budget like every other park in the City? Why is the Pocket Park not treated like any other park in the City? Should the DIDA's limited budget be responsible for any parks? Mayor Noren agreed that it was inappropriate to fund the Pocket Park with DIDA money, and that issue will be considered by the Commission at the April 28, 2008 meeting.

The DIDA members agreed that the Pocket Park should be funded through the City's general fund and not through their budget. They signed the $1,925 Maintenance Budget agreement with the understanding that the City will reimburse the Authority after the change is made in the method of funding the park.

Steve Frank attempted to ask this reporter (I am a business owner in downtown Ironwood and I pay the TIF tax that supports the Pocket Park) my thoughts on funding the park.

Vice-Chairman Joe Karius raised objection and would not let this reporter respond to Frank's question. Oddly enough, at the same meeting, Karius raised no objection to comments offered by Lou Bonagura, City Manager Scott Erickson, Larry Peterson or Community Development Director Dan Peterson, although none of them are official members of the authority, and were not officially recognized to speak.

The DIDA's yearly budget is approximately $11,600. Twenty-eight percent of the DIDA's total budget goes towards renting a billboard on highway 51 next to Petrusha's Supper Club and for advertising in the Ironwood Daily Globe, the City's official newspaper. Eighteen percent of the DIDA's budget is spent on watering flower baskets and hanging up Christmas decorations. Fifteen percent of the budget goes towards insurance. Fourteen percent pays to plant and maintain the Pocket Park. Five percent of this year's budget will be spend on each of the following: Salaries, three Wayfinder signs, and miscellaneous expenses for a total of fifteen percent. Ten percent of the $11,600 budget is cash on hand. Virtually every dime of TIF money the DIDA gets each year is already earmarked. The DIDA has no extra money.

After the Authority voted on the Pocket Park, they examined Eva Smith-Furgason's Contact Form. Steve Frank suggested that an email contact should be added to the form. The Authority agreed. They also appointed the Community Development Director as the Downtown Business Liaison.

Chairman George Goerig and Dan Petersen then turned the conversation to the BluePrint program that MSHDA is urging every community to participate in. Previously Joe Karius and Scott Erickson attended a seminar in Marquette to discuss the MSHDA program and to learn the value of having a comprehensive Downtown Plan. Previously Karius urged the Authority to approve an agreement that would hire a consulting firm to create the plan. The BluePrint plan will cost approximately $15,000. Half of the money will be paid by the State. The remaining $7,500 will need to be paid by the City of Ironwood. The DIDA hopes the City Commission will approve a 50% sharing of the expense between the DIDA and the City. Neither the DIDA nor the City have any available money. At the most recent budget workshop, the City was complaining that they are not in a good financial situation. The DIDA has virtually zero extra money as well.

After much discussion, the Authority voted to apply for the BluePrints Program. The vote was 6 to 2 with Frank and Smith-Furgason voting against the motion to apply. Both Smith-Furgason and Frank voted no because they see no realistic way of financing the program.

Once the BluePrints vote was complete, Chairman Goerig asked if any audience members wished to address the Authority on non-agenda items. It was brought to his attention that the one item the meeting was intended to address was not yet mentioned – the DIDA's goals and objectives.

Karius immediately spoke up stating that the DIDA already established its goals and objectives in a workshop held by Scott Erickson earlier in the year. Frank tried to explain to the rather obtuse publisher that several smaller, low or no cost objectives should be addressed in order to take advantage of the upcoming summer tourist season. Frank argued that a very low cost program placing historic plaques throughout the downtown could generate some strong tourist trade in the downtown.

Karius stated that he saw no reason to reinvent the wheel. According to Karius, the DIDA had previously established it's goals, and he saw no need to go over the issue once again. Oddly enough, the third most important goal for the DIDA, according to the very goals list Karius previously referenced, is to "promote the history of the area..."

The Authority agreed with Frank that smaller goals need to be established, and that they could have a significant impact on the Downtown Business District. They also agreed that they need to meet at least twice a month until everything is properly established. They decided they will need to hold a budget meeting to take a good look at the current budget that doesn't allow for any new expenses whatsoever.

The Authority scheduled a special meeting to discuss summer, short-term goals and objectives on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at 8:00 AM CST.

Frank asked Goerig if a sidewalk ordinance, forbidding unnecessary clutter, and downtown building inspections could be initiated or if they are already on the books, could be enforced. Goerig said a letter could be sent to the Planning Commission expressing the DIDA's desires in regards to those issues.

City Clerk, Karen Gullan reminded the Authority about the Saturday, May 17, 2008, City-wide clean up day. She said it would be a good opportunity to have local business owners sweep up their store fronts and spruce up their shops. On May 17, businesses and residences throughout the City can haul unwanted debris to the Ayer Street lot (across from Northwoods Motors) and have it hauled away for free. Dumpsters are set up on the property for that day, and City Staff and volunteers help unload junk from trucks and other vehicles.

City Manager Scott Erickson reminded Gullan and the Authority about the City clean-up day where people "adopt" portions of town and clean them up. That day is Saturday, May 10, 2008. The City has a little thank-you picnic at the Depot for all of the volunteers that help out. Hot dogs and brats are served. Louise Demasi told the Authority that she liked the idea. She also thought it would be a good idea for the City Commission and the City Staff to "close up for the day" and volunteer their time. Demasi was unaware of the fact that May 10^th was a Saturday; that City offices were already closed; and that most City Commissioners and City Staff already volunteered their assistance to the project.

Globe reporter Eric Sharpe asked what action was going to be taken on agenda item #7 (Partnering with the Chamber). Goerig told Sharpe that no action was taken because the agenda was abbreviated due to Demasi's early objection. The item will be added to the next agenda.

Larry Peterson addressed the Authority stating that he believes they need an "advisory committee" of people that a specialized in certain aspects of the Downtown. Peterson suggested a "history committee" where someone like himself would work to enrich local history. He proposed a graphic design committee to oversee the City's signage. He said the current signage on the highway is useless and ineffectual. He said that it is impossible to see as you drive by following the speed limit. He suggested having tours of the downtown. He's been suggesting this for over three years. He said brochures and literature needed to be established. He explained that he offered tours in Hurley and it worked out very well. He pointed out that the heritage of the area needed to be exploited. According to Peterson, Ironwood is a big mystery and it is a shame considering its rich history and fascinating heritage.

Goerig told Larry Peterson to leave his name with Dan Petersen and the DIDA would look into his ideas. Peterson explained that he intended to do just that.

Goerig then called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Cory Gresham pointed out that nothing had been done to establish the assignment of terms for himself and Frank. Dan Peterson brought out two index cards with the terms for each unexpired term written on them. He had Frank and Cory each draw one of them. Frank ended up with the shorter term. His term will expire on June 06, 2008. Cory's term will expire on June 06, 2011.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded and unanimously approved.

Jim Albert