IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, June 20, 2008 - The Ironwood Economic Development Corporation (EDC) held a relatively uneventful meeting yesterday in the Community Development Conference Room on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building.

EDC Chairman Jim Huss called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM CST. Community Development Director Dan Petersen recorded the roll. The following members were present for yesterday's meeting: (1) Joe Cayer, Sr. (2) City Manager Scott Erickson; (3) Chairman Jim Huss; (4) Mark Ruppe; (5) Tom Schneller; and (6) John Wyssling. Absent members included: (1) Nina Cady; (2) Jim Lorenson; and (3) Dave Ramme. Also in attendance was Community Development Director Dan Petersen. Representing the media were Alan Traczyk, Audio Director for the Superior Chronicle and yours truly. There were no citizens present at yesterday's meeting.

The first item on the agenda was to approve the minutes from the March 13, 2008 meeting. The minutes were unanimously approved.

The docket was then unanimously approved, without changes, as presented.

The Chairman then allowed the general public their opportunity to voice their opinions, concerns, or questions regarding issues on the agenda. Since there were no members of the general public in attendance, there were, of course, no comments.

The only real agenda item to be addressed was the discuss and consider the renewal of the Lamar Sign Company "Industrial Park Billboard" on US-2. The billboard is leased by the year at a monthly rate of $240. Dan Petersen handed out copies of the new contract to the members of the Board. The front page of the document was missing, however. Dan Petersen told the Board that he believed the new rate was increased by $5.00/month to $245.00/month.

"It either went up $5.00," said Petersen, "Or it stayed the same!"

The members took a few minutes to examine the contracts put before them. Joe Cayer  commented on the "superfine print mode" font contained in the document. (EDITORIAL COMMENT: As we get older, print gets smaller; our arms get longer; and our glasses get weaker.) Dan Petersen searched for the front page of the contract while the members continued to examine the rest of the document. Petersen was unsuccessful in his search.

Tom Schneller asked if the sign was the one near Jackson Road. John Wyssling explained exactly where the sign was located -- adjacent to the Gogebic Community College sign on US-2. Jim Huss commented that he used to pay $180.00/month for the signs his company had, but he noted, they weren't in prime locations.

"That's nearly $3,000.00/year!" Mark Ruppe stated. He went on to say he didn't believe the cost was worth the benefit. He told the Board that if somebody is in business and wants to locate in Ironwood's industrial park, they'd contact the City with our without the sign.

Ruppe went on to say, "I personally feel it's a waste of money!"

Wyssling suggested possibly changing the purpose of the sign. According to Dan Petersen, the Ironwood Industrial Development Corporation (IIDC) was pushing to renew the sign. "Are they paying part of this, or who's paying for this sign?" Wyssling asked.

Petersen informed the Board that the EDC if paying for the sign out of their budget. "I'm not even sure the IIDC has the budget for it." Petersen said.

Mark Ruppe said he doubted anybody would be so moved by the highway sign that they would locate in the Industrial Park's spec building, and he suggested that the $3,000 could be put to better use.

Joe Cayer said, "You have to wonder, at a cost of $3,000 per year, we should build our own sign!"

Jim Huss explained to the Board that highway display signs were very effective for his business. He said he believes the City initiated the sign to let people know that we have an industrial park; that we have a spec building available; but they are not visible from the highway. "It's more of an image thing, than a sales thing." Huss stated. He went on to say that the sign lets everybody passing by know about the City's industrial park.

Tom Schneller noted that 12,000 cars travel along US-2 each and every day. The Board pretty much agreed that the signs visibility couldn't be better.

John Wyssling explained to the Board that the Northern part of the country (meaning the upper midwest) is becoming more and more desirable as the weather conditions worsen throughout the country. He said it is very possible that someone passing through -- perhaps vacationing or doing business nearby -- would love to locate his or her business in the City's industrial park.

"One of the key factors we still have is transportation -- we've got rail, not the best, but we've got it; we've got air; we've got two major US highways. When you look at this and the availabilty of water here, that's sadly lacking in a lot of other places. When you look at the basic infrastructure that we've got; hospital; college; prison. You've got what they call 'smokeless industry' -- upolserty. You've got some basic economic value here. To me, it goes back to the idea that if we don't plan for the future, we're not going to have one." Huss said

Huss went on to say he believes the sign is one of the ways a community presents itself to the public.

Cayer asked Petersen if he had any idea how often Lamar replaced the existing sign. He made the comment because he said it appears to be very well maintained. He said it doesn't seem to have faded, and he suggested that perhaps the company incurs costs that the Board doesn't know about -- periodically upgrading or replacing the sign.

Wyssling asked City Manager Scott Erickson if the sign was a hardship on the EDC's budget. Erickson told Wyssling that it was not.

Ruppe asked if there was anything pressing where the money would be better spent. He said, "If there isn't, then you've got a point!"

Huss warned that State funding, such as the EDC receives, will be pulled if the available money isn't used each and every year.

The Board asked Petersen to check with Lamar to see if changes could be made, and at what cost. They also briefly discussed potential changes. Joe Cayer asked Petersen to check with Lamar to see if they offered any kind of discount for paying one lump sum instead of monthly installments. He pointed out that it was foolish paying monthly payments if the EDC has the funds upfront.

The Board unanimously approved authorizing up to $250/month to renew the sign, allowing Dan Petersen and Scott Erickson to make the final decision. The Board agreed that it might be in the City's best interest to pay the upfront lump charge as well.

In one final matter, the EDC Board accepted a letter of resignation from Nina Cady. Joe Cayer suggested that a letter be sent out to Cady thanking her for her dedicated service on the EDC Board. Dan Petersen informed the Board that advertisments for the vacancy have been published.

The meeting adjourned at 10:18 AM.

Jim Albert