Monday Night's City Commission Meeting Rather Uneventful

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - A Public Hearing before the Board of Zoning Appeals (AKA City Commission) to hear comment on a dimensional variance request from William Korpela, 155 W. Ash Street (Property Code #27-52-27-251-010) to build a structure on a lot that does not meet the minimum yard width requirements in the zoning ordinance, was held at 5:20 PM on Monday, October 27, 2008, in the City Commission Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Memorial Building, 213 South Marquette Street, Ironwood, Michigan.

Community Development Director Dan Petersen briefed the Commission on the proposed Ash Street project. Two neighbors, Jim Beckman and Lorraine Corcoran praised Mr. Korpela for doing such a good job of cleaning up his lot after a fire consumed his house. They fully supported his efforts to rebuild.

The City Commission unanimously approved the dimensional variance.

At 5:30 PM Mayor Bruce Noren called the City Commission's regular meeting to order. All five members of the Commission were in attendance. City Staff attending the meeting included: City Attorney A. Dennis Cossi; City Clerk Karen Gullan; City Manager Scott Erickson; Community Development Director Dan Petersen; Ironwood Public Safety Director Bob Erspamer; City Assessor/Building Inspector Dennis Hewitt; Utilities Director Bob Tervonen; Financial Director Julie Frederickson; Department of Public Works Foreman Joe Magdziak, and Projects Director Don Bertels. Representing the media at the meeting were: Photojournalists Lou Bonagura and Arvo Toolanen from IronwoodInfo.com; Ralph Ansami from the Ironwood Daily Globe; and yours truly.

The following Consent Agenda items were approved without discussion or objection.

  • Approval of Minutes – October 13th Regular City Commission Meeting.
  • Review and Place on File:
    • Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency Meeting Minutes of September 18th.
    • Pat O'Donnell Civic Center Meeting Minutes of September 26th and Special Meeting Minutes of October 1st.
    • Ironwood Carnegie Library Meeting Minutes of April 15th, May 20th, June 17th, July 15th, and August 19th.
  • Schedule a Public Hearing for Monday, November 10th at 5:00 P.M. to introduce Ordinance #469, Book 4, an Ordinance to prohibit the feeding of pigeons and/or gulls.
  • Schedule a Public Hearing for Monday, November 10th at 5:10 P.M. to introduce Ordinance #470, Book 4, an Ordinance to regulate outdoor furnaces.
  • Schedule a Public Hearing for Monday, November 10th at 5:15 P.M. to introduce Ordinance #471, Book 4, an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 10, Article IV, Tax Exempt Housing – Towering Pines Development.

The Commission is also took action on the following items:

Receive and Place on File from Finance Director - Financial Director Julie Frederickson presented the Statement of Revenue and Expenditures and Monthly Cash reports. There were no questions or comments received, and the Commission unanimously voted to place the records on file. The Chronicle is not given the same packet information as the Daily Globe, so we are not able to properly report or investigate any of the details of the reports.

Amended and Approved License Agreement #466 with Hope Animal Shelter to allow the placement of a permanent fence on City owned property - The City Commission unanimously approved the construction of a permanent fence on City property. Mayor Bruce Noren expressed concerns that there was no provision for noise. He pointed out that a citizen had previously complained about the noise, and that the Shelter agreed to make provisions to reduce the noise.

Awarded bids to Donald Hoenig's Snowfighters, LLC for the 1973 Oshkosh Snow Blower & 1976 Oshkosh Snow Blower for parts in the amount of $10,256.00 (minimum bid $10,000) and the 11 Foot Side Plow to Jim Ansami in the amount of $260.00 (minimum bid $250) - The Commission voted unanimously to award the bids for the snowblower and the side plow.

Took no action on Ordinance No. 468, Book 4, an ordinance adopting and enacting a new Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 34, Code of Ordinances, City of Ironwood, Michigan providing for the repeal of the current zoning ordinance - Leroy Johnson pointed out to the Commission that the revised ordinance referenced several Michigan State Laws that have been repealed. He said that he believed the document needed to be re-examined and revised. He said it is full of typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors, and that it needed to be redone before it could be approved.

Dan Petersen and City Attorney Dennis Cossi agreed with Mr. Johnson, and Petersen explained that he was going to go through the document with Cossi to make the needed corrections. Cossi went on to say that, according to the Charter, the Commission cannot introduce an ordinance and approve it on the same meeting. The public has a right to review any changes before the Commission votes to approve it.

Cossi advised the Commission that they need to create a "Zoning Board of Appeals." Cossi also pointed out that a Public Hearing was not required whenever there is a change. Doing so was more of a "tradition" than a requirement of the law or the Charter.

The Commission agreed not to take action on the Ordinance and send it back to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Toth requested that a deadline date be set to get this issue finally resolved.

Mayor Bruce Noren then suggested that the City Commission appoint themselves as the "Zoning Board of Appeals." Commissioner Suzanne Toth explained that the Commission was qualified to handle the responsiblity because three of the Commissioners recently attended a special training conference. The Commission unanimously voted to appoint themselves as the "Zoning Board of Appeals."

Mayor's Appointments - Only two applications for vacancies on the Economic Development Commission were both received. Both applications were received AFTER the October 22nd deadline. Mayor Bruce Noren appointed Debra Kimball Bowles to fill the expired term of Jim Huss. He also appointed Bob Schonberg to fill an unexpired term ending in October of 2009.

Noren also reappointed John Kasieta and John Lorenson to the Civic Center Board.

The Commission voted by roll call to approve the appointments. All four appointments were voted on at the same time. Laabs and Toth both voted down the appointments, but the remaining members approved them.

MANAGER'S REPORT - City Manager Scott Erickson gave the following report to the City Commission:

  • Greenbush Street Project - The Greenbush Street Project, according to Erickson was nearing completion. Street markings and signange needed to be added and the job would be finished. He said it will soon open to traffic and that the contractor would be going through his punch list to make sure everything is up to standards.
  • City-Wide State-Mandated Property Reassessment - Erickson told the Commission that Accurate Appraisals should be done with the field work by the end of the week. He explained that they must then go through the information they have collected and continue the project indoors.
  • Deer Management Program - To date, according to Erickson, the record number of 26 hunters have harvested 27 does.
  • Understanding the Next Generation Seminar - Erickson reminded the Commission and those in attendance that Rebecca Ryan would be holding a special seminar sponsored by the Gogebic Community College and the Grand View Health Systems on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at 6:00 PM.
  • City Clerk's Office To Be Open Saturday for Absentee Ballots - Karen Gullan will open the City Clerk's Office on Saturday, November 1, 2008, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM to allow citizens one more chance to pick up an absentee ballot.
  • Trick or Treating - Erickson reminded everybody that the recommended time for Halloween Trick or Treating would be on Friday, October 31, 2008, from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
  • Phantom of the Opera Showing - The Ironwood Theatre will be showing the classic silent film on Friday, October 31, 2008, at 7:30 PM.
  • Monster Bash - Saturday, November 1, 2008, 8:00 PM to midnight at the Memorial Building.
  • Tree Lighting at the Pocket Park - Friday, November 21, 2008, 4:00 PM, at the Downtown Pocket Park.
  • Proposals for Skatepark Equipment - Three vendors have submitted proposals for skatepark equipment. Erickson told the Commission that staff would be meeting with kids at the local schools to get youth input on the equipment.
  • Open Presentation of the Skatepark Equipment -  On November 3, 2008, at 5:00 PM in the Women's Club Room there will be an open presentation displaying the skateboard equipment proposals.
  • Time Change & Replace Batteries in Smoke Alarms - On Sunday, November 2, 2008, Erickson reminded those in attendance to set their clocks back. Also, Ironwood Public Safety Director Bob Erspamer recommended that people change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time!

Mayor Bruce Noren suggested that future policy regarding approval of Mayor's appointments be initiated. He suggested that any future appointments should be approved individually and not as a group.

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