Pigeon Poop Poses Perilous Pedestrian Problems -- Progressive Plan Proposed

EDITORIAL - Friday, September 05, 2008 - Several times, in the past, the downtown "pigeon problem" has been presented to the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) to be addressed. City Manager Scott Erickson and former Community Development Director Pat Merrill apparently believe that pigeons and their poop are somehow a DIDA issue. Obviously, this isn't a "development issue" --  rather it is an issue of blight. The downtown is being ravaged by an overabundance of pigeons. These birds and their droppings carry diseases, and as time passes the situation is only getting worse.

Even though the DIDA has clearly stated that this is a blight issue, the problem continues to be placed on the DIDA agenda. Rightfully, the problem should be turned over to our City's code enforcement officer. If the City would shift it's focus to serious problems -- other than tall grass -- perhaps major safety and health related issues could be properly addressed. Can anyone explain why nothing has been done to secure the former Rainbow Bar building? Keep in mind, the back door of the building is wide open, and the former bar has open bottles of booze sitting on its shelves. Surely something should have been done to correct this problem, considering the situation was first brought to the City's attention almost a month ago. One complaint should have been enough to warrant action on such a serious matter. Note that Steve Frank has presented this issue to the City Commission; the Blight Committee; the Planning Commission and the DIDA and nothing has been done to secure the building.

No one has done anything about the pigeons and their poop and the out-of-business bar that is open 24 hours a day. Enough is enough! Exactly what does it take to have the City take necessary action of issues that affect the health and safety of the general public? Does some adventurous kids need to throw parties in the old Rainbow before the building is secured? Should the City continue to allow pigeons and their filthy feces to fill the City streets?

These are issues that affect us all. Our City's priorities are askew.

Genuine health and safety issues should be the priority of our blight committee and our code enforcement officer. Outrageously, even though the City is plagued with dangerous abandoned and blighted buildings and over-run with pigeons and other nuisance creatures, the City's main blight focus continues to be overgrown grass!

Jim Albert