Downtown Beautification a Major Issue with DIDA

IRONWOOD, MI - Thursday, February 26, 2009 - The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority held its regular monthly meeting this morning at 8:30 in the Women's Club Room on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building.

Authority members in attendance included: Louis Demasi; Steve Frank; Chairman George Goerig; Corey Gresham; Vice Chairman Joe Karius; Mayor Bruce Noren; Wayne Ozark; Jackie Powers and Eva Smith-Furgason. Also attending the meeting were DIDA Secretary Jane Bowman; City Manager Scott Erickson; and Community Development Director Dan Petersen. Representing the press at this morning's meeting were Eric Hjerstedt Sharp from Ironwood Daily Globe and yours truly.

FLOWER BASKETS

After handling routine business - calling the meeting to order; recording the roll; approving the January 22, 2009 minutes of the meeting; approving of the docket; allowing citizens to speak on issues - the Authority went to work on the 2009 Flower Basket Program. According to DIDA Secretary Jane Bowman, a new watering tank, pump and cart will be required for the new season. The total cost of the needed equipment is approximately $400. Before the Authority voted to approve the purchase of the new equipment, Authority member Steve Frank suggested that the Chamber of Commerce be asked to pay half of the cost. The Authority unanimously voted to purchase the equipment with the Chamber paying for their share of the equipment. The Authority also agreed to rehire Carrie Ann Kasieta to water the flower baskets. The Authority appeared to be in general agreement that Ms. Kasieta did an outstanding job of maintaining the baskets last summer.

DOWNTOWN BLUEPRINT UPDATE

Dan Petersen addressed the Authority regarding the Downtown Blueprint Process.  He explained that a March 12, 2009, 5:30 PM meeting - Vision Session - was scheduled to discuss marketing of the community. A Thursday, April 9, 2009, 5:30 PM meeting is planned to identify members of focus groups and to select individuals for "key leader" interviews. Hyett-Palma is scheduled to be in Ironwood on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, and a 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM issue session has been planned with Hyett-Palma; MSHDA; and the MEDC. Finally, on April 24, 2009, from 8:00 AM until 10:00 AM a meeting is scheduled to hear a progress report and to discuss preliminary strategies to implement the Blueprint Program.

According to Petersen, Chairman George Goerig has been handing out surveys prepared by Hyett-Palma to local downtown businesses. He said that a "call center" of sorts will be required for the City to make telephone interviews. He said the DIDA will need to seek out volunteers to call people to help fill out the surveys. He is looking for a center that had at least 10 telephone lines. Ideally, volunteers should be able to complete five surveys per hour per line. Vice-Chairman Joe Karius generously offered the DIDA volunteers use of the Daily Globe building stating that he believed the Globe had between four and five lines that could be used. Petersen thanked Karius for the offer and explained that having half the lines at the Globe offices and half of them in a different location shouldn't be a problem. Karius told Petersen he would check to see how many outside lines the Globe had and he would let him know.

STAFF UPDATES

Facade Improvement Program - Dan Petersen told the Authority that money is still available for facade upgrades on businesses that have previously applied but have not, for whatever reason, proceeded with the upgrade. He said that letters would be sent out to remind the businesses that the money is still available and their facades can be improved with a dollar for dollar match from the former Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)program. He also noted that a third round of facade grant money has been applied for through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) who has taken over the control of the Facade Program from MSHDA.

Homeowner Rehabilitation - Five applications have already been made for homeowner rehab in the downtown district. The Community Development Office was hoping to have between fourteen and eighteen in the area. Petersen explained that a lot of marketing was done trying to reach people needing home rehabs in the district -- radio ads; newspaper ads; and Internet articles have been placed. He said that the response to this round of the program is lower than usual. There are over 80 homes in the area, according to Petersen, but there have already been two or three rounds of the rehab program there. Petersen said he was hoping that MSHDA would expand the district so that more homes could be included.

OTHER BUSINESS

Construction Debris - Eva Smith-Furgason asked if there was any update on the status of the construction debris stacked behind the Woodtech building downtown. Dan Petersen told the Authority that the new blight officer just signed on and that the Woodtech was participating in the Facade Program, and he would get in touch with them to see what can be done.

Piled Snow and Downtown Lighting - Steve Frank told the Authority that a new "snow sculpture" has suddenly appeared in front of the Pipes and Bikes Shop on Aurora Street, after the business shoveled off their roof. He also noted that the lights on the western end of Aurora Street have been sporadically illuminated in the past several weeks. Dan Petersen told Frank that he traveled on Aurora Street several times the last time the lighting complaint was filed, however, the area was always well lit when he happened by. He said he would look into the problem. Scott Erickson said he also investigated, but nobody could isolate the problem. He said he would have the Department of Public Works find and correct the problem.

Christmas Wreaths - Chairman Goerig asked Scott Erickson when the wreaths were scheduled to be removed from the light poles in the downtown. He explained that they have become dried out and rather brown. Erickson told the Authority that he has received several calls on the issue and he has already contacted the working foreman of the DPW and the wreaths will be removed "hopefully this week."

Sharon's Place Building - Jackie Powers asked Petersen if he has any update on the Sharon's Place building downtown. He said that the County Treasurer informed him that the building will be available for inspection after March 31, but the building could be purchased by June or July.

Potential Mexican Restaurant  - Steve Frank told Petersen that a mutual friend of his and Ms. Power's said the Eldorado Restaurant in Ashland was seriously considering the possibility of locating a second Mexican restaurant in Ironwood. Frank told the Authority that the owner of the establishment in Ashland previously attempted to procure the space where Ryan's opened on the highway. Petersen said he would look into the matter further and attempt to touch base with the owner of the Ashland establishment. (It was quite apparent that Petersen is partial to Mexican cuisine.)

Mural Project Update - Jackie Powers asked if there was any changes or new information available on the previously proposed mural project. Petersen told the Authority that about twenty people have expressed interest in assisting in the purchase of a mural on the former News Record Building downtown. Petersen said he hasn't heard officially if the project is continuing yet, but there has been discussion about putting the project off due to lack of interest. Petersen told the Authority that other businesses have expressed some interest.

Smith-Furgason suggested that a question be added to the surveys that will be going out with the Blueprint Program seeing if people have heard about the Mural Project. "If people haven't heard of it," Smith-Furgason said, "Then we are not reaching them."

Petersen explained that (a) the City and the DIDA are not doing the marketing for the project -- the artists are supposed to be doing the marketing and (b) Hyett-Palma made it very clear that there are to be no changes to the system they have in place. Adding a question to their survey would truly destroy any efforts the company would make towards developing the City's downtown.

Smith-Furgason continued to explain that one of the DIDA's main jobs is to "develop" the downtown, and if the DIDA believed in the mural project, it is important to find out why there is such a lukewarm response to the project locally. Lousie Demasi abuptly interrupted Smith-Furgason saying the matter "didn't belong here!" Smith-Furgason politely continued stating that it truly did belong in the hands of the DIDA and if Hyett-Palma were really interested in developing the downtown they would want to know the status of the project as well.

"Then I think you have to do that," Demasi interrupted, "You're part of that downtown commitment! If you feel that strongly... It doesn't belong in here! Nope! We're here for this and we're here for this, if you want to do something on the marketing, then you do it!"

Smith-Furgason continued to address the issue, and Demasi continued to interrupt. Steve Frank weighed in on the situation, and after a brief debate, Frank suggested that the issue be brought up at the community-wide vision session where "hundreds" of people would be available for input.

Chairman Goerig then asked for a motion of adjournment. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.