Planning Commission Okays CIP and Adopts Blueprint Plan

IRONWOOD, MI - Thursday, June 04, 2009 - Yesterday the Ironwood Planning Commission (IPC) met earlier than usual to hold a Public Hearing. The purpose of the hearing was to hear comment on the 2009-2014 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

IPC Chairman John Wyssling began the Hearing by outlining the procedures for public hearings. As is too often the case, this reporter was the only Ironwood citizen in attendance. He then turned the Hearing over to City Manager Scott Erickson. Erickson explained that the Capital Improvement Plan is basically a "wish list" for the City. It's basically a list of projects, repairs, improvements, for the City to follow. Many of the items on the list can only be achieved if financing or funding becomes available.

After explaining what the CIP is, Erickson then went over the document line-by-line to assure members of the Planning Commission that the Plan was accurate. The table below shows a list of items in the City's CIP:

Rental Rehab Grant	Improve rental properties in/around NPP District	$175,000
Home Improvement Rehab Grant	Owner-occupied single family home rehab NPP District	$250,000
Downtown Facade Grant Phase III	DIDA District building exterior improvements	$400,000
Repair and/or Replace UPS Roof	Possibly install rubberized roof on the building	$42,000
Fuel Tank Upgrade or Replacement	Upgrade the DPW fuel tank system	$130,000
Vehicle Replacement - Pothole Patcher	Replace 1989 AMZ Pothole Patcher w/ Dura Patcher	$55,000
Vehicle Replacement - Elgin Sweeper	Purchase new street sweeper	$135,000
Vehicle Replacement - Sander	Purchase new street sander and sander box	$60,000
Vehicle Replacement - 1 Ton Dump	Replace Ford dump truck for Cemetery	$35,000
Vehicle Replacement - 1 Ton Dump	Replace new chassis; utilize existing box, and add plow	$30,000
Vehicle Replacement - Loader w/ Plow	Replace Oshkosh snow plow (1 man operation)	$200,000
Vehicle Replacement - 3/4 Ton Pickup	Pump station vehicle replacement	$32,000
Vehicle Replacement - JD Loader	Purchase John Deere loader	$130,000
Vehicle Replacement - Utility Truck	Purchase Ford utility truck	$30,000
Vehicle Replacement - 3/4 Ton Pickup	Replace Chevy 3/4 ton Parks truck	$38,000
Memorial Building Work	Repair Spaulding brick on sides & back wall	$165,000
Phone System - Memorial Building	Lease new phone system	$3,000
Security for City Buildings	Security precautions in City buildings (locks, cameras)	$20,000
A/V Equipment	Install Audio/Video equipment in Commission Chambers	$7,500
Parking Lot Expansion	Purchase & demo storage building west of Memorial	$80,000
Personal Property Audit	Hire firm to audit personal property of area businesses	$50,000
Carnegie Library Restoration	Restore, modernize & improve accessibility	$1,700,000
Skateboard Park	Build & equip skateboard park	$92,600
Multi-Use Trail Sidewalk	Provide trail from Lowell to Norrie Park on AWB	$50,000
Park Restrooms & Pavilion	Add restrooms and pavilion to Longyear Park	$65,000
Multi-Use Trail Sidewalk	Provide trail throughout City	$200,000
Play Ground Equipment	Replace playground equipment at Norrie Park	$25,000
Expand Depot Park	Purchase Railroad building & expand Depot Park	$90,000
Pocket Park Improvements	Fix brick pathway & upgrade for gatherings	$5,000
Purchase Railroad Property	Gain acquisition of land for trails throughout City	$1,200,000
Squad Car - IPSD	Replace squad car	$122,000
Warning Sirens / Squad Car	Purchase warning sirens for tornadoes & disasters	$61,000
Fire Truck - IPSD	Purchase new fire truck	$350,000
Sanitary Sewer Replacement	Reline various sewer mains throughout City	$125,000
Manhole Rehab	Replace & rehab various sanitary sewer manholes	$250,000
Crack Sealing/Surface Improvements	Routine maintenance on local & major streets	$252,500
Pavement Markings	Centerline striping, fog lines, parking stall, etc.	$46,500
Asphalt Mill/Overlay	Mill and overlay 1 mile of local streets	$825,000
Norrie Street Bridge	Repair Norrie Street/Poplar Street bridge	$27,400
Salt Shed	Build new salt shed by DPW garage	$240,000
Street Reconstruction	E. Ayer St. to Walmart & new water main, hydrants	$450,000
Street Reconstruction	Hemlock Norrie Street to Arch Street Phase I	$635,000
Street Reconstruction	Lake Street from US2 North to Margaret Street	$140,000
Street Reconstruction	Hemlock Arch to US2 (Phase II)	$635,000
GIS System	Install Global Information System for water system	$105,000
16" Transmission Main	Install new 16" that serves City Phase I	$2,000,000
Jessieville Phase I	Water & sewer project	$3,983,000
Celia Street, Gravel Street	New water line from hydrant on Wemple	$3,983,000
Flow Meter - Pump Station	Replace existing venturi tube meter at pump station	$30,000
Water Main Valve Replacement	Replace various water main valves (5 year program)	$100,000
Fire Hydrant Replacement	Replace 20 defective hydrants annually	$500,000
Chlorine Room - Pump Station	Build separate Chlorine room for safety reasons	$50,000
Mt. Zion Reservoir	Security & modifications for circulation	$45,000
Rehabilitation of Well #101	Rehabilitation of Well #101	$20,000
Mt. Zion Control Room	Insulate the control room to prevent freezing	$5,000
Ironwood Township Master Meters	Install approx. 5 new master meter pits in the township	$250,000
Rehab of Well	Rehab one well annually	$30,000
Ironwood Township Master Meters	Phase II of the installation of meter pits	$50,000
N. Hemlock - Water Service	Hydrant and service line replacement	$15,000
Ironwood Township Master Meters	Phase III of the installation of meter pits	$50,000
Water Projects	Various distribution system projects	$640,000
Florence Street Water Main	Install 8" D.I. main & 4 hydrants from Wemple to Bennett	$110,000
Best Street Water Main	Replace main from US2 to Margaret Street	$110,000
Jessieville - Phase II & III	Replace water main & sanitary sewer Jessieville & Norrie	$8,130,000
2009 ICE Grant Projects	Replace sewer and water on Francis, Coolidge & Harding	$1,661,000
Leonard Street Water Main	Replace 500' main from Best to Bennett	$300,000
West Midland Main	Replace main from 300&400 blocks W. Midland	$80,000
Water/Sewer Engineering Study	Study entire water/sewer main system for deficiencies	$50,000

After completing his presentation on the CIP, Scott Erickson turned the hearing back over to John Wyssling. Wyssling then asked if there were any questions or comments from the general public. I asked Erickson what was to be done with the milled asphalt on the overlayed streets. He explained that the City planned on using the material to surface portions of trails throughout the City.

The Commission voted unanimously to adopt the CIP as presented, noting that there were minor changes in the document that were discussed during Erickson's presentation.

Following the vote, the Public Hearing was adjourned and Wyssling immediately called the regular meeting to order. IPC Secretary Jane Bowman recorded the roll. All of the Planning Commissioners were present: John Wyssling, Margaret Rayner, Bob Burchell, Sam Davey, Jackie Powers, Eric Lytwyniuk, Deb Bowles and LeRoy Johnson. Representing the press were: Ralph Ansami, Ironwood Daily Globe and yours truly.

Following the recording of the roll, the Commission unanimously approved the previous meeting's minutes and the docket with the removal of two "New Business" items. Because Dan Petersen is in Lansing, Wyssling didn't have the opportunity to discuss appointments to the Architectural Review Committee with him. Petersen was also going to discuss an industrial park workshop, so the item, because of his absense, was removed from the agenda.

The only item under "Old Business" was "project updates." Scott Erickson told the Commission that the only update he had was that the O'Reilly's Auto Parts store project is moving forward. He explained that bids have been gathered to begin demolition of the old Hardee's building and the construction of a new parts store.

Under "New Business" only one item remained on the agenda -- "Discuss and consider adopting the Ironwood Downtown Blueprint 2009." After a very brief discussion, and much praise for the job that HyettPalma did on the initiative, the Commission unanimously voted to adopt the plan and sent it over to the City Commission for their approval.

Before the meeting adjourned, a brief discussion about upcoming projects took place. It was revealed that the Old World Meat market will be opening any day now. The market is located in the Last Tangle building where Xpress Fitness used to be. A new beauty shop is opening across from the Northwind Natural Food Co-op on Suffolk Street. A new Chinese buffet will be opening next to Little Caesar's Pizza on Cloverland Drive. John Wyssling told the Commission he couldn't recall the name of the company, but it was "Panda something."

Comments were made stating that many good things are happening in Ironwood. The soon-to-open Maplewood Steakhouse is a big improvement on the highway. The new Gogebic Range Bank building construction is continuing. The debris from the recently razed buildings has been mostly clean up and the area is looking much better.

The fact that Iron Horse Tattoo Company moved its operations to Hurley was discussed. Mike Mezzano, owner of the tattoo shop, told the Chronicle that Michigan State regulations have become so out-of-touch that it wasn't possible to continue operating in Ironwood. He explained that disposal of "hazardous waste" in the State of Michigan is so strict and costly that it forced him to relocate to Wisconsin. Michigan's standards are traditionally higher than Federal standards or standards of just about any other state.

It was mentioned that "My Front Porch" Gift Shop moved from the house along Douglas Boulevard to Hurley, next to Sharon's Coffee Company. The Commission pointed out that it was unfortunate that the store didn't locate in Downtown Ironwood. All three businesses that Hurley recently gained -- the Tattoo shop; Sharon's; and the gift store - used to be Ironwood businesses.