"Caves" Site Suddenly Prime Real Estate for Ironwood

IRONWOOD, MI - Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - At 5:30 PM last night a special workshop was held in the Women's Club Room on the second floor of the Memorial Building. The meeting was designed to explore the possible uses of the "caves" area of Ironwood. One group, the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park, wants the land to be used primarily as a non-motorized trail and a park honoring those miners who gave their lives working in the mines which once occupied that area. The other group favors using the land for multi-use motorized and non-motorized trails. For years many residents have been riding their snowmobiles and ATV's throughout the property. According to City Ordinance, however, this use is unauthorized, and although the City hasn't enforced it, it is illegal.

Throughout the meeting, opinions were mixed. Some wanted only motorized trails throughout the property. Some wanted only non-motorized trails. And some believed it is possible for both to co-exist on the property.

Mayor Bruce Noren asked about the possibilities of selling some of the land. Jerry Pisani has been eyeing a piece of City-owned land along Ayer Street to build commercial storage buildings. Once again, opinions were divided. Some believed that the City should jump on the opportunity to sell the land so that it can generate tax dollars. Some balked at that idea saying that the value of the land as a tourist draw as well as a reason for people to locate here is much greater than the few dollars storage buildings would generate in property taxes.

Strangely, just three years ago, the City viewed this land to have so little value that they allowed citizens to dump old appliances, furniture, televisions and other electronics, vehicles, and even household trash off of Penokee Hill. They used to land as a clean out location for vactor waste whenever they worked on water or sewer lines. The City's "compost site" have been so violated that calling it "compost" is a joke. Now suddenly, the property has everybody's attention.