No Group Is Above the Law

IRONWOOD, MI  - Monday, October 19, 2009 - EDITORIAL by Steve Frank - The included photos were taken on two segments of the Sisu Ski Fest route. One runs from Burma Road, behind the ore car, and onto Alfred Wright Boulevard. The other runs behind Randa Field to the Little League Field.

The Planning Commission voted to NOT require a site plan or public hearing because they felt that there would be only minor changes made and that time was running out to get the work done. It appears that a fairly large amount of earth was moved and because of the grade and amount of rock the regrowth time for vegetation will be lengthy. Erosion is bound to be an issue. As far as time constraints, planning for this race began over a year ago.

Furthermore, I find it interesting that part of the race course runs directly under power lines. When the MMHP committee proposed a walking trail in this exact spot they were told that Xcel Energy would not permit it because of the danger of overhead lines. Also, at some point city staff must have walked the route. This is, after all, public land and even I can't believe that public land was allowed to be altered with zero input from the city. In fact, two members of Ironwood's management team are part of the race committee. And yet clear violations of our blight and litter laws are allowed mere feet from the race course. But I suppose the course is "good enough". Good enough for that one weekend in January. After all, who really cares how it looks the other 363 days?