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IRONWOOD - A request for a zoning variance at the Pub and Grub was
denied by the Township Board of Trustees. At Monday’s meeting the board
unanimously declined to rezone the local eatery for adult entertainment
establishment usage. HMMMM.
Due to the 9% water rate increase by
the Ironwood City Manager Scott Erickson, the water rates charged to
Township water customers require an adjustment to keep up with the city’s
immoral rate structure. The Township held off passing along the increase
until now, when the revenue shortage is $24,000.
Jyl Olson
Township Treasurer advised the Board that the shortfall will likely be
made up during the transitional period when the GRWA water starts flowing
and the City water is reduced to a trickle. Jyl was asked what if the cost
of water actually goes below the anticipated expense could the rates then
be lowered. Jyl advised that they could or that the excess revenues could
be used to speed up the loan repayment.
The rates will be changed as
follows: The per 1,000 gal. rate will go from $7.57 to $8.25.
The Residential OMR charge will be increased from $35.04 to $38.35. The
commercial OMR will be increased from $46.92 to $51.15.
Township
residents should take heart. Hurley too was abused by the City and was
told that the city would increase their rates 50%. Like the Township the
Hurley Mayor said Adios and the rest is history. Hurley has new water
lines, sewer lines and soon will have its own wells. By removing the old
leaky water lines, Hurley’s water acquisition costs have decreased from
$250,000 per year to $160,000 per year.
Fortunately, Township
residents can look forward to ridding themselves from the water banditos.
Unfortunately, the city residents don’t have the same opportunity. Worse
yet, the overly taxed city residents will have to make up the $400,000
revenue loss created by bad city management and a heavy handed approach in
dealing with its neighbors!
In other business the Board also
unanimously approved a resolution for a USDA loan on phase 1 of the sewer
project.
The board acted upon a grant preparation proposal for the
MDNR grant for the proposed park Airport Recreation project. Coleman
Engineering was given the green light to prepare the application which
needs to be in Lansing by April 1st. The matter will go to the parks
Committee tonight at 6:00 pm for public input.
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