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City Workers Bail Out Contractors |
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As Usual ! |
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above city workers lending needed
support to private contractors |
| Ironwood The 200 block of East Pine Street
received the first of Ironwood's twenty new fire
hydrants this week. The city council after much
debate approved a contract with Ross Peterson
Excavating which provide twenty new hydrants at the
cost of $107,000.
While some hydrants prove easy to replace others
such as the Pine Street hydrant require many hours
to complete. The work on this hydrant went on well
into the night!
Prior to letting out the contract, councilman Tom
Laabs asked the city manager "why couldn't the city
crew install the hydrants instead of contracting out
the $107,000 job.?" City manager Scott
Erickson stated that the city crews were needed
elsewhere.
Is that so?
From the photo above it is clearly demonstrated
the the city workers must still be at the job site
working on the installation. It is regrettable that
the city manager and current city council are so
anti union. The personal attacks against the city
workers has become detrimental to the well being of
the city as a whole. The city claims that they
can't afford to pay a fair wage or provide a decent
benefits package to our city workers. But, they some
how have found it quite affordable to pay the city
manager over $100,000 per year plus a car allowance,
plus, plus plus! we're paying the manager nearly
twice what he should be getting.
The mayor and a few of the anti-union council
members have failed to give our city employees a
contract for three years, largely due to the
anti-union sentiments of its worthless city council,
especially the imo-limo mayor! (that's pronounced
eemoe-leemoe)
The anti-union attacks by the city management are
very serious. Inside informants have told
IronwoodInfo that if the city loses in arbitration
with the public safety employees that they plan to
fire more city worker to make up the difference. The
anti-union Erickson will continue to contract out
more and more of the city's work to private
contractors. Which begs the question, when these
contractors can't handle the job themselves, what
city workers will still be around to help them?
Mr. Erickson and his friends were not around
during Ironwood' finest hour. If he were he would
have witnessed a wonderful city built on the backs
of "Union Labor"! He is way too young to understand
that prior to unions in our country there was no
middle class. The middle class in America was
created by our unions not by self appointed social
elitists like those currently running
our city into the ground. The city is near
bankruptcy and what are the city council members
doing about it? Nothing! Since they took office not
one single minute of their time has been used to
create new jobs nor bring new additional taxpayers
to our city. Instead they spend their time in closed
meetings planning to build $100,000 tennis courts,
while at the same time allowing existing tennis
courts to decay from lack of maintenance. They spend
their time planning how to con the taxpayers into
passing a multi-million dollar library renovation.
No wonder they think there's no money for
necessities, they're wasting it on their
self-serving projects. This government has not spent
a penny on a project that has not served their own
purposes first and Joe Citizen second.
After adding up the costs of private contracts
and the resulting quality of workmanship it's hard
to see where the Ironwood taxpayer has benefited.
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| above; City worker Mike O'Brien operates city new
Vector Truck. He and other city workers provide
private contractors with much needed support. |
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Positively Not
Negativity |
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Ontonagon - Recently, an article appeared in
an Ironwood tabloid which indicated that the proposed
bio-fuel project was not going forward due negativity in
the community. The blame was placed squarely on the
shoulders of village council woman Vicky James.
Last week an Ironwoodinfo photographer was downtown
Ontonagon photographing the Shipyard building that was
to house the Bio-Fuel project. A "gentleman" approached
him and began discussing the rejection of the plan. He
told our photographer that "the Tree Hugging James,
should be brought out into the woods and shot."
Wondering why a story in a local tabloid would bring
about such a radical and child-like response, we decided
to pursue the story.
According to the tabloid reporter, Norman Pestka blamed
the loss of the project on the negativity and letters to
the editor in the local Ontonagon newspaper.
We found that the public in Ontonagon County is not
buying into the "Negativity Excuse" for the Traxys
Corporation not going ahead with the bio-fuel facility
in Ontonagon. Most people stated that they believe that
there were ulterior motives for the decision other than
the one or two letters to the editor published in the
local newspaper. Many people believe that Traxys was not
looking to put a plant here in the first place. Tthey
believe that a
few local business people dreamed up the plan and hoped
that Traxys would buy into the idea.
One person interviewed believed that if the plant is built it
will be somewhere else with better transportation
facilities 12 months a year. Another person interviewed
stated that Vicky James was being made a scapegoat for
the failure to deliver the plant. Someone else blamed
the Ironwood Gossip columnist for negatively reporting
the story the way she did. They said "she's the one (the
columnist) that prematurely reported the demise of the Ewen
- Trout Creek School District" They went on to say
that "the story was both negative and very
inaccurate."
The story appearing in the Ironwood tabloid quotes Scott
Rayala as expressing disappointment in the decision to
drop the project. We are left wondering how Mr. Rayala
can so clearly define the reasons for the "negative"
decision by Traxys. Corporate contacts at Traxys did not
admit to knowing Rayala at all. Mr. Rayala is not
involved in the project representing the management of
Traxys or any of its subsidiaries nor is he an employee
of Traxys.
According to the story which appeared in the Ironwood
tabloid Mike Reid of White Pine Electric, stated "that the
proposal would not go forward" He said "the
parent company Traxys had not approved the project and
he did not know the status of the option that the
company had on the shipyard."
However, this is contrary to information obtained by
IronwooddInfo.
In an interview with Mike Reid, the deal was not turned down
by Traxys but rather nixed by the Board of Directors of
the White Pine Electric, a Delaware Corporation. This
information was confirmed by a Traxys Communication
Officer.
The reasons for walking away from the project are
logical and make more sense then the negativity
nonsense.
According to Reid the reasons to back away from project
were:
The village has failed to dredge the harbor even though
the village has received a grant for the project.
The short shipping season was a major consideration.
There was concerns for the noise the project would
generate downtown.
Could anyone believe that a company the size and makeup
of Traxys would walk away from what would otherwise be a
very lucrative proposal, just because of one or two
letters to the editor opposing the project? Since when
is having a different point of view a criminal offense?
Name calling, and labeling people as naysayers is a gimmick used
by those in the press who can't offer an acceptable
alternative to good sense and judgment.
Not one person interviewed for this story could explain
how a public hearing on the project was a negative
position. We have public hearings to hear all points of
view on a subject, not just those views expressed by
those people anxious to make a quick buck, community be
damned.
We'll never know the true merits of the bio-fuel project
because the proponents of the plan were adverse to
public disclosure. But, more importantly, the project
won't go forward because of maximizing profits and not
at all due to negativity.
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TRIO Academic
Support
Available to Eligible Finlandia Students |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen S. Johnson, Executive Director of
Communications
Date: August 18, 2008 - HANCOCK, MI
New students enrolled this fall at Finlandia
University may qualify for free academic support
services through the institution's (TRIO) Student
Support Services program.
Fully funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant,
the (TRIO) Student Support Services program annually
provides up to 180 eligible students with academic and
personal counseling, tutoring, career assistance,
informational workshops, a laptop loan program, and many
other services.
Finlandia students eligible for (TRIO) Student Support
Services are first generation college students (neither
parent has completed a four-year degree); and/or have
financial need (as determined by an individual's or
family's taxable income); or have a documented physical
or learning disability; and have academic need.
Academic need includes, but is not limited to, any of
the following: a high school or college GPA below 3.0; a
composite ACT score of 20 or lower; an earned GED; a
student who has been out of school 5 years or more; an
undeclared major; no clear career goals; single parent
status; or a need for personal counseling.
For more information and to find out if you qualify,
call 906-487-7296 or visit the (TRIO) Student Support
Services office in Nikander 11 on the campus of
Finlandia University, Hancock.
Karen S. Johnson
Exec. Director of Communications
Finlandia University
601 Quincy St.
Hancock, MI 49930
Ph: 906-487-7348
Fax: 906-487-7365
karen.johnson@finlandia.edu
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Two Road
Projects Get Final Approval |
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At the regular board meeting held Monday August
11th, the Board of Trustees of the Ironwood Township
approved a measure to repair both Orchard Lane and a
portion of Nyland Road. Orchard Lane will be
resurfaced with a double chip seal paving material.
A portion of Nyland road will be pulverized this
year and the resurfacing will be completed next year
under the next budget period. (January 2009) The
pricing for the work was well under the $45,000
budgeted by the board and thus gained unanimous
board approval.
The Planning and Zoning Board represented by Sandy
Lahtinen. Sandy presented the proposed Soil Removal
Ordinance. The board went over the proposed
ordinance and found only a few minor adjustments to
be made. The Planning Board will make the
adjustments and have a hearing on the ordinance.
In another item presented to the board, Township
Treasurer Jyl Olson made an interim report on the
water and sewer charges outstanding at he Lake Road
Mobile Home Park. Adjustments to the outstanding
bill are still to be made, however it appears that
the outstanding debt will be lower than originally
thought. |
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Ewen - Trout
Creek Announce Changes |
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Board
approves measure to cut custodial position
moves the 6th grade up to the Jr. High |
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The E-TC School Board voted
unanimously to cut one of the three custodial
positions while approving a staffing proposal that
would make the 6th grade part of the Jr. High in
addition to the swapping of classes among a few
elementary teachers.
The proposal made by Interim Superintendent and
Principal Lee Lindberg was in reaction to a $53,000
shortage caused by a decrease in a loan that the
school receives every year and is based on the
school's total state aid. Since the school's state
aid decreased, the amount of the loan also decreased
creating this somewhat unforeseen shortage. Mr.
Lindberg said he was being proactive with this
proposal hoping to take care of the problem before
the state became aware of it and required the school
to take care of it. Board member John Pinkerton
praised Lindberg for his proactive approach and said
that the board was asking Lindberg to do a difficult
job by stepping in to the superintendent position.
He also said he was afraid of the message it might
send if the board were to reject the first proposal
made by the new superintendent.
The savings projected by eliminating the custodial
position is about $16,000. Currently there are three
custodians who work in two shifts to maintain the
building and grounds. With classes starting early
and games and events often finishing late, two
shifts seems like a necessity. There are many jobs
that require two custodians at the same time, but no
questions were asked about such circumstances, nor
were any explanations given.
Besides the elimination of the custodial position,
the proposal also suggested moving the 6th grade to
the Jr. High. This move then would lead to some
teaching reassignments in the Elementary. Third
grade teacher Mary Hintze would teach Physical
Education full time and Amanda Lopac would teach the
health portion left vacant by the resignation of
Jared Lawson. First grade teacher Dianne Rooni would
take over the 3rd grade, Angela Berglund would move
to first grade, and Larry Maki would move to the 5th
grade class.
In addition, E-TC would not hire for the part-time
special education position since the
Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD Special Education Coordinator
said that one Special Education Instructor (Dave
Bessonen) was sufficient for the school's need. The
proposal also worked out some details concerning
paraprofessionals needed for two students with
special needs.
Board member John Pinkerton made
a motion to accept Lindberg's proposal, and member
Bill Witt seconded. In a roll call vote all agreed
on the measure (Treasurer Ryon Hokens was absent.)
Mr. Lawson resigns
At the regular meeting of the
Ewen- Trout Creek school board on July 30, Board
President Kirk Schott read a letter of resignation
submitted by Physical Education and Health
instructor, Jared Lawson. In his letter Mr. Lawson
cited the uncertainty of his position due to the
recent financial woes of the school district and the
proposed cuts as a determining factor in his leaving
to accept another job. He also said that he enjoyed
his time at E-TC. Mr. Lawson taught health and P.E.
for two years at E-TC, coached girls' junior varsity
basketball last year, and worked hard to promote
fitness beyond the classroom as well. He was
successful in earning several grants to not only
make his classes better, but to benefit the
community as well. His wife Jessica was also
committed to the cause as well as she organized
aerobics classes for women at the school and worked
in many other capacities to promote fitness. The E-TC
community wishes Mr. Lawson and his family the best
as they will be missed by students, faculty, and the
rest of the staff and community.
Long Time Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach Retires
At the July 30th school board meeting, President
Kirk Schott read a short letter of resignation form
Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach and UP Sports Hall
of Fame Inductee Nancy Osier. Osier spent many years
as a Health/P.E. teacher at E-TC while coaching and
retained her position after retiring from teaching
several years ago. Her guidance and presence at
court side will surely be missed. Look for more on
her outstanding coaching career in the near future.
(If you would like to share your thoughts on Coach
Osier, her influence, or just relate a story about
her for this article, please e-mail your comments to
panthervision@panthervision.org)
E-TC School Board OKs increase in
lunch prices
The E-TC School Board gave their approval for a
recommendation made by Mr. Lindberg to increase the
price of hot lunch at the school by 25 cents for the
2008-2009 school year. This means that hot lunch for
elementary students will be $2.25 and Jr.High and
High School students will now pay $2.50 per meal.
The reason Mr. Lindberg made the proposal was
increases in food costs in recent months.
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Michigan Tech to
Offer Dual Degrees |
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August 12 2008 -
Houghton
Michigan Technological
University in Houghton
is joining a program
that lets students earn
master's degrees in
forest resources and
biotechnology from two
colleges -- one in the
U.S. and one overseas.
Also taking part are
North Carolina State
University and colleges
in Finland and Sweden.
The dual-degree program
is meant to encourage
sustainable forest
management and improve
forestry education.
Michigan Tech forestry
school Dean Margaret
Gale says natural
resource management
practices differ widely
from one nation to
another despite
increased globalization.
She says the program
will help bridge the
gaps.
Michigan Tech will pay
expenses and a stipend
for its students during
their year in Finland or
Sweden. |
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