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DIDA Moves Forward
with Blight Complaint

Ironwood - April 24, 2009

The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority held its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday morning. All members were in attendance. Visitors included City Council member, Tom Laabs and Lily Palmer of Coleman Engineering. Representing the media were James Albert (Superior Chronicle) Arvo Toolanen and Lou Bonagura (IronwoodInfo).

The authority members spent much of the meeting time discussing the issue of downtown blight. Several of the members led by Eva-Smith Furgason and Jackie Powers expressed concern with what they describe as blight at the Woodtech Builders site on Frederick Street.

Joe Karius advised the board that he believed the matter of blight was a matter for the city to deal with and not DIDA. The authority expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress being made by the city in the matter.  (ed. note: Woodtech builders have done a great deal of renovations and improvements to their property. There are many more seriously blighted properties in downtown)

DIDA member Louise Demasi asked the Community Development Director to bring the matter to the City Council for action on their complaint.

Also discussed by the DIDA members was the matter of inadequate lighting in the downtown business district. It seems as though the lighting varies by street. Some streets are illuminated earlier in the evening others later. The members learned that the lights are not on a timing mechanism but go on and off by photocell switches. It was suggested that the photocells be checked out. Bruce Noren told the members that the electric bill for the street lighting is quite expensive.

Dan Petersen advised the authority that the MSHDA grant for the downtown area was approved. The grant in the amount of $140,000 is restricted to rental units. There is a 25% match required of the building owners. The loan value is depreciated 20% per year for five years.

 
 

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