Ishpeming Public Works Director Job Up In the Air

Ishpeming’s longtime public works director will be able to retire soon.

So what will the city council do about the job?

That’s still very much an open question, even after a special fact-finding meeting to address the issue.

Jim Bertucci will be eligible for full retirement in a couple of months, when he turns 50.

The council is expecting him to take it.

Councilor Pat Bureau says most of the city’s public works employees showed up for the special meeting because the council wants to know what they think.

She says a lot of factors about the possible opening still need to be worked out.

In late 2007, Bertucci asked if he could retire early.

The city council unanimously shot him down.

They said at the time that if he did, the city retirement fund balance for union supervisory employees would dip below what state standards allow.