Ishpeming City Council holds special meeting to discuss USDA loan

The Ishpeming City Council held a special meeting this morning and spent a majority of the time discussing how best to use a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What was certain was that repairs would be done to City Hall, the Department of Public Works building and the Fire & Police Station. Less certain was the specific repairs to focus on, but the council ultimately passed a motion to look at all of the suggested repairs, specifically the electrical system and the furnace at the Fire & Police Station.

Ishpeming Mayor Mike Tall said, “The biggest reason is they have to be done; it’s not a ‘want to’ anymore and it all falls back to the same thing time and time and time again: do we have the money to do it? That’s why this got so dragged out and so carried through because the council and the department heads were all looking at every way possible to get this.”

The council heard input from leaders in each department that would be affected by the repairs as well as from a representative from OHM Advisors, who offered up how they would go about improving the buildings.

Also on the agenda, the council looked at candidates to become the new city attorney. After discussing desired experience, they moved to interview five candidates, which will take place on the same day some time in the near future.