DALE ALESSANDRINI

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dale Alessandrini will return as mayor and Kyle Blomquist will be Iron Mountain’s new mayor pro tem, city council members decided Monday.

The council’s reorganizational meeting followed the Nov. 2 election in which three candidates, including Alessandrini, ran without opposition for the council’s individual ward seats. The four at-large seats will be up for election in 2023.

Alessandrini, who begins his ninth straight year as mayor, was re-elected unanimously. Blomquist was named mayor pro tem by a 4-3 vote. The other nominee was Ken Clawson.

Iron Mountain’s mayor presides at meetings of the council — as a voting member — and is recognized as the ceremonial head of city government.

In the election for mayor pro tem, Blomquist, who voted for himself, was backed by Alessandrini, Pam Maule and Nathan Zemar. Clawson, who also voted for himself, was supported by Cathy Tomassoni and newly elected David Farragh.

Blomquist succeeds William Revord as mayor pro tem. Revord did not seek re-election in Ward 2, where Farragh now holds the seat. Tomassoni has represented Ward 3 since May while Alessandrini represents Ward 1.

In other action, the council voted 6-1 to deny a request from Dr. Daniel Mitchell to rezone vacant land south of Moon Lake and Sunset Drive from residential to light industrial. The change would have allowed a prospective new owner to erect storage units.

Several neighbors, including Francis Brouillette and LeAnn Lancour, said it’s unfortunate the proposed rezoning could permit other uses they find objectionable.

The city’s planning commission had discussed Mitchell’s request Oct. 11 and forwarded it to the council without a recommendation. After Monday’s public hearing, Clawson sought to approve the change but received no support.

“I would hate to go ahead and rezone this,” Alessandrini said. “It’s so close to houses.” Other potential uses could include manufacturing, he noted.

The parcel totals about 18 acres and Mitchell’s request was to rezone 6.5 acres. He told the council — and his neighbors — he appreciated concerns over the zoning change but intended only to accommodate the storage units.

Blomquist asked if the council might somehow allow a specific development, but Clerk-Treasurer Isaac Micheau, who administers the city’s zoning rules, said it would invite “a legal pickle” for the city.

In other action, the council:

— Decided to object to taking title to property at 431 Vulcan St., where the former Oliva’s Market has failed to sell at two separate auctions after Dickinson County foreclosed on the property. By objecting, the title will stay with the county. That will open the door for the county’s land bank to seek grant money to help cover a demolition estimated at $55,000, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said. Alessandrini, however, said the city shouldn’t wait too long before possibly rehabilitating the site on its own.

— Learned from Stanchina that an application for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant for a Pewabic Hill mountain bike trail system has been scored at 300 out of a maximum 500. The MNRTF Board makes final grant recommendations in December. The city in April applied for a $183,200 grant, with the non-profit Dickinson Trail Network obligated for the $64,000 match.

— Noted leaf collection is progressing and updates are provided on the city’s Facebook page. All leaves should be collected by Thanksgiving or earlier, Stanchina said.

— Reported 18 deer have been harvested so far this fall through the managed archery hunt.