IRON MOUNTAIN — Federal money awarded through the Michigan Department of Transportation will help pay for 0.76 miles of paving on North Milwaukee Avenue in Iron Mountain.

The city council Monday approved an MDOT contract of $232,000 with Payne & Dolan of Gladstone to pave the street from Lehman Avenue to the city limits at Breitung Township.

A Small Urban Program grant will pay the lesser of $210,000 or 81.85% of the project cost, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said. The city will be responsible for the rest, about $77,700.

The estimate for the paving was $287,700, so MDOT will be asked if additional work can be added to the bid awarded to Payne & Dolan, Stanchina said.

The Small Urban Program uses federal money to help areas with a population of 5,000 to 49,999. The cities of Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Norway are linked as one unit eligible for even-year funding under MDOT’s rotation schedule.

The North Milwaukee Avenue project was authorized by MDOT in late 2021. Small Urban Program funds helped pay for more than a mile of paving on Iron Mountain’s Lehman and North Kimberly avenues in 2020.

In other action, the council:

— Learned that Downtown Development Authority Program Director Tim Cauley is looking into establishing a Social District for Iron Mountain. It would allow participating businesses to sell alcoholic beverages to go, as governed by a 2020 state law. Licensees must sell the drinks in specially labeled cups that could only be consumed within the boundaries of the district. The area under consideration for Iron Mountain is east of Stephenson Avenue from Brown Street south to East C Street and extending to Iron Mountain Street to the west. A district may not cross a highway, Stanchina noted. In the U.P., districts have been established in Marquette, Negaunee and Houghton with no major issues, he said.

— Heard East D Street resident Mike Uren suggest the city’s code enforcement officer had “gone a little overboard” in issuing blight warnings. Uren was told about 400 residents received notices in advance of the household rubbish drop-off hours held last week. The warnings were meant, in part, to encourage residents to use that service, Stanchina said. “Our number one complaint is probably blight,” he said.

— Heard South Park Street resident Linda Cain ask that something be done about a neighbor’s business activities in a residential area, including testing equipment at late hours and allowing brush and other items to accumulate. The city is aware of the situation and will stay in touch, Stanchina said.

— Noted Stephenson Avenue will be closed Monday morning for the annual Memorial Day ceremony coordinated by the Dickinson County Veteran Service Office. The parade will begin at 8:45 a.m., with staging beginning at 8:15 a.m. on East Ludington Street. Participants will march eastward on Stephenson Avenue, gathering in front of the courthouse until about 10 a.m.

— Authorized closing designated Millie Hill trails to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 8, for the Millie Hill Enduro Race being conducted by the Iron Hills Cycling Team. A certificate of liability insurance was provided in the application submitted by organizer John Bruen.

— Accepted a quote for direct internet access for all city departments through Peninsula Fiber Network at a cost of $335 month, locked in for five years. The direct service will be more reliable and ensure compliance for accessing the Law Enforcement Information Network, Stanchina said. The current cost through Spectrum is $240 month for a shared-access bandwith.

— Was informed by council member Dave Farragh of a traffic safety issue at the intersection of Hemlock and Brown streets.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.