IMHS parking revised as utility work wraps up
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Parking rules in the Iron Mountain High School area will be updated to reduce the amount of signage and prevent parking east of the intersection of Prospect Avenue and West A Street near the gymnasium.
The city council Tuesday approved changes recommended by Director of Police and Fire Services Jeff Solka, who revisited the parking arrangement as utility replacements were completed. The revisions come about a year after changes were made to provide more handicap spaces.
The West A Street work is part of a sewer and water project contracted to Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain. Other current project areas include East C, Lake and West Hughitt streets. Reconstruction on West A Street is scheduled to begin this week between Kimberly Avenue and Forest Street.
Any graveled roads within Bacco's construction area will receive at least a base course of asphalt beginning Thursday, Sept. 17, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said. Work will continue late into the fall, but no areas should be left unpaved, he added.
"They'll only open up what they can finish and pave before the end of the year," he told the council.
The updated signage in the high school area:
-- Will prohibit parking on the north side of West A Street from west of Carpenter Avenue for the first 60 feet, as the boulevard now has a fire hydrant. There will be two handicap parking spaces, with one ending 20 feet from the sidewalk of Prospect Avenue. The remaining spots on the block will be available for parking.
-- Will prohibit parking on the south side of West A Street for 20 feet west from the Carpenter Avenue sidewalk. No parking will be allowed during school hours, with parking ending about 50 feet east from the sidewalk of Prospect Avenue, indicated by a "No parking here to corner" sign.
-- Will allow parking on the north side of West A Street west of Prospect Avenue near St. Mary & St. Joseph Catholic Church, expect as indicated by "No parking here to corner" signs.
-- Will allow parking on the south side of West A Street, except as indicated by "No parking here to corner" signs.
The parking ban at the Prospect Avenue and West A Street intersection is due to the number of students crossing during school hours, Stanchina said.
The council also approved removing a handicap parking sign from Prospect Street near the intersection of West B Street.
Bacco's $15.4 million contract includes full replacement of water and sewer utilities for all of West A, East C and a substantial portion of West Hughitt streets. The project includes 2.5 miles of paving. Bacco, meanwhile, is doing water service line replacements in other parts of the city, along with Ultra Construction Services of Marquette.
In other action Tuesday, the city council:
-- Approved Stanchina's recommendation to hire Joshua Plante to take on the role of director of public works, following a transition period in coordination with Matt Tinti, the current public works supervisor. Plante comes to Iron Mountain from the city of Norway. Earlier this summer, Tinti became public works supervisor after the retirement of Scott Thomas. The city, meanwhile, continued to advertise for a director of public works -- a higher position that's been vacant for several years. The city's current administrative salary schedule for DPW supervisor is $84,679 at the highest step.
-- Approved a change in the compensation paid to police recruits during certification training to reflect a weekly stipend, rather than an hourly wage. Since 2023, recruits have been paid $16.50 per hour, based on a 40-week schedule. The new stipend will be $720 per week. Two recruits at the Northwestern Michigan College Police Academy in Traverse City are averaging more than 40 hours per week, and the payment of stipends has become the standard procedure, Solka noted.
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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.