IRON RIVER TOWNSHIP—Jeff Bal, GEI Consultants’ engineer, updated the Iron River Township Board  regarding its many ongoing and proposed projects at the board’s Sept. 11 meeting.
Regarding the Rural Development water line replacement project, which was recently started, Bal said 4 percent of the project is done, with 2,500 feet of pipe put in the ground and 25 percent of the approximately 10,000 feet of underground boring completed
The first pay request for the project was approved for $115,000.

BATES TOWNSHIP—Pipe should start being laid for the Bates Township water project, reported Jim Koskiniemi of U.P. Engineers and Architects, at the Bates Township Board of Trustees’ Sept. 12 meeting.
 The first area of work will be on Fourth Street in the Rogers Location, he said, following pre-construction meetings with the contractor, Oberstar.

Officials of the County Board and the Iron County Medical Care Facility symbolically break ground Sept. 11 for a new addition to the complex on U.S. 2. Holding the shovels, from left, are County Commissioner Carl Lind, County Board Chairman Wayne Wales, County Commissioner Rosalie King, Human Services Board Chairman William Leonoff, HSB member Ben Smith, HSB Vice Chairman John Archocosky. In back: Sue Clisch, county administrator; Fran Wills, county commissioner; Randy Ranger, CM Contracting on-site manager; Terry Bachman, CM Contracting project manager; Mark Hires, CM Contracting president; Teresa Ollila, assistant to MCF administrator; Joan Luhtanen, county clerk; and Chester Pintarelli, MCF administrator. The $9.08 million project will increase the special needs (memory care) unit from 24 to 44 beds and create a short-term rehab area, with new beds tying into the rehab facilities. The project also includes in-house renovations of the 1976 portion of the facility. CM Contracting of Battle Creek is the construction manager, and Eckert Wordell of Kalamazoo is the architect.

CRYSTAL FALLS—With autumn nearing its peak colors, Iron County will be celebrating with the 12th annual Crystal Falls Harvest Fest this weekend.
 Activities get under way Friday, Sept. 21, with the Crystal Falls Business Association’s tailgate party prior to the Forest Park Trojan football game at 5:30 p.m. at the east entrance of Dick Mettlach Field.

CRYSTAL FALLS—A new issue concerning the ordinance passed by Stambaugh Township requiring watercraft users on Chicaugon Lake to purchase permits came to the Iron County Board of Commissioners at its Sept. 11 bi-monthly meeting.
 Commissioner Bev Camp told the commissioners she had been informed that a camera was mounted at the boat launch and would like the issue to be put on the next meeting agenda.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Installation of “smart meters” for electric service to residents has been completed, and a public hearing to hear comment on the closeout of the electric utility-automatic meter reading project was held during the City Council’s Sept. 10 regular meeting.
 City Manager Dorothea Olson told the council that all meters have been installed.
 The project was funded in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

A dogsled stood on the Windsor Auditorium stage Sept. 6 as Josh Brindle gave an update about plans for The IronLine sled dog race, planned for Iron River on Jan. 18 to 20.
IRON RIVER—Plans for Iron County’s first-ever sled dog race are moving ahead, organizers said during a meeting last week.
 What’s needed now are sponsors, money and help from volunteers.
 John Brindle, one of the organizers, reviewed the progress so far during a meeting at the Windsor Auditorium Sept. 6.

STAMBAUGH TOWNSHIP—Area fishermen vented for the third straight month at the Stambaugh Township’s September meeting.
 The township’s invasive species ordinance, directing users of Chicaugon Lake to purchase a lake use permit, with proceeds going strictly for the treatment of the lake’s milfoil infestation, has been a hot topic lately.

CRYSTAL FALLS—The Iron County Board of Commissioners agreed to look into purchasing a new software program for its finances and taxation, switching from the long-running and imminently outdated Manatron system.
 “Ninety-seven percent of state government units are using BS&A,” said County Administrator Sue Clisch at the board’s Aug. 28 bi-monthly meeting. “It must be a pretty good program.”

STAMBAUGH TOWNSHIP—With a blacktop plant in the area for the fall, the Stambaugh Township Board, at its Sept. 5 meeting, brought up the possibility of completing a portion of East Brule Road.
 The road is currently scheduled to be blacktopped in 2013.
 Supervisor Eugene Pellizzaro said that Iron County Road Commission Superintendent Doug Tomasoski would be putting bids together for other municipalities and would get one for East Brule Road as well.