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Negaunee City Council OKs Jackson Mine Park project

A sign points the direction to the Jackson Miners Trail that pass by an artists sculpture of three miners, a 40-ton ore crusher and a set of passenger rail cars in a section of the Negaunee Old Towne located along a portion of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail in Negaunee. The Negaunee City Council approved $63,200 in engineering costs for a pavilion near the IOHT trailhead at Jackson Mine Park during its regular meeting on Thursday. (Journal photo file photo)

NEGAUNEE — Jackson Mine Park in Negaunee is one step closer to pavilion construction after a Negaunee City Council meeting on Thursday.

Councilors voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute a $63,200 engineering services agreement with GEI Consultants to design the Jackson Mine Park Pavilion.

The $485,000 pavilion project, which was proposed several years ago, is being funded by a $291,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant; a $70,200 grant from the Cliffs Natural Resources/Eagle Mine Community Fund; an $8,500 contribution from the Negaunee Community Fund; $90,600 for city employee labor and materials; and $25,000 from the Iron Ore Recreation Authority.

The purpose of the engineering project is to develop bidding and construction documents “necessary to assist the city with construction of the pavilion development,” the GEI Consultants proposal states.

The preliminary design for the pavilion will include a pavilion, restrooms, and a utility and storage room space that will be reserved for a future kitchen area.

The design also consists of site improvements such as parking improvements, barrier free access to the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, signage, stormwater management, LED site lighting traffic flow improvements meant to enhance pedestrian safety.

The city conceded various wish-list items at the site due to “financial constraints,” the proposal states.

An interior building heating system, additional parking spaces, picnic tables in the proposed addition of a kitchen are currently excluded from the scope of work.

“However, GEI will design provisions to accommodate an in-floor radiant heat system by specifying tubing be placed in the concrete floor,” the proposal states. “Also, GEI will design the electrical distribution panel for electrical connections supporting the heating furnace.”

GEI will work toward 14 project milestones within the next several months. Construction is expected to begin some time in 2019.

During the meeting, the council also approved its 2018 Truth in Taxation Tax Rate Request of 17.5428 mills for the city; .9939 mills for Parks and Recreation; 1.4908 mills for equipment; and 1.9583 mills for Street Improvement.

The resulting cumulative tax rate of 21.9858 mills falls below the city’s maximum real and property tax of 22.5 mills.

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