MARQUETTE — Steve Bertucci, the Marquette County mine inspector candidate who garnered the most votes in the Aug. 3 primary election, was appointed to fill that role by Marquette County Clerk Linda Talsma, county prosecutor Matt Wiese and county Probate Judge Cheryl Hill during a public meeting on Wednesday.

Talsma confirmed the appointment by phone on Friday. Following the death of longtime Marquette County Mine Inspector John “Yogi” Carlson earlier this month, the process was required by state statute.

Bertucci is running unopposed for the seat in the Nov. 3 general election.

As the county mine inspector transition takes place, the city of Negaunee continues to move forward with safety steps, some of which were recommended by Carlson.

Negaunee City Manager Nate Heffron said in a press release on Friday that safety measures to strengthen and enhance safety protocols within Old Town have been completed. The improvements include an $8,295 project to build 360 feet of new fencing installed by Marquette Fence Co. near the old Jackson Mine Pit. The project was completed in less than a week, the city press release states, using funds from the parks department budget reserved for playground equipment upgrades.

New fencing at a mine shaft on Gold Street and repairs to fencing in various locations has also been accomplished, Heffron said. The city has also secured the Mather B building site and new signage in the Jackson Mine Park entrances.

“These signs help those that may not know that Old Town once was an active mining area. We advise all visitors to stay on (approved) trail and park areas; please do not venture off into the woods or beyond fenced-off areas,” Heffron said.

In addition to the physical improvements in the Old Town area, the city has given notice to the Range Area Mountain Bike Association to perform a self-inspection of its trail systems through city-owned property to look for “qualified hazardous conditions” and report back to city officials within 60 days of the notice.

According to the release, the city provided a list of safety concerns that, if found within 10 feet of either side of the trail system, would be considered a qualified hazardous condition.

These include areas where “any surface of the trail switches from the ground to any extension of the trail that is not the ground,” such as plank board, walls or foundations; any mine shafts or pits and any surface mine depressions caused by cave-ins or from surface mining activity “that is at least 25 feet from the bottom of the depression to the ledge of ground surface.”

Once the information has been reviewed, the city will work with RAMBA to determine if any mitigation measures need to be employed.

Heffron said the city will also be making contact with Bertucci over the coming weeks.

“We wish to offer the family of John ‘Yogi’ Carlson our deepest and sincere condolences and thank him for his assistance in the past 20 years in helping (to accomplish) many of the above good works,” Heffron said. “We also look forward to working with the newly elected mine inspector in safeguarding areas of concern as they are found.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net