At its Thursday meeting, the Negaunee City Council will consider a settlement with the owner of the Sundberg building, which was demolished by the city in 2016. (Journal file photo)

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee City Council will consider its employee retirement plan during a virtual meeting on Thursday.

The council voted unanimously during an April 27 special meeting to table consideration of a plan that would increase payments into the city’s employee retirement plan under the Municipal Employees Retirement System in order to bring it to a 60% funded level.

The city was notified in 2019 by the Michigan Department of Treasury that its $12.5 million pension liability is 49% funded, which considered “underfunded” by the state.

The council will also consider a settlement with the owner of the Sundberg building, which was demolished by the city in 2016.

Property owner Ann Kantola was ordered by Marquette County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Mazzuchi to pay $140,000 to the city and to transfer the now-vacant parcel at 521 Iron St. property to the city via quitclaim deed, according to court documents received via a Freedom of Information Act request obtained from the city in November.

City officials confirmed today that the property has already been transferred via quitclaim deed.

Though it is unclear what plans the city has for the now-vacant parcel, it is adjacent to Jackson Mine Park and near the Iron Ore Heritage Trail spur and was listed as a private redevelopment site in the city’s 2018 Moving Forward campaign.

The council will also hold a public hearings on a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant application for a new vehicle, and the amended and restated development plan for the Downtown Development Authority District’s 1 and 2.

Other agenda items include roof repair bids for buildings at 330 Iron St. and 334 Iron St., as well as new millage requests for street improvement and rehabilitation and a new equipment millage request.

The meeting can be accessed by phone by calling 1-312-626-6799 and entering meeting ID 935 608 7193 when prompted.

Those who wish to access the meeting via the internet can go to zoom.us/j/9356087193 and enter the meeting ID 935 608 7193

There will be a chance for anyone to speak during public comment, but city officials recommend that comments to be submitted in writing ahead of time and they will be read during the meeting. Email public comments to cmsecretary@cityofnegaunee.com, leave a comment in our utility payment drop box, or mail to: City of Negaunee, PO Box 70, Negaunee, MI, 49866.