30 years ago

MUNISING – The Munising City Commission has voted to raise sewer rates to pay for the $2.2 million loan needed for mandated repairs by the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The city has been given a November 12 deadline to respond to five specific sewer system violations, or face enforcement action by the DEQ including possible fines of $25,000 a day. The problems with the system are as follows: homes in the Bayview Addition have discharged raw sewage into Lake Superior for several years, inadequate lift station has discharged raw sewage into ground surfaces and basements, standby power generators are needed for the several lift stations, the City Dock lift station needs to be upgraded, and sections of the city’s sanitary wastewater collection system are on the verge of collapse. Commissioner Kathy Rushford states that the city is now addressing what should have been done 30 years ago. Last month, the Mining Journal conducted a “sewer rate survey” and found Munising’s the highest in the U.P.

90 years ago

ISHPEMING – Last night, Ishpeming’s city council approved the acquisition of a new water pump and hook ladder truck for the city’s fire department. Ishpeming is believed to be the only city remaining in the U.P. who depend, in large part, on horse drawn equipment for fighting fires. The team of horses are described as being “on their last legs:” one team is 24 years old, and the other is 18 years and have a joint cost of $60 a month for their care and upkeep. If all goes according to plan, the fire department will be completely motorized by the end of the year, resulting in saving the department $600 a year.