To the Journal editor:

I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank The Mining Journal staff writer Lisa Bowers on her outstanding four part series that was written and published in the Journal to raise community awareness of the many abandoned mine area dangers that surround our local mining towns.

Her effort to educate people of this important and often ignored aspect of both our history and our future is truly commendable. I would also like to thank the city of Negaunee’s Nate Heffron and David Nelson for taking action to make our “Old Towne” area a safer place by addressing fencing and signage issues in this area.

This past spring, I started my own investigation, evaluation, and documentation of the many abandoned mine shafts and subsidence areas right here in my community. I did so because I had noticed that so many of our former safety fences had been neglected for years, and even torn down by new property owners and trespassers, many times in violation of state laws.

No matter where I went within the city limits of Negaunee, I was both shocked and appalled at the open lack of enforcement and compliance with Michigan abandoned mine safety legislation.

Having worked in mine safety and health for most of my 35 years with Cleveland Cliffs, both as an hourly union safety committee person and later as a salaried senior staff safety rep, I know only too well what happens when hazards are openly accepted and safety rules/laws are ignored.

Always remember that just like the safety rules that in our iron mines today are written in the blood of our past injured miners, the laws that are intended to protect our communities from abandoned mine dangers are written in the tears of the families who tragically lost children in these local mine pits, including Negaunee’s own children Oliver Finnila, Dale Lafreniere, Tommie Leklin and Ernie Salo.

This fall we will have the opportunity to vote in a new county mine inspector. Again, I commend Lisa Bowers for sharing her telling interviews with the three candidates. I have had the honor of knowing all three of them. They are all good people and former hard-working miners. I will remain committed to doing whatever I can to help the person who is elected to that important position. But like everyone else, I have to choose one of them on my ballot.

I have chosen to back candidate Al Koski, due primarily to his vast mining background and incredible knowledge of our mining history and the vast importance of safety. I also take careful notice of his past and ongoing volunteer public service to community organizations and our schools.

Koski has proven to me that he “has what it takes” to take on such a difficult job and truly “make a difference.” No longer must the safety of our citizens be ignored and poofooed by area land owners along with uncaring community and county governments. It is time to take a stand.

Thank you and stay safe!

Jim Paquette

Negaunee “Irontown USA”