Almost back to normal
Bridge street resurfacing nearly complete
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HOUGHTON -- After nearly two months, the resurfacing project on Houghton’s Bridge Street is almost completed. In his report to the City Council at Wednesday’s regular meeting, Houghton City Manager Eric Waara said he expects the heavily traveled city street to be reopened early next week.
The project, which began June 22, involved repaving a good portion of the street which runs from Montezuma to Jacker. The project included construction of a new sidewalk on the west side of Bridge Street between Edwards and Baraga Avenues, near the Houghton Elementary School. To facilitate the work, Bridge Street has been closed to thru traffic from South to Baraga streets. Because of the closure, traffic has increased on nearby 2nd street causing increased speed enforcement measures.
In his report, Waara updated the council on the recent work at the Garnet Street Park. “The tennis court has been repaired and we’ve added Pickle Ball Lines,” he said. All in all the summer seems to be going well in Houghton, Waara said. “Downtown foot traffic seems to be up and several downtown stores are having pop-up features. He said the recent Digital Bloom event was very successful with the Thimbleberry fest coming up next week. Waara said that bids will go out soon for the downtown Houghton “Pocket Park,” and that construction could be completed before snow falls. Waara also said there will be a vacancy on the Library Board for which applications will be accepted soon.
In his report to the council, Police Chief John Donnelly said his department responded to 206 calls for service in the weeks since the last council meeting. Donnelly said that Corporal Kirk Mills has been promoted to Lieutenant and will succeed Nick Roberts when he retires Sept. 4. “He has stepped up in many ways,” Donnelly said of the new lieutenant. He said the department recently finished the Lien Audit necessary for accreditation. He said the department recently replaced its firearms with new 9mm weapons with improved scopes.
In a very light agenda, the council acted on just two action items. The council unanimously amended the city’s charter, which affecting the regulation of signs within the city. Council member Craig Waddell said the changes make the ordinance “better than the previous version.”
Waara said the improvements offers clarity to the issue of signage and will make it easier for the city to answer questions and inquiries regarding the use of signs.
Finally the council unanimously approved the discharge of a mortgage by Julien Properties. The