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Stephanie Ukkola
BREITUNG- The Breitung Town Board established a recreation committee to make improvements to the Breitung playground/rink area at their meeting last Thursday.
Chairman Tim Tomsich said that there is an outdoor recreation grant program from the Department of Natural Resources that could be used to fund new boards for the skating rink, which are in very poor condition. The township received funding from this grant program in the past to build the trail between the Soudan baseball field and the skating rink. Tomsich said the grant amounts usually fall between $25,000 and $250,000.
The grant application deadline is at the end of March, meaning the current hockey boards would need to last another season. Other needs were identified, such as new mulch at the playground, and other ideas included a separate rink for young skaters, a gazebo, a horseshoe pit, pickleball courts, or gardens. The board named Stephanie Ukkola to chair the committee. Breitung residents
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Stephanie Ukkola
BREITUNG- The Breitung Board called for bids on sewer work throughout Soudan at their June 24 meeting. The project consists of replacement and repair of over 20 manholes and work on larger sections of sewer on South Street and on 4th Street between Jasper and Gordon streets. Residents on these streets will be notified, their sewer lines checked by camera, and will be given the opportunity to replace their own sewer lines while the contractor is available.
JPJ Engineering estimated the project will cost $580,000. The township has received grants from IRRRB for $145,000 with a match requirement and from CDBG for $100,000. The township plans to do some of the simpler work themselves as an in-kind match for the IRRRB funding. Bids will be opened at a special meeting on Tuesday, July 13 at 12:30 p.m.
JEFF IVERSON
Bouquet: As of Dec. 14, Jeff Iverson has officially retired as chief of the Breitung Township Volunteer Fire Department. His retirement comes after 21 years serving as chief and 34 years total on the department. As well as being the chief, Jeff worked for Breitung Township’s Department of Public Works for 28 years before retiring from that position in 2018. Jeff has been involved in the Breitung Township and surrounding communities in more ways than one during the past 34 years, including serving as president of the Upper Peninsula Fire Chiefs Association, chairperson of the Dickinson County Local Emergency Planning Committee, chair of the County Fire Training Association, member of the Michigan Firefighters Association, the National Fire Protection Association and a member of the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs board.