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COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Info

Effective: June 22, 2021fcc049a2cfd41e5cd71890b0020a226b

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is issuing updated recommendations for face mask use to prevent COVID-19 transmission. There is no longer a statewide requirement to wear a face mask in most settings; however, local health departments, establishments, sports organizers, and school districts may have additional rules that must be followed. Further, the CDC requires that all persons – regardless of vaccination status – wear masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.  While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks, it can be difficult for a business to verify whether someone is vaccinated. 

Many businesses have passive policies, requiring masks for those who are not vaccinated but not checking someone's status. However, the state's decision to remove its own mandates does not prevent a business from implementing more stringent health and safety rules. 

UpdateJuly 8, 2020:

As of noon on 07/08/2020, all walk-in traffic to the Ironwood Township building will be haulted.
Due to the recent influx in the COVID-19 cases in Gogebic County our office is taking every precaution to keep the office staff and public safe.
Business will continue as normal, just closed to walk-in traffic. If entry is needed to the office, it will be made by appointment and a face mask is required.
Please drop absentee ballots and/or applications in the drop box to the left.
Please drop payments in the drop box to the left.  If you would like a receipt mailed to you, please enclose a self addressed stamped envelope.
NO CASH will be accepted at this time.  Money order, cashiers check, check or pay online at ironwoodtownship.com
Contact Supervisor Simmons for any questions: 906-932-8447

Update May 18, 2020:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made the announcement Monday afternoon about loosening stay-at-home restrictions in Upper Michigan and northern Lower Michigan.The governor said Regions 6 and 8 will reopen partially at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, May 22. Region 6 is the Traverse City-area, and Region 8 is the entire Upper Peninsula.

Businesses that are opening up in a limited capacity include bars, restaurants, retail locations, and offices.The bars and restaurants will have to limit their capacity to 50 percent. Groups will be required to stay 6 feet apart and servers will have to wear face coverings.Office work also will be able resume IF work cannot be done remotely.

Whitmer says her new order does not abridge cities, villages and townships' ability to take a more cautious approach - like just allowing outdoor seating at bars and restaurants, for instance “This is a big step, but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “It’s crucial that all businesses do everything in their power to protect their workers, customers, and their families. And as we approach Memorial Day weekend, I encourage everyone to be smart and be safe. My team and I will continue to work around the clock to protect the people of Michigan.”

The governor's Stay Home, Stay Safe order remains in effect until May 28. Under this order, Michigan residents still must not leave their homes except to run critical errands, to engage in safe outdoor activities or to go to specified jobs.

Update May 7, 2020:

The “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order was extended to May 28th today by Gov. Whitmer. Under Executive Order 2020-77, Michiganders must continue to remain in their homes except to run critical errands, engage in safe outdoor activities or go to specified jobs. The order also allows manufacturing workers, including those at Michigan’s Big 3 auto companies, to resume work on Monday, May 11. Manufacturing facilities must adopt measures to protect their workers from the spread of COVID-19.

The six pandemic phases in the MI Safe Start Plan are: uncontrolled growth, persistent spread, flattening, improving, containing and post-pandemic. Gov. Whitmer today indicated that the state is currently in stage three, which indicates “the epidemic is no longer increasing and the health-system's capacity is sufficient for current needs.” The plan was developed with leaders in health care, business, labor and education. 
Last night, the governor signed Executive Order 2020-75, extending the previous order allowing public bodies to conduct remote public meetings during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The new order expires on June 30, 2020.Under the order, township boards and commissions subject to the Open Meetings Act can use conference call or video conferencing to continue meeting and conducting business during the coronavirus crisis. 

Update April 24, 2020:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact: Press@michigan.gov 
Governor Whitmer Extends Stay Home, Stay Safe Order, Directs Michiganders to Wear Homemade Masks in Enclosed Public Spaces 
Governor’s Executive Order Lifts Restrictions on Activities like Lawn Care, Golfing, Boating 
LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order 2020-59, extending her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through May 15th. The new order will require people to wear homemade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces. It will also lift some restrictions on outdoor activities and allow some workers who perform previously suspended activities to go back to work. 
“Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up. Social distancing is our best weapon to defeat this enemy,” said Governor Whitmer. “With new COVID-19 cases leveling off, however, we are lifting some of the restrictions put in place in the previous order. I want to be crystal clear: the overarching message today is still the same. We must all do our part by staying home and staying safe as much as possible.”  To view the entire executive order click here.

Update 04/09/2020:

Michigan will remain under a statewide stay-at-home order until April 30 as the coronavirus pandemic continues, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday, albeit with some additional restrictions. “Michigan has the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families,” Whitmer said in a release announcing the change. “Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up."  One big change will now limit travel between two residences in the state, a move some communities in northern Michigan have been calling for as the weather improves. People will have through April 10 to travel to another residence in the state, after which point the travel will be deemed unnecessary until the order expires.  For the full story click here

Another website for local COVID-19 coverage that has just been set up is Copper Country Strong.  Click here for more information on all 5 counties working together to keep us safe and healthy from COVID-19 which include Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw & Ontonagon Counties.

The township hall will follow this rule and will continue to work as we have since the executive order started.​  During this time, we are asking you to place your payments in the locked drop box by the door.  Receipts will be mailed to you.  If you need to pay by cash, please call the Treasurer’s office to make arrangements.

Foot Traffic is closed into the township building except for essential township personnel.

If you need immediate assistance please call us at one of our phone numbers listed:

James Simmons, Supervisor 906-932-8447
Mary Segalin, Clerk 906-932-8446
Maria Graser, Treasurer 906-932-8445

​​Updated04/06/2020:
Updated03/23/2020:

Ironwood Township will be working under Executive Order 2020-21.  Our maintenance will be working to maintain the utility system as needed and phone numbers are posted on our front door for any emergencies.  Contact information is also listed on our contact us page. The main office will be closed until further notice.   Residents attempting to make a utility payment can do so here on our website, mail or via the drop box located just outside the front door and a receipt will be mailed to you.  The drop box will be monitored regularly.

The executive order, released shortly before a Monday press conference, goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, and will last for three weeks, ending April 13. Violation of the order is punishable by a misdemeanor. Executive Order 2020-21 prohibits all businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Businesses must determine which of their workers are necessary to conduct minimum basic operations.

“Don’t try and skirt the rules,” Whitmer said. “If you’re not an essential business you need to close and you need to protect your employees."

Critical businesses identified in the executive order include the following: child care, health care, law enforcement, public safety, first responders, food and agriculture, energy, public utilities, transportation, communication and information technology, manufacturing, hazardous materials, financial services, defense.

Please take a look at the following link for more detail:

https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/03/whats-open-whats-closed-under-gov-whitmers-coronavirus-stay-at-home-order.html

**Starting tomorrow 03/24/2020 the Bessemer Library will be closed until further notice.

As always, if you need immediate assistance please call us at one of our phone numbers listed:

James Simmons,Supervisor 906-932-8447
Mary Segalin, Clerk 906-932-8446
Maria Graser, Treasurer 906-932-8445

**​PREVENTION TIPS**

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Updated 03/18/2020:

   **As of  03/18/2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is requiring EGLE to determine how many customers in each public water system have their water shut off for non-payment.  We are requesting water systems suspend all water shut-offs at this time.  Ironwood Township will be suspending water/sewer shut-offs until further notice. 

On March 16, 2020, the County of Gogebic, as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the State of Emergency declared by the Governor, and the National State of Emergency declared by the President of the United States, the following conditions exist:

Gogebic County including cities and townships with the county are experiencing limited access to first responder health and safety resources.  Additionally, because of the monitoring requirements that are placed on local health department personnel, additional staff and resources may be needed if the current status of health concerns deteriorates.  Gogebic County has limited resources to combat and respond to the COVID-19. 

Lastly, because of the limit of the number of people that can congregate and the lack of sufficient resources at the local level we have limited the access to the township building traffic.

  • At this time, we are asking you to place your payments in the locked drop box by the door.  Receipts will be mailed to you.  If you need to pay by cash, please call the Treasurer’s office to make arrangements
  • Foot Traffic is closed into the township building except for essential township personnel.
If you need immediate assistance please call us at one of our phone numbers listed:

James Simmons, Supervisor 906-932-8447
Mary Segalin, Clerk 906-932-8446
Maria Graser, Treasurer 906-932-8445

Please check www.ironwoodtownship.com for updates and full reopening of the township hall.

Updated 03/16/2020:

Due to the health concerns with the Covid-19 virus we have decided to cancel the upcoming Regular Board Meeting of the Ironwood Township Board set for March 23, 2020 at 5:30 pm. The next scheduled meeting will be April 13, 2020 at 5:30.

Also, the Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for March 25, 2020 is postponed until April 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm.

CDC Website for Information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html 

Western Upper Peninsula Health Department:

http://www.wupdhd.org/homepage-top-row/state-recommends-community-mitigation-strategies-to-help-slow-the-transmission-of-covid-19-in-michigan/

Posted 03/13/2020:

To minimize the spread of Coronavirus, we are limiting access to the township building. For now, we are postponing all non-emergency meetings or public gatherings.  Please note that this does NOT affect our regular scheduled bi-monthly board meetings at this time.  During this period of precaution, we will move our regular essential meetings into the township gym where social distancing is possible.  

If you have any questions, or if you are in need of resources and cannot find the means, please call Supervisor Jim Simmons at 906-932-8447.   We will do our best to assist you. 

If you are paying a bill, please drop checks off in the dropbox by the main entrance or pay by credit card on this site. If you must pay with cash please enter from the main entrance.

The Bessemer library will be offering curbside delivery of books. Give Melissa or Mary Ann a call at 906-667-0404. We encourage everyone to use our outside book drop to return all your items (even audiobooks!).

If you have any concerns for your family or loved ones, please check out the CDC website. They continue to update and publish information about what we all can do to limit the spread.

 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Thank you for your understanding!