DON’T EXPECT THE long-anticipated ownership change at the Wild Rover to happen anytime soon.
Bill Digneit (of Double Trouble DJ’s fame) is one of the partners in the purchase, and he says the closing on the bar/restaurant has been delayed. He figures the deal will close within 60 days. No later than the end of the year.
Rumors that the deal had fallen apart? Absolutely not true, he says. It’s just that they have to sort through some financial complications, things like debts, liens, etc.
We’ll see. Deals have sometimes collapsed because of such “complications.”
But let’s be optimistic. Bill and his partners have a name for the new restaurant/bar, though they aren’t disclosing it yet. Some cosmetic changes inside and outside. A full restaurant and bar with an emphasis on live events–bands and other types of entertainment.
Open seven days a week.
Digneit promises that the new place will add vibrancy to downtown.
Now, if we could just get by those teensy, weensy, little complications.
———————————————————-
THE CONTRACT TALKS in Pittsburgh between the Steelworkers Union and steel manufacturing companies don’t look especially promising.
ArcelorMittal, one of the companies involved, unilaterally walked away from the talks over the weekend, according to the union. Meanwhile, U.S. Steel and its union counterparts decided to take a “break” after limited progress in their talks.
And the Cliffs negotiations? Well, they’re still continuing at last word, with no sign from either side as to whether progress is being made.
The problem is, the Cliffs contracts generally mirror what’s negotiated with the other two companies. If ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steel are having trouble reaching agreement with their unions, you gotta figure Cliffs management and its unions will face the same issues.
The steel companies, of course, say they need concessions because of the worldwide decline in steel prices. The unions–from what we’ve been told–are saying the companies are demanding concessions in health care, vacation pay, incentive pay, sickness and accident benefits, and transfer rights. Way too much.
The Cliffs contracts for Empire and Tilden mines run out at 12:01 a.m. on October 1st.
It doesn’t need saying (but we’ll do it anyway): The two mines, with well over 1000 employees, are a huge part of the Marquette County economy.
—————————————————-
A WARM SEPTEMBER, a serious cooling off in October, and a relatively warm and dry winter. That’s what meteorologist Karl Bohnak sees ahead for us.
October 11th is the average day for the first measurable snowfall at the National Weather Service in Negaunee, and Bohnak says that sounds just about right for this year.
But the El Niño phenomenon–a warming of the waters in the central and eastern Pacific–will likely mean we’ll see warmer temperatures and less snow from December through March. Most of us, though not all, will applaud.
The last El Niño occurred in 2009-2010. This one is shaping up to be stronger.
And what about the rising water levels on Lake Superior that have cut into the dunes and shrunk the beaches? That, according to Bohnak, is mostly the result of heavy precipitation last year, along with heavy ice cover on the lake this last winter that reduced evaporation.
He sees lake levels lowering in the months ahead.
So maybe we’ll have broad, expansive beaches and warm, sunny skies during this El Niño winter? Uhh, no.
———————————————————
ALMOST TWO WEEKS after City Manager Bill Vajda submitted his resignation, it’s still not entirely clear why he quit.
Vajda, himself, is not answering any inquiries about it.
The best explanation, as provided by those he worked with, is that he was just growing weary with the job, he wasn’t enjoying it anymore, and he felt he had accomplished what he had set out to do five years ago when he first took the job.
The fact is, with the hospital relocation on track, a tight budget in place, and a promising Smartzone taking shape in the city, Marquette seems to be well set for the future. Vajda was a large part of that and he was strongly supported by a majority of the commissioners.
He had initially expressed thoughts about resigning a month ago, but his colleagues suggested he take some time off to “recharge” his energy. He did take that week off–his first actual vacation in five years–and returned to his job, gave it some more thought but then finally said “No mas” five days later. He had not been able to recharge.
Where to now? Only he knows.
He had previously applied for the county administrator’s job in Grand Traverse County but has since withdrawn his application. One of his associates suggested that he probably realized the Grand Traverse job would be more of the same–constant and conflicting pressures from elected and appointed officials, criticism from constituents, and an enormous workload.
And by most accounts, Grand Traverse is more dysfunctional than Marquette.
Could Vajda, a homeboy with an impressive skill set, find other, more satisfying employment here in Marquette? He says he loves the area. Just hard to imagine what that next job might be.
———————————————————-
ONE OF MARQUETTE’S oldest gyms is closing down on November 1st.
Tourville North is shutting down the facility because of chronic piping problems with its swimming pool which was built back in the ’70s.
Owner Tom Tourville is making a more than generous offer to the gym’s members, though–a refund and a free one year membership at the gym at the Tourville West complex.
Tourville West has a much bigger gym and locker room.
It might be a tough transition for some of the older members at Tourville West, but 40-year-old swimming pools have generally run their course, and the only other alternative–blowing up the pool and starting over again–would have been cost-prohibitive.
————————————————————–
REASON #37 WHY we live in the UP:
1:06 pm…Reporter, full of dread, ventures into the Secretary of State’s office in Marquette to get his car registration updated, his driver’s license renewed, and his voting location changed. He had some questions that couldn’t be resolved online.
Nightmares of previous such visits in cities and suburbs fill his head. Long lines, numerous delays, scowling officials.
1:11 pm…Reporter has his number called!
1:14 pm…After answering a series of questions from a pleasant and efficient young lady behind the counter, reporter has his photograph taken. (Okay, so the photo wasn’t so great.)
1:15 pm…A few more questions, a quick and easy exchange of money for the fees.
1:17 pm…Reporter, his mission accomplished, exits the Secretary of State’s office, feeling sorry for those poor saps living in the sophisticated, congested cities and towns to our south, east and west.
Question of the day: Could Marquette show some leadership and a generous spirit by offering to re-settle a limited number of the refugees who are now fleeing to Europe?
You got news? Click Here to email Brian.