History of This Website

The History of this Website  - by the Webmaster

This site is a successor to a site that was called Public Curiosities.  That site ceased operating because of the time constraints of its webmaster.  That webmaster then offered assistance in starting a new one, but stated he would have very little time to help in the future. 

I came into the picture when someone found out I could manage one.  I volunteered and www.ironmountainissues.org went live on August 20, 2006.  Until the Speak Up article appeared in The Daily News on Saturday, March 24, 2007, a full seven months following its start-up, this site was strictly word-of-mouth. 

My function is to screen the posts.  All manner of opinions are offered and discussed, pro and con, on a wide variety of issues.  I also received many scans of documents that people had received through from the City of Iron Mountain through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), newspaper articles and many other sources. 

Many of them were very interesting and informative.  In those cases, I created buttons and established a category for them.  My only motive for volunteering was to create a platform for discussions on issues affecting the City of Iron Mountain. 

I was amazed by the amount of information that came in, by the sophistication and knowledge of many of the writers on various issues, and especially by the number of visitors.  I never thought such a narrow purpose website would generate the numbers it has.  I have learned a great deal myself. 

It is the writers, not I, who choose what they want to write about.  Which way the pendulum will swing on any given issue is up to them.  There are so many viewers and writers that corrections on various points are common.  I do not control opinions.  I have refused to post only half a dozen or so posts since last August because they were so off the wall.  I do not correct spelling on posts.  All e-mails are discarded after posting.  They are archived by month on the site.  I am always open to suggestions for improving the site. 

No purpose is served by disclosing my identity.  The focus of the website should be on the city and the many issues that concern the voters and taxpayers, not on me.

I expect the viewer ship to continue rising as more people become aware of the site and the election season approaches.