Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WAKEFIELD RESIDENTS filled room at Monday evening's City Council meeting. Many of them were interested in the council's vote to raise rates at the Eddy Park Campground.
By P.J. GLISSON
WAKEFIELD - At Monday evening's Wakefield City Council meeting, members voted to raise all but seasonal rates at the Eddy Park Campground, as recommended by the planning commission.
For premium sites - which include water and electricity - daily rates will rise $5, from $30 to $35, and monthly rates will rise $25, from $325 to $350. For tent sites, daily rates will rise $2, from $10 to $12, and monthly rates will rise $15, from $145 to $160.
All sites will see hikes in daily, weekly and monthly rates. Seasonal rates, however, will be reduced from $1,100 to $1,000 for all sites.
Regarding the hikes, camp hostess Joanne Popkowski said, "I know for the locals it's hard, but for traveling people in big rigs, we're cheap." She said one camper told her that Wakefield's campground is the cheapest one he'd ever used.
Mayor Joe DelFavero agreed, saying that if other campgrounds appears to offer lower rates, it is only because they result in charging more overall for individual amenities.
The mayor added that the $5,500-$6,000 in income expected from the hikes is "not set in cement - it's fluid," depending on the number of campers who use the park.
From the audience, former Council Member Bob Blaskowski questioned the amount of money to be gained from what City Manager Richard Brackney called a "modest" hike. "I mean five grand, for all the work we gotta do over there," said Blaskowski, shaking his head.
"I think we definitely should review them (the rates) every year," said Council Member Patricia Mann. Brackney agreed, adding, "If we want to enhance what we have, it takes some money to do it."
Popkowski also proposed creating a campground committee to work on campground issues, including activities. The mayor suggested one city council member, one city planning commission member, the park caretaker, and two members at large.
Council Member John Granato, with Mann seconding, motioned to raise the hikes. Granato also motioned with Council Member Amy Tarro seconding, to create the campground committee. Both motions passed unanimously.
