Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Wakefield officials learn of MDOT's proposed U.S. 2 plans

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Wakefield — The Wakefield city council learned Monday that the Michigan Department of Transportation has scheduled a “rehabilitation” of U.S. 2 in Wakefield within its 2021-22 program.

Wakefield City Manager Richard Brackney said the targeted area of the highway runs from Eddy to Pierce streets and said MDOT will be studying curbing and gutter work.

“They’re looking to limit the egress to U.S. 2,” said Brackney to the city’s planning commission, which met directly before the council. He added that the aim is to keep people and cars from entering the highway in a “helter-skelter” fashion.

Brackney said MDOT intends to start preliminary drawings in 2019 and added, “We will not be talking about lanes.”

Brackney suggested city officials consider U.S. 2 traffic flow, as well as how any utility work could be coordinated within MDOT’s “frame of reconstruction.”

The council also:

—Voted to purchase a new front-end loader at a cost of $211,678 from the city’s motor pool fund.

—Heard from volunteer fire chief Mike Yon that he will be requesting a leave of absence for approximately one year due to having to transfer to Sault Ste. Marie on his full-time job as of Dec. 1. Yon expects an existing volunteer staff member to act as chief in his absence. He also reported that his staff has done a controlled burn of a structure at 1404 E. Pierce St., which is city property.

—Voted to schedule a public hearing in relation to a proposed amendment to a code regarding delinquent utility accounts. Mayor John Granato said the first reading in relation to that will occur at the council’s next meeting. The amendment allows, in part, that a customer disputing a utility bill shall have a right to a hearing.

—Voted to authorize city clerk Sue Ahonen to check the 2018 ticket count for Eddy Park Campground and to pay camp hosts Jim Favero and Joanne Popkowski $1 per ticket as per the current contract. Members first voted to reconsider the issue of compensation when they acknowledged that a $1,000 bonus they committed to the hosts at a previous meeting could not be enacted due to contract stipulations. They agreed to have a work session to discuss how to increase camp hosting compensation for the 2019 year.

—Voted to accept recommendations from the council committee on street names, which include changing the name of Wakefield’s Hill Road to Saari Road.

—Heard from Brackney that Robert Linn has offered the city a Christmas tree for display next to the Wakefield Visitors and Information Center by Sunday Lake. Brackney expects the tree to be erected and decorated next week, during which time the city crew also is expected to install holiday decorations on utility poles.

—Heard from Brackney that the city will participate in the WLUC-TV 6 holiday Can-A-Thon from now until Dec. 5.

—Heard from Brackney that the state Department of Health and Human Services has presented the city with a State Water Fluoridation Quality Award in relation to Wakefield’s continuing practice of adding fluoride to city water.

—Heard from Brackney that the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team sent an Oct. 17 letter requesting a financial donation for operational costs not including salaries of UPSET members, which are paid by the facility by which they are employed. Brackney said the letter is available in the municipal building for anyone wishing to read it.

—Voted to go into closed session to discuss city union negotiations at the end of the meeting.

The council will meet next on Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers of the municipal building.

City offices will be closed on Nov. 22 and 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

 
 
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