Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Wakefield municipal building ready for sports practice

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - The Wakefield city council voted Monday to adopt temporary rules regarding the use of its newly remodeled community room.

In the past 10 months, a local initiative called 4 the Kids solicited donations and held fundraisers to collect about $20,000 to replace the community room floor with a sports-friendly surface, so that younger kids from the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School would have a place to practice when older kids were using the school gym.

Now that the new floor is installed, council members agreed upon a set of rules to protect the city building as it faces increasing public use.

According to city manager Richard Brackney, the rules include, a maintenance check-off list, no beverages except water in the gym area, and no student access to the area beyond the gym and public bathrooms.

In addition, he said, "This is not a recreation facility." As a result, he said city officials will not supervise students using the facility, which means the presence of other adults such as school officials will be an essential requirement among the rules.

Nevertheless, he was optimistic about the new arrangements. "We've been renting the hall out since we've been here," said Brackney, assuring there never have been any problems.

As a precaution, he added, he will purchase additional gating to use as protection for the office area until it is remodeled, after which it will include a more sophisticated barrier.

At the same meeting, council members also voted to pay $15,325 to Nasi Construction, LLC of Hurley in relation to its plans to replace the existing wall between the entrance hall and the main office, and to reconstruct a new service counter while also addressing related concerns.

Brackney said the council can vote on permanent rules when it meets next on Jan. 14, 2019.

In other news, Sherri Graham, executive director of the Wakefield Housing Commission, responded to the city's announcement at a previous meeting that it would repay about $31,000 to the Housing Commission for overages it attributed to software billing errors.

Graham said the actual amount due to the state Department of Housing and Urban Development was $83,459, but her attorney was unable to negotiate the full repayment from the city because of a six-year statute of limitations via case law.

As a result, she said, the commission now must pay the uncovered balance of about $52,000.

The council also:

-Agreed with mayor John Granato to schedule a work session in January regarding the need to increase outreach in the solicitation of a new city manager, as recruitment so far has been unsuccessful in attracting qualified candidates. Brackney is retiring in the spring of 2019.

-Voted to pass an amendment to a code regarding delinquent utility bills after a public hearing drew no comments. The new ruling will allow, in part, any customer disputing a utility bill the right to a related public hearing.

-Voted to replace a pump in the main lift station at a cost of $14,277.72 while also learning that a replacement pump has been ordered at a cost of $2,578 for the Verona pump station.

-In response to an annual review, voted to increase the wages of city office personnel by 30 cents per hour.

-Voted to increase the hours of utility clerk Patty Sperhake from part time to full time, with commendations from city officials for her "excellent" work.

-Learned from Brackney that county treasurer Lisa Hewitt reported no success in an attempted tax sale of two lots on Bedell Avenue and old U.S. 2. Brackney said both lots now will be deeded to the city.

-Learned that citizens may donate food items to the Eat Smart Knapsacks program, which helps to supply children with nutritious, easily prepared food during winter and spring breaks. Donations may be made at the MSU Extension Office at 500 N. Moore St. in Bessemer. Call 906-663-4045 for more information.

City offices will be closed on Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for staff meetings and an employee holiday lunch.

A blood drive will take place on Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the municipal building.

City offices will be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 to observe the Christmas holiday and on Jan. 1 to observe New Year's Day.

Garbage collection normally scheduled for Dec. 25 will be done on Dec. 26 instead, and that for Jan. 1 will be done on Jan. 2.

The next city council meeting will be held on Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the municipal building. The planning commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. on the same day in the same location.

 
 
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