Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MEMBERS OF the Wakefield Township board of trustees review details in relation to a Tuesday evening property tax hearing. From left, at the table, are trustee Jim Spencer, clerk Mandy Lake, supervisor John Cox, treasurer Joan Dalman and trustee Jerry Niemi.
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield - After a related public hearing that drew no comments, the Wakefield Township board of trustees voted Tuesday night to apply a 4.63 millage on township properties.
The township portion of the millage is 3.0 mills, with the remaining 1.63 mills for the county.
According to township supervisor John Cox, the 4.63 combined millage remains the same as the preceding millage, but only because local property assessor Melissa Prisbe applied a millage adjustment to compensate for what otherwise would have been a tax loss due to the state's Headlee Amendment.
The hearing specifically addressed "a proposed increase of .0845 mills in the operating tax millage to be levied in 2019."
Cox told the audience that the township was in the unusual position of seeing its total taxable value increase due to Northern Natural Gas Company now operating in the township.
Meanwhile, the Headlee Amendment, according to the Michigan Municipal League, demands that local governments reduce their millage when annual growth on existing property exceeds the rate of inflation.
The supervisor commended Prisbe, who was in the audience, for calculating the millage adjustment and for assuring that the township's Audit Minimum Assessing Compliance is in line with state requirements.
In other news, board members also approved a letter supporting efforts by Copper Peak in Ironwood to apply for grants or other sources of funds to help in restoring its facility.
"We are impressed that Copper Peak has defined a clear pathway to the successful re-introduction of world-class ski flying at Copper Peak and the regional economic development opportunities that are part and parcel of this opportunity," states the letter signed by Cox.
"We are also happy to hear that a timeline has been set so that a potential event could be held in 2020-21," Cox adds.
The letter continues, "Our board supports your mission to re-establish Copper Peak as the western hemisphere's biggest active ski jump" and commends plans to host Summer Grand Prix competitions "that will showcase our area as a global outdoor recreation destination," as well as "ignite interest in the region as a unique place to live, work and play" and "to spur business investment in the region."
Board members also:
-Voted to approve a number of appointments to various local boards, including the following members of the township planning commission: Paula Koruga, Jim Spencer, Craig Talsma, Dale Marten and Denice Laessig.
-Learned from Cox that most of the season's road repairs are complete.
The board's next regular meeting will be on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Wakefield Township Hall at 414 County Road N. 519. The public is welcome.
