Wakefield agrees to pursue additional utility mapping

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Wakefield — The Wakefield City Council voted Monday evening to authorize not more than $31,200 to purchase geographic information systems software from mPower Innovations in Iron Mountain.

The vote followed a slideshow presentation by Jason Brown, the company CEO.

Brown, whose company has been in business for 25 years and has customers in 34 states, said his company mission is to lower cost and complexity in relation to mapping utilities. Among his clients are about 20 towns, townships or counties in the U.P.

“A lot of people confuse GIS with just maps,” said Brown. “It’s really about tying in all of your related systems.” He mentioned billing and data systems as examples.

Another goal, he added, is to allow retrieval from various departmental systems, along with the means to share the information safely.

Brown pointed out that the city recently has set up water and storm water mapping, but added, “You have nothing in electrical.”

He said a proper mapping system would facilitate monitoring of streetlight maintenance, power outages, complaints, etc.

In a related statement to council members, City Manager Robert Brown, Jr., who said he is not related to Jason Brown, said annual auditing consistently identifies the city as lacking a fixed asset inventory.

“This software would be extremely beneficial to identify and track the city’s fixed assets like utility poles, transformers, roads, water lines, and much more. When fully deployed, it will provide our staff in the field with up-to-date mapping in the palm of their hand.”

“It’s a lot of money, but we need it,” said council member James Anderson. Other council members and the city manager agreed.

In other news, council members also heard a report from Matthew Treado, P.E., a civil engineer with U.P. Engineers and Architects, Inc. in Ishpeming.

Treado was present to report on the city’s state water management plan, as well as related funding outreach.

“One of the requirements of this water management plan is that we pursue a proactive approach,” said Treado, who added that is why his company is pursuing funding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He said he hopes to get state approval on the application within four to six weeks.

Treado reminded that some of the utility work planned will be in conjunction with state repaving of U.S. 2 in Wakefield in a couple years.

The council also:

—Voted to enact Resolution No. 269, which facilitates a “let run” policy that the council traditionally has instituted in winter months to reduce the likelihood of freezing pipes. The city then will credit the customer’s account with an agreed compensation. Customers wishing to participate in the policy are required to notify the city in advance and to agree to terms that the city will provide upon request.

—Voted to prohibit parking on city streets from 2-7 a.m., effective immediately and through April 1, 2020, to allow city workers to clear snow as needed. A fine for the first offense will be $75 with subsequent fines being $150 each. The action followed a related public hearing.

—Voted to authorize the city manager to arrange a contract with Utility Financial Solutions, LLC to provide a rate projection and study for the city’s electric service. In a statement for the council, the city manager explained that rate studies have been done for the city’s water and sewer utilities in recent years, but not for electric service.

—Voted to participate in a food drive in which local residents may drop off nonperishable food donations at the municipal building from now until Dec. 4. The donations then will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Bessemer.

—Voted to pay Eddy Park campground hosts Jim Favero and Joanne Popkowski $1,620 for their agreed reimbursement for this year’s campground revenues of $69,766. The vote also included an additional payment of $210 for their select mowing services.

—Voted to approve a schedule of 2020 meeting dates. The council typically meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

The council’s next regular meeting will be on Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the council room of the municipal building. The public is welcome.