Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Wakefield — The Wakefield City Council voted on Monday evening against retaining the traffic light at its main street intersection.
During this year, the Michigan Department of Transportation had converted the stoplight to a flashing light and four-way stop, but it now intends to remove the stoplight next week.
“A detailed study evaluating the safety and operational performance of this intersection has been completed, and it was determined the intersection does not warrant a traffic signal,” said MDOT in a Tuesday press release.
City manager Robert Brown Jr., who responded to the news by phone that evening, said that MDOT had given the city the option to retain the traffic control device.
However, as he explained in an agenda item to council members, it would be at the cost of “full financial and operational responsibility,” which he estimated could run from $500,000 to $750,000 to replace related infrastructure — regarded as a necessary step due to being what he termed an aging “safety hazard.”
He added that the light also would require $3,000 to $6,000 per year to operate.
Hence, Brown advised the council against that expense and told The Globe that the city has better ways to spend such funds.
MDOT warned in its press release that motorists should expect delays at the intersection of Sunday Lake Street/M-28 and U.S. 2 when the removal process begins on Tuesday at 7 a.m.
“This work will require closing the intersection intermittently, along with lane closures and traffic regulators,” said the press release, which added that the Michigan State Police will assist with traffic control.
“Motorists should use appropriate caution while driving through the intersection,” said the release.
Dismantling of the traffic light will occur during daylight hours and is expected to end by Dec. 18.
Brown said MDOT also will replace metal utility poles with wooden utility poles and will install additional stop signs — specifically, two stop signs on all four sides of the intersection — one sign to the left and one to the right at each stop zone to make the directives “more visible.”
MDOT concluded in its press release that it will continue working with “local safety partners to monitor the intersection prior to a planned U.S. 2 rebuilding project in the area.”
According to Brown, council members also took the following action:
— Approved funding an additional $31,000 in expenses to maintain health insurance for city employees in 2025. Brown said the action will mean employees have no added premium cost.
— Approved a resolution updating the city’s poverty exemption guidelines.
— Approved 2025 meeting dates for the council.
— Heard first readings of a Cross Connections Amending Ordinance, relating to the city’s water distribution system, and a Municipal Infraction Amending Ordinance, which pertains to civil violations.
The council also learned from Brown that a dog park — in a site yet undetermined in Eddy Park — may be constructed in full in 2025 with $103,000 from a recreational passport grant approved by the state Department of Natural Resources. Brown said the grant requires a 20% city match.
He said the city also has a vacancy on its Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and that the council hopes to have a new member installed by January.
The council’s next regular meeting will be on Dec. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chamber of the municipal building. It will include a public hearing on the city’s pending recreation plan, on which the council then will vote. The plan can be reviewed on the city’s website or in the municipal building.
