Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
SAND BAGS are being used to prevent water from flowing over the Sunday Lake spillway in Wakefield. Improvements to the spillway have been hampered due to the exceptionally wet month of August.
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council heard Monday from electric/water department working foreman John Granato that a final Xcel Energy bill has been assessed for $18,055.
Xcel’s earlier figures were based on estimates, and they had nine months for their accountants to prepare the final amount based on actual costs.
The city took over electrical services from Xcel nine months ago.
The increased cost to the average customer is about 2 cents per kilowatt hour, said Granato, and the Xcel costs will be paid off in two months.
Endeavors to repair Sunday Lake’s spillway have been delayed by the wet weather in August, said city manager John Siira. A section of the spillway was cut out, and sand bags are preventing water from flowing over.
The beautification/revitalization committee requested the city reinstate a spring clean-up program, as well as budget for weekend flower watering in the summer.
An issue in the past regarding watering on weekends is that city employees would be earning overtime for their efforts. Mayor Richard Bolen thanked the committee for its efforts, and said the flowers do make the city look nicer in the summertime.
Mayor pro-tempore Joseph DelFavero suggested that volunteer organizations such as Rotary, American Legion and the VFW be contacted to see if they would assist with weekend watering.
Siira said other cities with spring clean-ups have it written into their waste management contracts, while Wakefield uses city employees. Last time the clean-up was held, it cost about $4,000, he said.
The council passed a resolution to support the promotion of a southern Upper Peninsula route for the governor’s proposed Belle Isle to Ironwood multi-use trail. The southern route would boost the city economically, said Siira.
A property at 1216 Anderson Ave. is up for sale in the Sept. 23 county auction. Neil Londo, a neighbor and prospective buyer of the property, asked that if he obtains the property that the delinquent utilities and taxes be forgiven.
Siira said 2013 summer taxes and future taxes cannot be waived. Wakefield will lose their lien on the property of $1,450 for back taxes at auction, as the city will be billed by Gogebic County.
