School summer tax collection to continue

WAKEFIELD - The Wakefield city council discussed the Wakefield-Marensico School District summer tax collection at its meeting Monday evening.

The council agreed to continue collecting summer taxes for the school and will keep 1 percent of the taxes levied as payment for collection.

The council also approved a $10,000 advance payment to the Gogebic Range Solid Waste Management Authority. The GRSWMA has a short fall and is asking authority members to contribute, said city manager John Siira.

The $10,000 payment is equal to approximately a month's cost of waste disposal for the city, according to Siira. The payment "will be considered an advance to future disposal costs."

"I would hope when this is all done, someone watches the numbers a little bit better," said council member Richard Bolen.

The GRSWA will begin a new service contract with Hiawatha Shores Recycling and Disposal on May 1 that will save the city $27.25 per ton, said Siira.

The council also rejected its purchase of a single axle dump truck from Anthony Trolla of Hurley.

"It works fine spreading salt, but it doesn't work well for the sand situation," said mayor Les Schneck.

It supported the mayor's appointment of Bella Schroeder to the library board as a replacement for Eugene Maki. Her term will expire on Jan. 31, 2019.

The council permitted the Regional Hospice Services to use the Sunday Lake park for its eighth annual Polar Plunge event on March 29.

It adopted Ordinance 215, which repeals the city code saying no person shall beg in any public place.

The next meeting will be held Feb. 10.