Wakefield council looks for reduced garbage rate

WAKEFIELD - The Wakefield City Council heard updates on the Gogebic Range Solid Waste Management Authority, city blight properties and budget considerations, as well as made a final decision on a contract with the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department at a busy meeting Monday evening in front of a packed room.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the tonnage rates the authority has been charging. The city is charged $120 per ton for solid waste at the transfer station.

John Cox, Wakefield Township supervisor, said Waste Management quoted a rate of $78 per ton in Ashland, Wis.

Bessemer has moved to leave the authority. Bessemer city representatives and attorneys met with the authority to discuss Bessemer's decision and were offered a rate of $62 per ton to return.

In the wake of Wakefield's recent loss in its largest commercial contract and the announcement that the Wakefield-Marenisco school board will seek other bids, City Manager Margot Anderson asked the authority for a $98 per ton rate for the city.

Anderson has not received a reply, although a regular authority meeting has not taken place since.

Wakefield cannot continue to pay $42 per ton more than the market rate and $58 per ton more than their neighbors in Bessemer, said Anderson.

"The fact that they would offer Bessemer a lower rate when I asked for a $17,000 relief at the $98 rate and haven't gotten a response, tells me that they don't care too much for the member that's still in the authority," said Anderson. "I would love to see some love come back to Wakefield, who is still a member and trying to make it work."

Budget proposal

A first draft of the 2015-16 budget proposal was presented to the council and Anderson highlighted some of the improvements that have been budgeted.

The city plans to pay for the Wakefield Municipal building in cash and has budgeted $10,000 for improvements.

There is $5,000 budgeted for improvements to Eddy Park, $40,000 for the Old U.S. 2 re-paving project, $10,000 for LED street lights and numerous other items including purchasing back-up generators and a snow blower.

A city-wide blight inspection took place April 29. Letters were sent to offenders and Anderson said there was a positive response.

Council member Bob Blaskowski presented a report on properties that he felt need attention.

Anderson offered the council a construct for 5-, 10-, and 20-year plans to deal with blight.

Sheriff's contract

The council approved the renewal of the contract for one year following a lengthy discussion.

Discussion points included the length of the contract, the city's current budget situation, what the community members would like to see, as well as getting more detailed reports from the sheriff's department.

Sheriff Pete Matonich was present for Monday's meeting.

The discussion was quite heated with strong opinions for and against renewing an existing contract for three years.

"I think we have some tough considerations in this budget," council member Dick Bolen said. "We're going to have to make some hard choices. I hope we don't make a decision from the hip and then live to regret it."

In other action

A few other agenda items included the approval of Chris Tweiten's Life Skills class at the Wakefield-Marenisco school using the Eddy Park tennis court for a skate park, $750 approved for the Fourth of July fireworks and the support from the council for five to 10 inmates from the Ojibway Correctional Facility to join a clean up project at Sunday Lake.

Community members ex-pressed their concerns with the upcoming Lumberjack Festival.

Anderson said the idea behind the festival is to attract visitors and hopefully become an annual fundraiser for the library. "We're trying to grow something here and re-establish our identity and brand."

Bolen added, "It's a celebration of this town. Make this something positive for our town, where people want to come visit."

The next city council meeting is re-scheduled to May 26 in observance of Memorial Day.