Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
NEWLY-ELECTED Wakefield city council member James Anderson smiles while talking with a constituent after his first council meeting Monday.
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield - Drivers on both M-28 and U.S. 2 will enjoy a view of this year's city of Wakefield Christmas tree, thanks to a unanimous Monday vote by city council members to place it next to the Wakefield Visitors and Information Center on Sunday Lake.
The decision was recommended by the Wakefield Planning Commission at its Nov. 6 meeting.
Planning commission members had discussed two other locations next to the municipal building or next to First National Bank on Sunday Lake Street.
Commission and council members agreed that the lake location would be best for optimal viewing. They also agreed that placement of the tree should not obstruct the veterans' memorial to the right of the information center.
Planning commission member Bethany Anderson, who works at First National Bank, also had reported at the commission meeting that the bank may set up its own tree, anyway, which would add to holiday cheer on the main street.
Monday's council meeting also resulted in a unanimous vote to grant council member Amy Tarro, who was voted mayor pro tempore, permission to prepare a holiday meal for city employees.
"Last year, I put on a holiday dinner for the city employees, and the ones who attended seemed to appreciate it," she said, adding the meal was a way to show appreciation "for all they do."
City manager Richard Brackney said the city cannot fund such an expense, but that individual board members or other parties may contribute to the cost that Tarro said she was willing to shoulder herself.
The holiday meal will take place on Dec. 15 and will be limited to employees' regular break time.
Although the city of Wakefield typically has given employees a holiday gift in the way of additional funds, council members voted unanimously to remove the issuing of the gift from the agenda because of legal conflicts.
"The money you have is public money," said city attorney Ray O'Dea, explaining the council is not allowed to provide anything beyond standard wages to city employees.
Holiday news ended on a higher note with the council's unanimous vote to continue participating in WLUC TV-6's Can-a-Thon.
As part of this goodwill gesture, community members may drop donations of non-perishable foods at the municipal building until Dec. 6, for delivery to the Bessemer St. Vincent de Paul location.
The council voted unanimously to authorize Brackney to use additional funds for the repair of one of the city's Vactor trucks, used for water and sewer maintenance. The repair is estimated to cost roughly $5,000, or about $2,000 beyond the original limit set.
Brackney said the city's second Vactor truck is non-functional due to needing even more expensive repairs.
James Anderson, voted in as a new council member as a write-in candidate in the Nov. 7 election, asked whether parts of one truck could be used in the other truck, but Brackney said that was not possible.
Council member John Granato, who was voted in as mayor during the same meeting, said the Vactor truck needing the most expensive repair garnered only "scrap prices" when it was put up for sale.
Council members remained uncertain as to what to do with that vehicle.
In other action, the council also voted to:
-Accept the determination of the Gogebic County Clerk's office that a canvass of votes taken at the Nov. 7 elections revealed no discrepancies.
-Grant the preparation of a deed for a piece of property on Bedell Avenue that adjoining property owner Kyle Ellison, 600 Ahola Ave., purchased via auction for $501.
-Accept Anderson's assignment to take over local committee vacancies once held by departed member Joe DelFavero.
-Continue using the First National Bank of Wakefield, the Gogebic Range Bank in Bessemer, and Wells Fargo in Ironwood as depositories for city funds.
-Authorize Brackney to sign a letter of support for a 2018 Western Upper Peninsula Regional Prosperity Initiative resolution.
-Pay the $450 cost of advertising in the Gogebic County plat book.
-Continue using the Wakefield News/Bessemer Pick & Axe as the city's newspaper of record.
City offices will be closed on Nov. 23 and 24 in observance of Thanksgiving.
The city council will meet next on Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the municipal building chambers.
