Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP Supervisor John Cox, on the left, hands Barry Bolich an award for his many years of service and donations to the township.
By IAN MINIELLY
Wakefield TOWNSHIP - Wakefield Township recognized two outstanding citizens at its board meeting Tuesday evening.
Barry Bolich, former manager at Indianhead Mountain, was recognized for his long-term service to the township as manager at Indianhead and more specifically for his service on the Gogebic Range Water Authority board.
Supervisor John Cox said the township maintained a "Bolich Fund," which paid for beverages and plaques and such things not authorized to come out of the general fund.
Bolich, instead of cashing the money the township paid him over the years for attending meetings, would turn around and give the money right back to the township. That allowed the township to do many things they otherwise would not have budgeted funds to do. Cox said he was very impressed with Bolich over the years.
George Dalbeck received an award for opening a new business in the township, hiring 20 people and demolishing blighted properties for free, saving the township thousands of dollars. Cox said Dalbeck missed the meeting and did not want any press for being a business owner and longtime resident.
Cox ordered 15 new "Welcome to Wakefield Township" signs to be placed at all the access points into the township's 179 square miles. Bordering Marenisco Township, Wakefield and Ironwood Township made it challenging for Cox to identify who owns what property where the signs are going, but this was one of the focus points in his supervisor's report.
Spring Cleanup dates are May 18-19 at the Western U.P. Recycling Center. One board member has signed up to volunteer at the event and Cox said he would probably use Austin Ahonen, a summer employee, as well. Cox said Ahonen is a hard worker.
Cox is planning a blight inspection tour soon to look at buildings, but the primary focus will be to check for abandoned cars and things that could be dealt with for free during spring cleanup. Cox said the township does not qualify for grants to tear down blighted structures, but it may have the fire department conduct some practice burns on blighted residences to save money and give the department practice.
Cox said the township agreed to accept $2,283 from the Western Upper Peninsula Trail Association. The plan will involve using that money at a trailhead and since the township does not have a trailhead of its own, it may work with the city of Wakefield on a proposed trailhead across from the Wakefield Fire Department. Stipulations require a plaque be installed, but Cox thought it might also use the funds to create a picnic area at the site of the future trailhead.
The township is placing a three-mill tax on the August ballot. The requested millage amount is the same as it was four years ago, but is actually expected to bring in $30,000 less in revenue.
The millage will finance public services as authorized by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and other laws. The three-mill tax is expected to bring in $73,699 in the first year and it will be levied between 2019-22 for general township purposes.
