Wakefield City Council audience applauds Highland plans

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Wakefield - A presentation by Highland Copper Company, Inc. at Tuesday's Wakefield City Council meeting concluded with rousing applause from an audience of more than two dozen residents.

Sylvain Collard, Highland's general manager, offered a slide show while explaining the company's Copperwood timeline in Wakefield Township aims for construction to begin later this year, followed by operation starting in 2021.

"There is a lot of potential," said Collard regarding Copperwood.

Under questioning from Mayor John Granato, he said the company's water intake plans from Lake Superior have been reviewed by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

"Right now, there are no red flags," he said.

Wakefield Planning Commission member Kay Manson, in the audience, asked about employment potential.

Collard said the company expects to hire up from 300 to 400 people during construction and about the same number for continuing operations. He said the company plans to hire locally.

In response to council member Pat Mann's inquiries about transportation, Collard said ore will be transported both by truck and rail.

He said Highland has "strong, supportive shareholders," as well as long-term interests that include additional mining plans in White Pine and the Marquette area.

After the meeting, city manager Richard Brackney said he sees the Copperwood operation giving "people in Wakefield an opportunity to stay in Wakefield and earn a living."

Brackney said his immediate interest is in potential for "ancillary services" to serve mine workers.

He said such services could include food, housing, supplies and other support services during the more than a dozen years Copperwood may operate.

In other news, the council heard inquiries from the audience regarding how electric rates are calculated and whether the current system is equitable.

Neil Londo, of Wakefield, asked specifically whether actual "theft of services" is occurring in relation to any city electric meters.

"I'm not aware of any," said Brackney.

Under further questioning from the audience, Granato said current electric expenses are not running at a deficit and that related records are available to the public at city hall.

City officials said additional information regarding the electrical rates, including details regarding "on-peak" and "off-peak" costs, will be shared at a May 29 city council meeting at 5:30 p.m. That meeting will include a public hearing on electric rates.

Granato emphasized the hearing is not scheduled with the expectation of raising rates. Rather, he said, "The hearing will be held to determine whether we need to raise rates."

After the meeting, Brackney clarified another audience inquiry regarding confidentiality of electric rates. He said the consumer electric rate is public information, but the wholesale rate is not public without first addressing legal concerns.

In other action, the council:

-Voted, on the recommendation of architect John Larson, to accept the lowest bid of $36,335 from Nasi Construction, Hurley, for construction of a fireproof room made possible by reducing the size of the city manager's office (the vote included consideration of an additional $1,200 in savings through a window brand trade.)

-Approved scheduling of a site evaluation for the deck next to the Wakefield Visitors and Information Bureau, so that specific remediation and related funds then can be sought.

-Voted to seek professional services to resolve ongoing problems with the city's main sewer lift station after the spring thaw.

-Tabled action on a two-year contract with building inspector Donald Saari until the contract can be updated.

-Voted to amend dates and figures on new two-year contract with city assessor Melissa Prisbe, whom council member Mann commended for "excellent" work.

-Approved a two-year contract to provide fire, library, cemetery, park and street services for Wakefield Township, including additional charges of $900 for 2018-'19 and $1,200 for 2019-'20.

-Approved Department of Natural Resources trail-related water management, at no cost to the city.

-Waived the fee for Eddy Park pavilion use by the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District on June 7.

-Heard Brackney's report that the city's new website may be ready in about another month, and that interested parties may request to receive city meeting minutes by email until then.

-Learned all city water meters have been updated.

-Heard complaints from the audience regarding problems with street names, followed by Brackney's assurance that a related committee will address those concerns.

The city calendar includes the following items:

-The Wakefield-Marenisco Annual Craft Fair will be on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School gym.

-A workshop to discuss the 2018-'19 budget will take place on April 30 at 10 a.m. Succession policies, in the event of the city manager's absence, also will be discussed.

-The next city council meeting will be on May 14 at 5:30 p.m.

-The next planning commission meeting also will be on May 14 at 4:30 p.m.

-A citywide cleanup will take place on May 18-19. Friday hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday hours will be 8 a.m. to noon. Persons wishing to volunteer may call Brackney at the city hall.