Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE OLD pavilion on Sunday Lake, shown here earlier this month, may see an upgrade, thanks to a Monday vote by the Wakefield city council to fund an engineering study on both Eddy Park pavilions. Council members then hope to get grant help to fund recommended improvements.
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield - The Wakefield city council voted Monday in favor of a resolution supporting the continued operation of Marenisco's Ojibway Correctional Facility as "a housing unit for Upper Peninsula prison inmates."
The unanimous vote for Resolution No. 245 took place with no discussion after mayor John Granato read aloud its eight parts to an audience-filled room.
Michigan's Department of Corrections announced in August its plans to close OCF as of Dec. 1, but the resolution states the facility has been among the "most efficiently operated" MDOC prisons.
The resolution also claims OCF's more than 200 employees have a "very large economic impact" on Gogebic County.
The resolution then concludes that "one of the factors used to determine which facility would be closed was the distance that family (including downstate relatives) must travel to visit their loved ones at OCF," and then adds that "if one of the factors in determining the OCF closure was distance to visit inmates," then prisoners from the U.P. should be housed in the U.P.
According to the resolution, MDOC now has U.P. prison inmates within its system "scattered throughout the DOC facilities."
The resolution, which will be shared with Gov. Rick Snyder, MDOC, this region's Michigan legislators, and all U.P. counties, sums up by pointing out OCF is "a vital facility for the DOC."
Eddy Park pavilions
In other news, the council voted to hire GEI Consultants of Michigan in Iron River to evaluate the condition of both pavilions in Eddy Park.
Project manager Robb Anderson and branch manager Jeff Bal proposed the following services in a Sept. 18 letter to city manager Richard Brackney:
-Evaluate the pavilions in relation to surrounding concrete/asphalt sidewalks, concrete base structure and structural components, roofing systems, existing electrical systems and lighting, and weather protection options.
-Prepare an evaluation letter summarizing the recommended improvements or repairs, along with construction cost estimates.
-Identify and evaluate potential funding sources, such as the state Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund and Recreation Passport Grants, along with the likelihood for such grants to assist in funding the proposed projects.
"I think it's a very good proposal," said council member Pat Mann. "At least we'll know where we stand on those two buildings. It's definitely worth the money."
GEI's letter said the company will start work "immediately upon authorization" and expects to complete its study within 30 days.
