Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — The Wakefield Township board voted Tuesday night to fund $15,000 for staff from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region to write a master plan for the township.
According to the contract, WUPPDR will prepare the following content with input from township staff and residents:
(1) Community profile of socioeconomic and demographic data, infrastructure, community facilities, utilities, natural resources, climate, recreation assets, major employers, and other assets and indicators that may be deemed appropriate.
(2) Goals, objectives and strategies.
(3) Land use plan and zoning plan (but not including any zoning ordinance content).
(4) Current and future land use maps.
(5) Location map.
(6) Map of roads/streets and water bodies.
(7) Five other maps of community characteristics using data readily available from WUPPDR’s database or other free public data sources.
The contract also states that WUPPDR will help township staff with a public opinion survey that will be administered door to door. In addition, WUPPDR will create an online survey and will distribute survey postings to the media.
WUPPDR states it will prepare the plan according to state standards and expects to submit it to the county by Sept. 30, 2020.
In other news, township supervisor John Cox told the Globe Wednesday that he requested an alternate use for $31,000 that the Gogebic County Road Commission “graciously” offered the township for graveling of roads.
“We don’t have a lot of gravel roads in the township, so I asked if we can use the money for ditching and brushing,” said Cox, who added, “They’re okay with that. In fact, they’re happy.”
Cox said the township also gained nearly $1,000 from Xcel Energy for an electrical easement on township land in relation to development at Planter and Johnson roads.
The supervisor added that each of any other property owners whose land will be used for the easement also will receive a similar payment.
“That’s kind of neat for the township to get that little bit of cash,” said Cox, who said residents also will gain from the more efficient set up of electrical lines, which he believes already are reducing outages.
Overall, Cox described the evening as “a great news meeting” and said the night also was distinguished by having, for the first time, a guest who appeared unexpectedly “for no reason.”
Cox said new Wakefield city manager Bob Brown attended the meeting. “He just wanted to see what was going on,” said Cox supervisor. “It was nice. I think he’s going to do okay.”
The board also:
—Voted to pass the new fiscal year budget after a related hearing prompted no public comments. The budget included $207,180 in estimated revenue and $259,772 in estimated expenses, with a stipulation that spending will not exceed appropriations.
—Voted to approve a new three-year contract for Melissa Prisbe to remain as the township assessor.
—Voted to approve a standard meeting time of the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. through March of 2020.
—Voted to pay the township’s prorated contribution of $1,050 to the Gogebic County Veterans Council for its work in helping local veterans.
The next regular meeting of the Wakefield Township board will be on April 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the Wakefield Township Hall. The public is welcome.
