Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
TWO YOUNG MEN practice offering a survey to Wakefield Township supervisor John Cox, center, before they go on a door-to-door canvass of other residents on Thursday. The survey is designed to collect data in preparation for the township's new master plan. At left is Niko Hewitt with Austin Ahonen at right. The guys will continue their pursuit throughout this month.
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield - Wakefield Township residents with opinions about how best to move the area forward can now share them via a door-to-door survey this month.
The township has hired two young men, Austin Ahonen and Niko Hewitt, to conduct the survey as a means to gather data for its new master plan.
Thursday was their first day to begin knocking on doors, said township supervisor John Cox, adding the boys will work as a team.
Cox said that township board members began with a template from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region, based in Hancock, and then modified that to meet local survey needs. The township hired WUPPDR to prepare its master plan.
"There are two questions that the board really wanted in here," said Cox while reviewing the survey. "What is the township doing right, and what are we doing wrong?"
He said residents will be welcome to comment on any of the township's contracts with the Wakefield Public Library, Lakeside Cemetery, and Wakefield parks.
Residents also may share opinions on potential development. For instance, asked Cox, "Are there any opportunities for development that the township is missing?"
He said the township will be interested in opinions about solar power, mining, and whether a potential casino is regarded as a strength or a weakness.
Cox added that residents also may speculate on what they believe are the township's "biggest impediments" to development, with choices including an aging or declining population, deterioration of roads, insufficient broadband or cellular service, blight or vacant properties, or other reasons such as the challenging winter climate.
Residents also will be asked to state their internet provider, the speed of their service, and whether they have a choice of any alternate service.
"They don't have to answer every one of these questions," said Cox of the entire survey, which he assured is optional and confidential and will not include queries about income.
Cox believes the boys may be able to collect about 100 surveys by the end of the month. He said the current township population is about 300.
If nobody is available to survey at a designated address, the boys will visit the site a second time on another day, said Cox.
If nobody is available the second time, they will leave a hard copy of the survey for the resident to fill out on his or her own. In that event, Cox said, the resident will be responsible for returning the survey to the township hall.
"Or, they can do it online, too, off of our website," said Cox.
Once all surveys are in at the end of July, the township board then will review the results before WUPPDR processes them in preparation for the new master plan, which is expected to be complete in about a year.
