Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — Members of the Wakefield Township Board of Trustees voted on Tuesday evening to schedule a public hearing on the next fiscal year budget at the start of their next regular meeting on March 3 at 5:30 p.m.
No budget draft is yet available, but Township Supervisor John Cox said that more details will be shared during the hearing, after which refinements will be made in accordance with input.
“It’s an important public hearing,” said Cox in a Wednesday phone call. He added that it not only sets the budget for the next year, but also the goals.
He said the board then will vote on the budget during the meeting, which will take place directly after the hearing.
In other news, Cox reported that the township’s master plan will be issued soon for a 30-day public review, after which the township’s Planning Commission will vote to send it to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
He said he hopes the entire process will be completed by August.
“It’s really an outstanding document,” said Cox, who added that it will serve as a thorough resource covering “just about every question” that anyone might have about Wakefield.
When the plan has been approved in full, Cox said that it will be placed on the township’s website, where it will be readily available for anyone considering a move to the area or the start of a business or industry.
The board also:
—Heard a presentation on a pending 911 surcharge from Heidi DeRosso, Emergency Services coordinator for Gogebic County.
—Voted to accept budget amendments that included $1,800 in costs for the March 10 township election, which will include the pending 911 surcharge and the national presidential primary.
—Heard from Cox that the township is still awaiting results from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy regarding water testing done last October in the area of Bingo’s Hotel on Hwy. M-28.
Cox said that he also referred some residential pothole complaints to the Gogebic County Road Commission on Wednesday.
A Board of Review organizational meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m., prior to the Board of Trustees session.
No action will occur at the BoR meeting.