Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — At their regular meeting on Tuesday evening, members of the Wakefield Planning Commission reviewed a revised draft of the city’s pending recreation plan after incorporating input from a recent community event at which additional public opinions were collected.
“You’ve done a terrific job on this,” said commission member Marsha Vestich to City Manager Rob Brown.
Brown provided highlights of the changes that he had added since the interactive public input session took place on April 22. A separate, prior survey also occurred.
“If it was in the survey and it scored well, it’s in here,” said Brown as he guided commission members through the highlights.
“A Farmer’s Market was the first pick of what people want to see in Wakefield,” said the city manager, adding that he expects one to be set up on the southwest side of Sunday Lake, next to U.S. 2.
He said other items of high interest include the creation of a dog park and the development of “Music in the Park” events.
According to Brown, city residents also want to see the old pavilion restored in Eddy Park, as well as the addition of a splash pad on the north side of the lake. They also support restoration of the pier holding the town’s famous statue known as Nee-Gaw-Nee-Gaw-Bow.
In addition, Brown said 83% of the people who provided input said they’d like to see an ice rink created across from the Fire Hall on Sunday Lake Road. Since a motorized trail already stems from there, and a nonmotorized trail is expected in the future, Brown said a more developed trailhead also is desired in the same spot.
The city manager explained that the area known as Section 10, which once featured mining activity, also has been included in the plan without committing the city to any activity there.
“We kept it in the natural resource inventory,” he said of the 237-acre site, of which 40 acres are on a three-year lease to the Split Rock Trail Association.
Regarding Section 10 overall, Brown said the city likely will seek expert planning advice regarding how the land can be best utilized.
Although the recreation plan still remains in draft form, commission members were impressed by the results already. “This is gorgeous,” said Vice-Chair Tara Hamilton, who ran the meeting in the absence of Chair Karen Manson.
“We’re on the move,” said Mayor Dale White.
Brown also offered more good news in the way of city work soon to be enacted. “The boardwalk will be leveled this spring,” he said of the path next to Sunday Lake. He also added that a waterproof repair will be applied to the lights illuminating the boardwalk, which were not reliable last year.
Finally, Brown said that the city also plans to repair lighting on the “Welcome” sign that is a familiar part of the old pavilion.
After the meeting, White added that the sign, which he described as “iconic,” has not been lit for at least 30 years, although he added that spotlights have been used to keep it visible.
After commission members review the plan more closely on their own, they will meet again for a special meeting on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to address any further changes to the plan. They then will schedule a related public hearing.
In other business, the commission also voted to set a public hearing on April 14 at 5:30 p.m. in relation to a variance request for 820 Fletcher Drive. The commission will hold its next regular meeting on the same evening.
All sessions will be in the council room of the municipal building, and the public is welcome.