Zeckovich joins Wakefield Council

By CHARITY SMITH

csmith@yourdailyglobe.com

Wakefield - Mike Zeckovich was selected to join the Wakefield City Council during a special council meeting on Monday night.

Zeckovich will replace Amy Tarro, who resigned shortly after being re-elected last month but never took the oath of office.

During the special meeting, Zeckovich and another candidate for the seat, Carrie Braspenick, were interviewed individually by city clerk Sue Ahonen in front of the council. By a flip of a coin, Braspenick went first. The candidates were each asked to respond to the same series of questions about how their previous work experience qualified them for the council, the top three priorities for the city and what they believed was the role of a city council member.

Braspenick, who is on the Gogebic County Community Mental Health Board, said she felt the top priorities of the city were its budget, laws and working on beautification "to make it not an eyesore and make it pretty and make it so people want to keep coming back," she said.

Zeckovich, who is on the city planning commission and owns Sunday Lake Auto, said he felt the top priority of the city is to have the community work together. "When stuff comes about, instead of being separated, try to work together about it," he said.

Braspenick said that she felt the council was an overseer of how the city and city manager are doing. She said the council should not "micromanage, but just to make sure the city budget is fine ... and the people in the community are being served."

Zeckovich echoed Braspenick's sentiment. Saying that a council member is "a person who oversees the day-to-day things the city needs done." He said that each council member is able to give his or her viewpoint and that five opinions are better than two or three. "It's nice to have a little bit of change across the board," he said.

Zeckovich said that he was interested in the challenge of finding ways to bring new businesses to the area.

After hearing from each candidate, councilman Cal Shirkey nominated Zeckovich for the position. Councilman Jim Anderson nominated Braspenick. The council then took a vote for Zeckovich as he was the first nominated. The vote was 3-1 approving Zeckovich's appointment, with Anderson voting no. No vote was taken on Anderson's motion.

Braspenick congratulated Zeckovich, shaking his hand before she left. He then was given the oath of office by Ahonen and took his place at the council table.

The council then went into closed session to discuss union negotiations. An agreement with the union was signed on Tuesday morning, according to Ahonen.