Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STANDING AT right, Marty Ikola makes a point to the Wakefield City Council about a proposed project to expand the Eddy Park Campground next to Sunday Lake. From left at the table are Councilmen Pat Libertoski and Mike Zeckovich, Mayor Pro Tempore Calvin Shirkey, Councilman Scott Heikkila, City Clerk Susan Ahonen and City Manager Robert Brown Jr. Listening from the audience are neighbors of Ikola on Chicago Mine Road.
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield - Members of the Wakefield City Council voted on Monday evening to approve the application for two grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
After being rejected on its first try last year, the city will reapply for an MDNR Trust Fund Grant, in hopes of financing a now smaller, proposed expansion of the Eddy Park Campground next to Sunday Lake.
The city also will apply for an MDNR Passport Grant, in hopes of creating a dog park now targeted for east of the Eddy Park Skate Park.
This year's revised Trust Fund application will relate to a proposed $400,000 project that City Manager Robert Brown Jr. described in an agenda report. The city's matching portion would be $100,000.
If the grant is issued, he said it would fund three new campsites including "eco-friendly dome cabins" within the Eddy Park Campground.
"Each cabin will be set upon a concrete pad, providing a sturdy and stable foundation, and will feature a parking space, grill, fire pit, picnic table, electric pedestal, water spigot and boulder retaining wall," said Brown. "These features will ensure that visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Wakefield."
He added, "These cabins will be unique to the area, allowing Wakefield to attract a diverse group of visitors and offering a new and exciting experience for those who visit the area."
Beyond that, Brown said that an ADA-compliant parking lot with four parking spaces and paths also would be built, "leading not only to each cabin but to existing restrooms in the campground."
Brown said that the proposed plan is supported by the city's recreation plan and the related application was recommended by the city's new Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
At the start of a related public hearing during Monday's meeting, Brown said that the plan is "quite a bit scaled down from last year's application."
Several residents of Chicago Mine Road, directly north of the proposed site, objected to the plan.
"Our property values are going to go down," said Marty Ikola, who suggested that - instead of adding more campground sites - the city should raise campground rates "if you want more money."
Stephanie Pairolero asked whether the city's matching portion of the cost could not be put to better use. She also asked whether the project would impact property taxes.
Brown said that the project also should result in the opposite scenario. "The more money the campground makes, the less burden on the taxpayers," he said.
The proposal for a dog park also drew criticism from Pairolero and Ashley Maxinoski, who both claimed to be dog lovers.
"I don't want to listen to dogs barking all day," said Maxinoski, who added that a dog park also would raise concerns in walking her own dog in that area.
"It's going to definitely make our dogs go crazy," said Pairolero. "I just believe there have got to be better areas."
She said the city's plans will interfere with areas that have been used by attendees of events such as boat shows, July 4 activities, etc.
Brown responded that the creation of a dog park was one of the higher-rated items within the city's Master Plan survey.
"According to the survey results in the City of Wakefield 2020-2025 Recreation Plan, residents of Wakefield would like to see a dog park within the city," wrote Brown in his related agenda report. "Eddy Park/Eddy Park Campground is the most popular location, with approximately 74 percent of survey responders stating they visit it most often."
Brown estimated the cost of a dog park at more than $100,000 with the city's match at $25,000.
Matching funds could be derived from general funds or from in-kind work by city staff.
Council members also:
-Voted to adopt an amendment to the city's agreement with the Michigan Employees' Retirement System so that temporary employees would need to work 12 months for the city - rather than the current limit of four months - in order to qualify for the MERS plan.
-Voted, upon approval of City Attorney Ray O'Dea, to authorize him and Brown to execute an easement agreement with Xcel Energy in relation to its intention to rebuild portions of an existing 34.5 kV transmission line in Wakefield. The agreement will involve cutting trees and limbs in prescribed sizes and/or chipping smaller limbs and stacking, removing, or grinding and spreading as warranted.
All votes were unanimous.
The council's next regular meeting will be on April 8, and the Planning Commission will meet on April 9. Both meetings will be at 5:30 p.m. in the municipal building. The city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board also will meet on April 10 at 5 p.m. in the same location.
