Wakefield Township board learns of property ownership

By P.J. GLISSON [email protected]

WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP – A brief Tuesday evening meeting of the Wakefield Township Board of Trustees resulted in a greater understanding of properties owned by the township. “We wanted to get a list of the properties we owned, which you’d think would be a simple process, but it’s not,” said Treasurer Denice Laessig, who undertook the initiative. Laessig said the necessary steps were “confusing,” including the process of matching up deeds with property descriptions. Nevertheless, she said she determined that the township has several properties of which not all members were aware. The plots – which include land on North County Road 519, Planter Road and others – sometimes include deeds in hand or possible covenant deeds or renaissance zone status. No action was yet taken on any of the properties.

The board also:

–Learned from Supervisor Mandy Lake that the township had collected 9,800 pounds of garbage at its May 22 clean-up event. She noted that she also will send out additional letters relating to some continuing issues with blight at specific township properties.

–Learned from Lake that pending township funds relating to the American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 stimulus package via President Joe Biden, are on hold. “U.S. Treasury guidance said we’ll have to request money from the state, and the state hasn’t released its application process,” said Lake, who added, “I think they’re still muddling through the process.”

—Agreed to file a request for financial support from the U.P. Substance Enforcement Team in Marquette after Lake noted that the township, instead, traditionally has supported the Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team. The board’s next regular meeting will be on July 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the township hall. The Planning Commission also will meet on June 16 at 6 p.m. in the hall. The public is welcome to township sessions with the understanding that social distancing is still required in relation to the pandemic.