Wakefield Council looking to consolidate operations.
Written by Jesse Baroka on October 13, 2020
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council is looking to consolidate its operations at a site in the Wakefield Industrial Park. At Monday’s virtual meeting, the council voted 4-0 (council member Amy Tarro absent) to discuss purchase of a building or buildings owned by Robert Maki, who formerly operated a heavy equipment and logging equipment business there. He owns an office building and large shop on the west side of the park, as well as the former Movrich logging building at the entrance to the park, on U.S. 2. City manager Robert Brown said the purchase could eliminate three current buildings, including the former WICO Mine building, the quonset hut just south of the Wakefield Municipal Building and the garage and shop inside the former Wakefield City Hall. The city jettisoned its old city hall offices several years ago, opting to purchase the former Father Daniel Hall from the Diocese of Marquette and move there. But the shop operation remained within the crumbling, century-old landmark. The WICO structure also is a century old, or older, and the city has been discussing the fate of the quonset hut, which has become an eyesore. Maki was present via computer at Monday’s meeting. He said he can be flexible in packaging the buildings for sale. The council also agreed to get moving on its water projects, giving permission to begin survey work, even though financing for the project is not yet financed. Engineer Matt Treado was on hand Monday to update the council. He said it would be advantageous to get the work done early, And the council approved a motion to clear a major Sunday Lake Street eyesore, the former Baptist Temple (the historic Wakefield Hotel building), which caved in several months ago. The first move will be to push the structure east, clearing the area off the street and sidewalk, and prepare plans for more complete demolition to take place next year.
