City of Wakefield Michigan

10/31/2026

State General Election Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls will be open at the Wakefield Municipal Building from 7:00 AM to 8:00 P.M.

10/31/2026

Here's a reminder to set your clocks back an hour this weekend. 🍂🕰️🍁

10/31/2026

An Ounce of Prevention… and a Couple of Batteries!

As the old-timers used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

And we're pretty sure they'd agree that a few dollars spent on batteries beats a few hundred thousand dollars spent replacing a house!

With daylight saving time ending this weekend, it's time to check those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors!

Our Wakefield Fire Department is making it easy (and FREE)!

📍 Wakefield Fire Department – 607 Sunday Lake Street
🕑 Today until 2:00 PM
🔋 Free batteries and a limited supply of smoke detectors!

A big thank-you to our firefighters for going beyond responding to emergencies and taking proactive steps to prevent them!

Because the best emergency is the one that never happens!

We are at our fire hall until 2:00, stop by to get batteries for your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. We also have a limited supply of smoke detectors.

10/26/2026

10/16/2026

🚧 TRAFFIC NOTICE | SWEATER WEATHER STREET CLOSURE 🚧

The City of Wakefield is preparing for WE CARE - Wakefield Encourages Community Athletics Recreation Entertainment's annual Sweater Weather event this Saturday, October 17, 2026!

To accommodate the event and ensure participant safety, Sunday Lake Street between Hancock Street and Nunnemacher Street will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic.

⚠️ IMPORTANT PARKING NOTICE
Beginning at 6:00 AM on Saturday, October 17, vehicles parked along Sunday Lake Street between Hancock Street and Nunnemacher Street will be towed at the owner's expense.

Residents, businesses, and visitors are asked to move their vehicles out of the affected area before 6:00 AM Saturday.

We appreciate everyone's cooperation in helping us provide a safe and enjoyable event for our community.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to seeing everyone at Sweater Weather!

10/11/2026

WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE | CITY OF WAKEFIELD

Gogebic County Emergency Management/911 and the City of Wakefield are closely monitoring two active wildland fires located outside Wakefield's city limits.

According to the U.S. Forest Service - Ottawa National Forest, crews are responding to two separate incidents:

Black River Fire: Located south of Wakefield, east of County Road 519.
Camp 4 Grade Road Fire: Located north of Wakefield, off Camp 4 Grade Road.

The Wakefield Fire Department has personnel and fire apparatus deployed at both fire grounds to assist with firefighting operations, along with departments from across the area.

At this time, neither fire poses an immediate threat to the City of Wakefield. Local officials will continue to monitor conditions and coordinate with responding agencies. We will provide additional updates as circumstances warrant.

Residents may notice smoke in the surrounding area and aircraft conducting water drops. Please exercise caution, obey any traffic restrictions, and avoid areas where emergency personnel are operating.

Important: Please refrain from operating drones near either fire. Unauthorized drone activity can interfere with aerial firefighting operations and jeopardize emergency responders' safety.

Gogebic County Emergency Management and the City of Wakefield will continue monitoring both incidents and coordinating with responding agencies as necessary.

For the most current information regarding fire conditions and response operations, please follow the U.S. Forest Service – Ottawa National Forest:

https://www.facebook.com/OttawaNF

We appreciate the dedication of all firefighters, emergency responders, and supporting agencies working to protect our communities.

Welcome to the Ottawa National Forest!

10/08/2026

Wakefield's Electric Utility Remains OURS!

With the recent announcement of Xcel Energy's proposed sale of its Michigan electric operations to UPPCO, the City of Wakefield wants to reassure residents and businesses:

Wakefield's municipal electric utility is NOT part of the proposed sale.

Our electric system remains locally owned, locally operated, and locally governed. The proposed transaction does not directly change the City's electric rates.

Did you know? Wakefield's residential electric rates are substantially lower than those of many investor-owned utilities in Michigan?

Based on the Michigan Public Service Commission's September 2026 residential electric rate comparison and the City of Wakefield's adopted residential rate schedule, at 1,000 kWh of monthly electricity usage:

- Wakefield's illustrative residential electric charges are approximately 63% lower than UPPCO's published residential bill.
- Wakefield's illustrative residential electric charges are approximately 50% lower than the statewide investor-owned utility average.

These comparisons use the MPSC's published investor-owned utility figures and Wakefield's adopted residential fixed and energy charges. Billing methodologies differ, and actual customer bills may include additional applicable charges.

For more than 140 years, Wakefield's community-owned electric utility has provided residents with the benefits of local ownership and accountability. These favorable rate comparisons are another reason our community can take pride in its public power system.

The City's newly published report, The Value of Public Power, provides further information about these comparisons, our municipal electric system, and the benefits of local ownership.

Read the City's official press release:
https://cityofwakefieldmi.gov/2026/10/08/press-release-wakefield-electric-utilities/

Read The Value of Public Power publication on the City's website:
https://cityofwakefieldmi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Wakefield-Public-Power-Report-2026-signed.pdf

Learn more about public power through the American Public Power Association:
https://www.publicpower.org/promoting-public-power

Since 1884. Locally Owned. Locally Controlled. Proudly Protected.

10/06/2026

There is an Election Inspector training scheduled tonight October 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM. This training will be held at the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer, MI. Please contact the City Clerk's office if you are interested or have any questions at 906-364-8184.

10/06/2026

The City of Wakefield has extended the closing date for Eddy Park Campground to Sunday, October 18, 2026.