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Halfway closes on Wigwam property; mayor says cameras and volunteer cleanup planned
Summary
Halfway officials completed purchase of the Wigwam building, plan security cameras and volunteer cleanup days, and will manage the site under parks rules, the mayor said during the Baker County mayoral check-in on April 9.
Halfway Mayor told the Baker County Board of Commissioners on April 9 that the city closed on the Wigwam property and the deed will be recorded Friday.
The purchase matters because the site has prompted public concern about security and long-term care. The mayor said the city will post cameras, follow park protections, and organize volunteer cleanup days in late April or early May. The purchase also includes an offer from the buyers to share historical material with the city.
Halfway Mayor said the closing is complete and volunteers from youth groups have already offered to help with cleanup; two candidate Saturdays were suggested for the work: April 26 or May 3. The mayor said the city will provide a barbecue and parks personnel will supply a dump trailer for the cleanup day. The mayor also said parks staff and other partners plan to visit the site regularly to empty trash and monitor activity.
Donnie Brueland, identified in the meeting as a parks representative, was cited by the mayor as participating in conversations about on-site management and security. The mayor said cameras will be installed and that the parks ordinance provides protections for the site.
The city is positioning the Wigwam purchase as a preservation project. The mayor described the building as part of local heritage and called the transfer an opportunity to preserve and interpret that history for visitors and residents.
The mayor requested help coordinating volunteer schedules and asked other mayors and county staff to note the cleanup dates once they are finalized.
The city did not announce a formal long-term maintenance budget for the Wigwam at the meeting; the mayor said the matter will be addressed as staff and volunteers develop an ongoing stewardship plan.
