CEDAM fellow introduced, patrol car grant application approved, Waste Management contract extended, more
Meeting Highlights
(Click the headline to see the corresponding video)
New CEDAM fellow, Sadiq Dahir Edo, introduced
Edo will be joining the city staff for 15 months and will focus on helping with the zoning ordinance update. He works 40 hours a week and is paid through a grant from the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan. You can learn more about him from his cover letter inside the meeting documents, but in short; he’s originally from Kenya, grew up in Grand Rapids, and holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and sustainability from Northern Michigan University.
660 Quincy Street sees brick face deterioration
County building inspector Todd LaRoux was called in to inspect some masonry coming off of the building at 660 Quincy Street. He said the building was structurally safe to be used, but there is the danger of more brick being dislodged.
Waste Management contract extended for 3 years
Like the city of Houghton did last month, Hancock has extended their contract with Waste Management for 1 year at a 4% increase, but unlike Houghton, they also locked in for 2 years following that with an increase linked to the national WST index.
Councilor John Haeussler pointed out that when the cities privatized their garbage collection, they did so together to be able to get an acceptable deal with Waste Management, filling in some historical context. Several of the councilors weighed in with observations and opinions.
Also unlike Houghton, there was one vote against the extension on the Hancock council. Councilor Will Lytle conceded that the council had little alternative but to renew the contract, but voted against it nonetheless.
Police vehicle grant application moved forward
The council approved a USDA Rural Development application for a grant toward a new patrol car. City Manager Mary Babcock said they usually get a new car every other year, but the last one arrived late, so they’re applying for this one to try and get back on their normal every-other-year schedule.
Haeussler plugs upcoming hockey history talk
Councilor Haeussler plugged his upcoming history talk on Oct. 14.
Councilor Haeussler’s event poster:
He also shared that he would likely be absent from the next meeting due to needing to be at an appointment with his heart doctor in Marquette which had been rescheduled four times already. Councilor Haeussler previously resigned his position due to health concerns before regaining his seat on the council shortly thereafter.
Other notes:
Councilor Ron Blau was absent from the meeting and was excused by the rest of the councilors.
The assessor’s report showed that in the last three months, there’s a trend in Hancock of rentals being sold as primary residences, and sale prices have increased over the last three years.
There were no public comments during the meeting.
City clerk Linda Kalinec has been certified by the state to run future city elections.
Interviews for the director of the Department of Public Works are being scheduled for next week.
The city beach is closed, and the campground is closing by mid-October.
The new city dog park is planned to be open to some extent before winter, but won’t be fully completed until next spring.
The city renewed the contract with Munetrix, which helps the city with its transparency reporting and capital improvement plan.
The council approved two paving bids from Bill Siler, one for some late-year street paving projects (including one area a citizen had commented on at a previous meeting), and another for the basketball court at Terrace Park.
Councilor Kurt Rickard shared that he visited the new Jim’s Pizza and enjoyed it.