HOUGHTON - Hancock and Houghton's city councils held a joint meeting in the former Upper Peninsula Power Co. building Wednesday, hearing updates on local agencies and projects and passing several resolutions.
The councils voted to ask State Sen. Mike Prusi and State Rep. Mike Lahti to help amend a state act that allows the county road commission to collect millage on roads within the cities.
In the past two years, Houghton has received $25,000 less for roads funding from the state, while Hancock has lost $15,000.
Kim Hoagland, chairwoman of the Keweenaw Historical Park Advisory Commission, talked to the councils about the efforts to preserve the Quincy Smelting Works. Franklin Township, which owns the site, received a $285,00 federal Housing and Urban Development grant for preservation of the site. No local match is required for the grant.
"By no means is it all we need, but it's a start," she said.
There have been "some whispers" of federal stimulus money, but nothing concrete, she said.
The Environmental Protection Agency plan calls for only capping stamp sand outside the fences surrounding the facility, which Hoagland said could help clear the way for rehabilitating the structures.
Carlton Crothers, CEO of the Michigan Tech Enterprise Corp. SmartZone, gave an update. The SmartZone has 12 companies with 160-plus employees; despite the economic woes, none have been laid off. Four companies are predicting job growth in 2009.
Later this year, the SmartZone plans to open a fourth incubator site in the former Upper Peninsula Power Co. building. Crothers said renovations to the building should start the second week of May and finish the third week of September.
He said two Fortune 100 companies are looking at the space, in addition to two startup companies from out of state. Crothers said the space could be full within a year.
Houghton Director of Public Works Mark Zenner talked about the upcoming streetscape project in Houghton. Starting Tuesday, the Yooper Loop will be closed westbound from Shelden Avenue; however, the approach to Hancock will still be open.
C. Robert Baillod, chair of the Portage Lake Water & Sewage Authority board, updated the board on the treatment plant.
The plant's $2 million project, which includes the construction of a new force main across the Portage Lake Shipping Canal, is almost done, Baillod said.
The plant's typical effluent has one-sixth the EPA limit for suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand, and 20 percent less than the phosphorus limit.
Variable pump frequency drives in the Houghton pump station are being replaced for $63,900. The work began in March and should be completed soon.
The PLWSA has also retained Melanie Needham of Northern Environmental to conduct a study of mercury sources. There are unexplained sources in west Hancock. Investigation had first centered on dentist practices, but the mercury was discovered upstream.
The councils passed a resolution honoring Baillod for his work. Hancock Mayor William Laitila and Houghton Mayor Bob Backon presented him with a plaque. Baillod was appointed to the board in 1976 and has been chairman since 1989.
"I was totally surprised," he said. "I'm looking at the agenda ... and I thought 'What could this be?'"
The Hancock Council also recognized Hancock's sister city Porvoo, Finland, for the 200th anniversary of the Diet of Porvoo. On March 28-29, 1809, Russian Tsar Alexander I traveled to Finland, and proclaimed Porvoo "the Grand Duchy of Finland."
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com.