Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock City Police Chief Wayne Butler said is department is being overwhelmed with parking complaints that can often be resolved simply through discussions with neighbors.

HANCOCK — Hancock Police Chief Wayne Butler said there are alternatives to calling the police with parking problems, which is something his department has been overwhelmed with lately, particularly on Quincy and Hancock Streets.

“We are getting way too many calls in reference to parking complaints,” Butler said, “and while we don’t want things to escalate to leading to a physical altercation. We’d like to see people to work it out amongst themselves calmly and rationally.” Butler would like parking issues resolved before the onset of winter when parking becomes more challenging.

One solution he suggested was for renters owning vehicles to call City Hall to learn about parking permits for city-owned parking lots, though he confessed not knowing the cost of a permit.

Mary Babcock, Hancock city clerk, said the city charges $120 for six months per parking spot, November through April, which amounts to $20 per month. The other six months, parking in city lots is free, she said.

There are five city-owned parking lots in Hancock, Babcock said. One is located behind Quincy Street’s Northern Mutual building and is accessible from Tezcucco Street. Another one is behind the Copper Country Arts Center, also accessible from Tezcucco Street. A third lot is on Dunstan Street, east of the Scott Building lot, Babcock said, along with two other city-owned lots. She suggested, as did Butler, to call City Hall.

Butler said it is actually the responsibility of the renter to find out about parking.

“Check with your landlord and find out where you’re supposed to park,” he advised, “because the landlord’s going to rent you a house, it’s your responsibility to determine where you’re going to park, and not every house has a driveway or a parking place.”