HANCOCK — The City Council held their usual meeting on Wednesday, where they spent a significant amount of time discussing everything from stop signs to service contracts.

The first topic of discussion came from City Manager Mary Babcock’s administrative report, regarding whether or not the city could add a stop sign on Poplar Street near Klondike Park. The council was unsure if they would need to conduct a traffic study to place a new sign, or if a yield or slow-children playing sign would be adequate.

The council will have to do further research into requirements for placing a new stop sign, or what signage would be most appropriate around Klondike Park.

New business items for consideration were:

— Consider approval of Professional Service Contract with Western Upper Peninsula Planning Development Region Commission to administer the EDA Grant Award Number 06-79-06264 in the amount of $45,000.

Babcock noted that WUPPDR has to administer the EDA grant because they are the organization the grant application went through. The amount of money the grant is for was agreed upon before the grant application was submitted to WUPPDR.

The motion to approve the service contract passed with a vote of 7-0.

— Consider approval of MSHDA Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) agreement for the grant in the amount of $16,500 for home projects located on Tezcuco St.

Babcock explained that it’s a very targeted grant, which will apply to a home on the corner of Tezcuco and White St., and the house immediately next to it. The grant amount hoped for was $35,000, but it only covers exterior improvements, so the final sum was $16,500.

The motion to approve the MSHDA grant passed 7-0.

— Consider approval of Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) Fellow agreement.

“So this is one of the most exciting grant opportunities that we’ve had internally for quite a while,” said Babcock. “The fellow will be within the city offices for 15 months, and they will be paid by CEDAM.”

The fellow will also be insured through CEDAM, and the grant has been assessed as a $62,000 value.

“They will also have the opportunity to travel down for some conferences, that is paid for by the organizing group,” she said. “They are going to have the opportunity to help us with anything from our zoning ordinance that we’re just implementing, to a lot of the RRC (Redevelopment Ready Communities) tasks that we’re still working on with documentation, we’ll be able to go through many of the city plans, and make sure they’re updated, like a personnel handbook.”

The city will begin a hiring process for the fellow, who will start in October.

The motion to approve the CEDAM Fellow grant passed 7-0.

— Consider approval of the Board of Commissions recruitment, training and application guide.

Babcock explained that the submission is a draft, and the document can be changed, and that “part of the RRC process is to have something in place showing what you would like to see in a board member, a commission member, and how they go about becoming a member, the qualifications, and what’s expected for the meetings.”

The guide could cover additions to the Downtown Development Association, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the rental board, and groups for the city.

“I think it’s great, especially including the expectations, powers, and duties, because a lot of people ask about these things,” said Mayor Paul Labine.

A transparent guide on role and expectation could increase resident interest in city functions and proceedings.

The motion to approve the guide passed 7-0.

— Consider authorizing the city manager to sign a letter in support of recreational trails lodge demonstration building appropriations request by MTU.

The letter will be sent to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, who is administering money earmarked for such projects.

The motion to authorize the city manager to sign the letter of support going to Senator Stabenow passed 7-0.

During public comments, it was announced that the 63rd Guts Frisbee Tournament will take place at the Hancock Driving Park on July 10 and 11.