HANCOCK — Five members of the Hancock City Council met on Wednesday evening for a regular meeting covering several city business items.

By a vote of 5-0, the council approved the use of trash stickers in place of city garbage bags. City Manager Mary Babcock remarked that the city’s trash bags have increased in price by roughly 27% over the last year, and have become increasingly difficult to come by.

She also said that the quality of these bags is inconsistent and that residents have had problems with bags tearing. She added that the city of Marquette switched to stickers and has had no problem with the operation.

The city currently sells 13-gallon bags at a price of 1$ per bag, and larger 33-gallon bags for $2 per bag. The new stickers will be priced at $10 for a sheet of 10 stickers, and can be placed on any trash bag that residents choose. Residents will have to buy their own trash bags to put the stickers on.

“Then residents will be able to use their bags and just put a sticker on it. So whatever type of bag they would like to purchase up to 35 gallons they’ll be able to use,” Babcock explained.

The city plans to use up its remaining inventory of bags before making the switch to stickers.

The council then unanimously approved a millage proposition from the Hancock Police Department for 0.8 mil – 0.80 cents per $1,000.00 – on taxable value of all real and personal property for 15 years in order to raise revenue to hire an additional full-time officer.

The council’s approval means that the millage proposal will appear on the November 2022 ballot for voters to decide.

“Over the last five or six years, every year the police have come to the city council and requested an additional officer. Right now, they’re kind of at a breaking point,” said Babcock.

The department is stretched very thin and lacks the ability to fill-in gaps that result from training, sick time, and time off. The department does have one part-time officer, but there is a lack of other part-time officer candidates in the area.

“So, this is going to be brought before voters to determine. It will create about $100,000 worth of tax revenue to support the police department, and that will be enough to take care of another officer to make our 24/7 service that we currently have sustainable,” Babcock continued.

The city is compiling information on this proposal and on the additional cost for taxpayers that would result from the millage. This information will be available to residents in advance of the November election.

Lastly, the council approved a request from the Department of Public Works (DPW) to purchase a new Vivax Vcam-6HD – a pipe inspection camera used for sewer maintenance work. This item was added to the agenda last minute, as the DPW’s existing camera had stopped working earlier in the day, after about 15 years of use.

The next Hancock City Council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4.