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HANCOCK -- With another Hancock City Council meeting ravaged by Navy Street development concerns, other business during Wednesday's meeting saw approval of the city's new parking ordinance, the acceptance of Whitney Warstler's and Adam Griffis' resignations from government appointments and the purchase of a new police vehicle.
Dean Woodbeck was appointed as Mayor Protem by other city councilors present. Mayor Kurt Rickard and outgoing former-Mayor Protem Whitney Warstler were not present at Wednesday's meeting.
Items three, four and five dealt with city position resignations. Warstler resigned from City Council and her position as Mayor Protem, effective Nov. 30. She also resigned from the Hancock Area District Library Board.
Griffis, planning commissioner, similarly to Warstler, resigned from the Hancock Planning Commission. Both city officials cited family obligations. Warstler indicated through email with The Gazette she will not accept a council position if elected in November.
City Manager Mary Babcock said the city will be putting out an ad for Warstler's seat. The city council has four seats open for reelection, including Warstler's. According to Babcock, the council will essentially need to appoint someone for one November meeting before the new councilors are sworn in in December.
"We will be publishing an ad for candidates for the Planning Commission and the library. And then we're going to have to have some discussion about the city council position that's open," Babcock said. "I don't currently have our legal opinion on that, how that should be handled due to the fact that it's a very odd situation where you're almost appointing somebody for one meeting."
In other news, city council approved the City of Hancock's new parking ordinance. According to Police Chief Tami Sleeman, her department will be giving out courtesy cards to vehicles in violation of the new parking ordinance.
The council also approved the purchase of a F-150 police vehicle for $50,898. Additionally, the council approved final payments for the city's contract with UP Environmental Service to do remediation and clean-up work at Niikander and Mannerheim Hall at the former site of Finlandia University.
The next Hancock City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 4.
Shown here is the courtesy card the Hancock Police Department will use for a first warning for cars illegally parked. (Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette)