Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette The Hancock City Council approved a grant agreement for a renewable energy system for the HOCO Arena. The solar energy system is being installed onto the building to cut back costs on electricity.

HANCOCK — The HOCO arena will receive a renewable energy system as a result of action taken by the Hancock City Council Wednesday. At its July meeting, the council also completed the purchase of a bus garage, approved funding for a connection between the city’s campground and nearby bike trails and created new meeting dates for the council.

The council approved the EGLE Community Energy Management Grant agreement for a renewable energy system for HOCO Arena. Solar panel will be placed on top of the arena and will run year round. Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said the city first submitted the grant back in February. she said the city hopes to save on its electric bill for the building with the new system. “As soon as I get the agreement in, I will reach out to the contractor, and it’s going to be up to his schedule,” Babcock said after the meeting. She is hoping the installation can be completed this year.

The council also purchased the old Hancock School’s bus garage on 325 Franklin Street for $190,000. The building will primarily be used for police vehicle storage but the city will also utilize the space for other storage purposes it deems necessary.

The council OK’d funding the Campground Trail Connector bid from Far North Trail Company for $15,375. The connector brings together the city’s campground and trail systems, which can provide bikers or hikers miles and miles of recreation and exploration. The connector will be alongside a project for which the Hancock Trails Club is currently raising funds.That effort seeks to create a nearby bike park and trailhead called Creekside. Babcock expressed excitement for the project and the city’s involvement in it. “I think that’s one of the best projects we’ve done,” she said. “Is kind of a connector, because our goal is to have it from the Swedetown through the campground and beach and then connect it over to our Navy Street trail. So it’s absolutely wonderful, and I think that with the support of the community, it’s going to make it happen.”

Council member Dean Woodbeck was appointed to the Hancock Trails Club as the City’s representative. “I’ve been to some of the meetings, and we need a city representative there,” Woodbeck said. Regarding the Trails Club, the council approved contributing $14,000 to the purchase of a 2025 Kawasaki UTV to use for trail grooming. The Hancock Trails Club is also putting money toward the purchase along with grants.

In other action, the council approved $67,466.62 for an additional sidewalk on Elevation Street which will serve as a connector between the Hancock Elementary and High Schools. The funds are coming from the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant. They also approved $66,539.90 for the Strategic Site Readiness Grant which will go into work on the Business and Technology Park.

The council confirmed funding the purchase of the floating dock at Porvoo Park which was approved by the Hancock Recreation Commission. The dock’s cost is $24,853 and spans 192 feet along the park’s boardwalk.

The Hancock City Council will now meet twice a month on the first and third Wednesday each month beginning in September. This was done to allow members more time for research regarding their meeting items and to have less last minute additions. “I feel like there’s a lot of disconnect getting all the information to the council once a month, because by the time I’m preparing for the council meeting, I’m only thinking about like the last two weeks. It’s a lot that goes on in a month. I feel like sometimes it’s been almost over four weeks since you’ve been here, and then I’m always shoving information to or sending information to you at last minute, because there isn’t another meeting for another four weeks,” Babcock explained.

The measure passed on a 4-2 vote with council members Ron Blau and Laura Givens opposing the change.