Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton City Council Mayor pro-tem, Philip Buck Foltz presided over Tuesday's council meeting in Mayor Robert Backon's absence. Also pictured is council member Jan Cole.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton City Council met for the last time in 2025 Tuesday. The meeting was moved from its regular Wednesday slot to accommodate New Year’s Eve. The year’s last meeting was one of the shortest, lasting about 20 minutes. The only action occurred near the end of the meeting with the council creating two vacancies on the City’s Planning Commission.

With Mayor Robert Backon, City Manager Eric Waara and Police Chief John Donnelly absent, Mayor Pro-tem Philip Buck Foltz presided over the meeting and City Clerk Amy Zawada gave the manager’s and police chief’s reports. Zawada reported that city DPW crews have been focusing mainly on snow removal and cautioned the public to be aware of snow removal equipment when traveling on city streets. She also reminded residents to refrain from shoveling or moving snow onto city streets.

In giving Donnelly’s report, Zawada said Houghton Police responded to 147 calls in the past two weeks, making seven misdemeanor and two felony arrests. There were nine calls for assistance and 16 accidents reported.

The only new business before the Council was appointments to city commissions for 2026. All those who sought appointments to the various commissions were those currently sitting on those bodies. Planning Commission members Norma Veurink and Ben Ciavola, sought reappointment to three-year terms. Without discussion, the council voted on them individually. In both cases, due to Backon’s absence, the council was deadlocked 3-3, with members Craig Waddell, Brian Irizarry and Jan Cole voting to reappoint them while Robert Megowen, Mike Needham and Foltz voted against reappointment. Because there wasn’t a majority voting in favor of reappointment, the measure failed and two vacancies on the Planning Commission were then created. Following the vote, Foltz addressed the council saying he had expressed his “disconnection” from the Planning Commission in the past and felt that “rolling this over,” was needed. The city will now advertise the Planning Commission vacancies.

After the meeting, Foltz explained that he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but the only way to involve new people is by creating vacancies once current members’ terms expire. “We want to make sure the process continues,” Foltz said adding that having a “good mix” is important. “It’s nice when everybody feels involved.”

The council moved on to other commissions and unanimously reapproved Jim Gentry, chair of the Housing Commission, for a five-year term. Darrell Guitar was reappointed to the DDA/TIFA Commission on a 6-0 vote for a term of four years. It was noted that Karyn Olson did not apply for reappointment which means there are now two vacancies on that Commission. Board of Review member Mary Kaminski was reappointed to a three-year term on a 6-0 vote as well.

There were are two commissions on which a council member sits. The Local Development Finance authority, a three-year term, is made up of three member of the Hancock City Council and three from the Houghton Council, with the seventh agreed upon by the two councils. Needham, currently sits on the authority and was seeking reappointment. The council approved the motion 5-0, with Needham abstaining.

Council member Jan Cole, who is completing her four-year term on the WUPPDR Commission, chose not to apply for reappointment. Because that appointment must be filled by a current City Council member, the council will act on the reappointment at its next meeting.

The council also set a public hearing at the next meeting for a variance request.