Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette Members of Hancock City Council prepare to adjourn their regular meeting on Wednesday after approving 11 new business items and hearing reports from committees and staff. 

HANCOCK — The Hancock City Council met in regular session Wednesday and approved ballot language for August’s Recreation Millage renewal election. Additionally the council approved contract amendments for OHM projects, and accepted a quote for a new dump truck, among several other new business items.

Council unanimously approved every new business item after brief discussion on each. Ward I Council member Ron Blau was not presented at the meeting and was excused by Mayor Kurt Rickard. Ballot Language for the upcoming Recreation Millage renewal was up for approval on the August ballot.

It was explained the millage renewal will contain largely the same language as the previous recreation millage proposed in 2021, which ran five years from 2022-2026. This upcoming millage renewal will run through 2031 at a rate of 0.80 mils (80 cents per $1,000.) It is the same proposed rate as the last renewal.

The City Council discussed and approved contract amendments for OHM advisors, who are partnered with City on recreation project developments. One amendment included a contract deduction of $23,800.69. According to Hancock City Manager, Mary Babcock, this was due to the scope of the project changing.

A discussion was held between council members and Director of the Department of Public Works, John Erickson, about acquiring a new dump. A $176,390 quote provided by UP Truck Center was approved by City Council. According to Babcock, the dump truck is expected to be built and arrive for use by DPW by winter 2027.

In a report to City Council, Police Chief Tami Sleeman said vehicle accidents were down from 30 in January to nine in February. After the meeting, Sleeman commented on how there were an influx of calls to Hancock PD regarding snow-related complaints.

Retention bonus payments for non-union city employees hired before the start of 2025 were approved by City Council during the meeting. According Wednesday’s meeting agenda, the payments were proposed in the same vain as the 2026 collective bargaining agreements.

The Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Command Officers Association of Michigan’s contracts were approved by City Council for the next two and a half years, which started in January 2026 and will end in June 2028.

The next time that Hancock City Council members will meet will be on April 1 for a joint-meeting with the Downtown Development Authority and the City Planning Commission which will take place at the HOCO in Hancock.