Kali Katerberg/Daily Mining Gazette City Manger Glenn Anderson presents exiting Hancock City Council members with plaques recognizing their years of service. From left to right, Ted Belej, Glenn Anderson, Lisa McKenzie and Joe Bauman.

HANCOCK — Wednesday marked the last city council meeting, and send off, for four longtime community leaders.

The first was Mary Tuisku who passed away May of 2017. To mark the end of her term, her plaque was presented to her husband Dick Tuisku, flowers to her family and a mayoral proclamation was issued honoring her years of service.

Tuisku served 20.5 years on the council and in 1990 became the first female mayor.

“Mary was such a wonderful mentor and she always had an open mind. She listened to everyone and then she made her decisions. She was the epitome of what an honorable city councilor was and she did so much for the city,” said Mayor Lisa McKenzie. “…The city is a better place because of Mary and I’ll always remember her and be grateful for her.”

The mayor herself will soon be exiting her role as well, leaving the next stage of the city’s future for the new city manager, mayor and incoming council members.

McKenzie served 19 years on the council and as mayor starting in 2013.

“It’s probably been the thing in my life I’ve done the longest besides raise kids,” she said.

In her time on the council, she is most proud of her work with city beautification and quality of life improvements, areas previous councils had not pursued. McKenzie believes Barry Givens and the new council will take that work to the next level.

“I think we’ve got a great start and all the councils before us have lead us to this point and now we move on,” she said.

Joining McKenzie is Mayor Pro-Tem Ted Belej, who will also not be running again. After 12 years, he feels he has accomplished his goals and more.

Chief among those goals was speeding up the city.

“The city moved at a snail’s pace. To get something done it took forever and I wanted to change that so other residents didn’t have to deal with the same thing,” Belej said.

The final farewell was Joe Bauman after four years of service.

The experience was rewarding, with Bauman pleased to have served the community and with “outstanding people” like Mary Tuisku, Bauman said.

He is particularly proud of contributing to the new era for the city by joining in the decision to hire Barry Givens.

“We’re going to be in good hands here with Barry,” he said.

Though his last term on the council, this might not be Bauman’s last term in government as he’s contemplating a run for state representative in the future.

The new city council members will be chosen in November.