L’ANSE — The Village of L’Anse held its second monthly meeting on Monday. Before the meeting addressed the issues on the agenda, Village Manager Bob LaFave informed council of Saturday’s passing of former trustee member Jim Hulkinen.

“I know this is a really important body to him and that he had a great deal of love of the village,” LaFave said. “Jim had a lot of love for everyone in this room. He was a different personality, but I know he cared a lot.”

LaFave asked everyone present to keep Hulkinen’s family and friends in their thoughts and prayers. After the acknowledgment of Hulkinen, the meeting continued to the approval of the village’s Master Plan. The plan goes into an overview of the current status of the city as well as state future goals for the village regarding projects including the possible creation of an archway or gateway downtown.

It was then decided that LaFave would act on behalf of the village as a representative at future Upper Peninsula Public Power Agency meetings. It is through the UPPPA where the village owns shares of the American Transmission Company.

The council then awarded the East Chicago-Indiana-based National Industrial Maintenance to tackle water service line identification. This will primarily be funded by a grant through EGLE with a cost of $239,005. Because of the amount offered by the bidder a change order was implemented to lower the cost via the rules of the grant. Because of the lower amount of money being spent, less work will be completed than originally desired by the village but within the parameter of what the state of Michigan requires. While local businesses put in bids for the contract, the village is required by the grant to accept the lowest bidder which came from out of state.

The meeting concluded with the agreement to pay the bills which amounted to $249,049.69. The highest cost came from a payment made to Wisconsin Power Inc. at $99,801.32.