Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette The Hancock Fire Department will be driving its aerial truck back to the fire hall today after its refurbishment was completed this week.

HANCOCK — The vehicles are rolling in.

Hancock Fire Chief Bill Lepisto said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting the department would be driving down Thursday to pick up the department’s aerial truck after 39 weeks. It passed hydraulic, electrical and aerial testing last week. Firefighters will be driving the truck home this afternoon. The council had approved $395,000 to refurbish the truck in 2023.

The city’s new garbage truck is already in town, parked in front of the city hall Wednesday night.

Last month, the council voted to have the Department of Public Works provide garbage and recycling pickup by September. The city previously contracted with Waste Management, but opted to provide the service itself after the company submitted a substantially higher bid for its next contract.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the council finalized the purchase of the truck, a 2024 Freightliner M2 with a Heil PT1100 rear loader, for $248,000. Two senior DPW members have signed on to operate the truck, Babcock said.

“We were really happy to see the enthusiasm from the DPW workers for those positions,” she said.

Ahead of the changeover, the council voted Wednesday to increase the monthly ready-to-serve fee for trash pickup from $6 to $15. Had the city remained with Waste Management, it would have gone up to $21.80, City Manager Mary Babcock said.

“That leaves the remaining dollar per tag, so it’s kind of pay as you go for at least a portion of it, so if you use less garbage, you pay a little bit less,” she said.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a $584,885 grant for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy program for community technical, managerial and financial (TMF) support for lead service line replacement. Water line inspections will be contracted out, and must be completed within two years. So far, no lead service lines have been found, Mayor Kurt Rickard said. The council also approved a $70,540 proposal from OHM for professional services for the grant.

• Approved the final payment application of $35,582.71 from Payne & Dolan for work on the Business & Technology Park. With that payment approved, the city will be able to apply for a reimbursement grant, Babcock said.

• Heard from Police Chief Tami Sleeman the department has brought on Ben Galetto as a full-time officer. Galetto is also a member of the fire department. The police department is also seeking another full-time officer after Scott Wuebben took a position with the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office.

“He is not leaving because he’s unhappy,” she said. “He loves it here, the people he works with, but they are able to offer more opportunities and a take-home car. They just can offer more than what we can.”

People interested in applying can contact Sleeman at 906-482-3102.

• Heard public comment from Mike Lahti on Hancock’s request to have the Parade of Nations take place entirely within Houghton for this year. Lahti offered to provide assistance, including financial aid, so the city would have the resources to host it next year.

• Heard an election update from Clerk Linda Kalinec. In August, 648 people voted, 348 by absentee ballots and 15 doing early voting. One overseas vote came in after the election and was counted.

Several people have filed for the council elections in November. Councilor Ron Blau is running in Ward I. Councilor Ryan Tanner will run against Laura Givens in Ward III. Rickard and Councilor Amanda Lounibos are running for at-large seats. No candidates filed for Ward II, but one person has received paperwork to file as a write-in candidate, Kalinec said.

• Appointed Jonathan Nagel to the Downtown Development Authority with a term ending Jan. 31, 2027.

• Appointed Rick Freeman Jr. to the Zoning Board of Appeals with a term ending Jan. 31, 2027.

• Approved payment of $408,580.27 for B&B Contracting for Minnesota Street. Underground utilities have been completed on the street, which will be paved in the next two weeks, Babcock said.

• Approved payment of $429,442.04 for FA Industrial Services for North and Prospect streets. Most of the project is complete; blacktop will be installed when Payne & Dolan returns. The work, which includes planned handicapped spaces near the fairgrounds, will not be completed before the fair. However, Babcock said, the surface is already in better shape than it was before. Infrastructure below the street was completed, which Babcock said would help alleviate sewer backups at homes nearby.

• Approved a sewer repair change order of $42.54 and a payment application of $253,351.18 for MJO Contracting.