The Paavo Nurmi Center, part of the former Finlandia University, will be part of an upcoming sheriff’s sale, Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said at Monday’s Planning Commission meeting. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette) 

HANCOCK — The three Finlandia University properties now owned by Hancock are about 70% cleaned out, Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said during Monday’s Planning Commission meeting. 

The city purchased Mannerheim, Nikander and Wargelin halls for a combined $30,000 last year with the intent of keeping them in good condition until a permanent use could be found. 

The Hancock High School hockey team came and cleaned out the buildings a couple of weeks ago. Some of the materials were also recycled, Babcock said. 

“Our goal is to get anything soft out of the buildings that we’re not heating currently, so we don’t have any mold issues,” Babcock said. 

There will also be a community sale the third weekend in October.  

The city is obtaining some revenue from the properties. The Keweenaw Co-op is renting space in Nikander, though they will likely be out before the end of the month, Babcock said. Part of Mannerheim is also being rented.

The fate of two remaining Finlandia properties is yet to be determined. The Paavo Nurmi gym will be part of a sheriff’s sale on the Houghton County Courthouse steps Thursday. A sale of Finlandia Hall is in the process of being closed, but has not been finalized. 

In other action, the commission:

• Heard about a climate and adaptation project being worked on for the city. Michigan Technological University’s Green Campus Enterprise group is taking lead on the project, which includes conducting a greenhouse gas inventory using data such as transportation and water usage, identifying potential risks to Hancock such as flooding and infrastructure damage, and researching options on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The end result will be compiled into a report and presented to the Planning Commission. 

• Created a subcommittee consisting of Chair Adam Griffis and Commissioners Jonathan Nagel and Kurt Rickard to review and update the city’s sign ordinance. 

• Heard public comment from residents concerned about the expansion of Navy Street, including an update that the Portage Lake Condominium Association had voted to oppose a road being built behind its garages. 

• Heard from Babcock on trash and recycling operations, which the city took over from Waste Management at the start of the month. Recycling pickups are taking longer than expected, Babcock said. If recycling amounts were not just temporarily high due to move-in, the city may buy a larger trailer.