The Hancock City Council met on Feb. 2 to discuss city business and address a council member’s resignation.
Shortly after calling to order, the Hancock City Council took a brief moment of silence in commemoration of the life and service of Dave Wiitanen. Wiitanen was once Mayor of Hancock and had also served on the City Council on top of being an active community member.
Council members were pleased to see that, among other communications, a letter from the Michigan Department of Transportation supports the city’s request for level three EV charging stations. Such stations allow for the fastest charging available, up to tens of miles per minute.
With the City Manager absent, Mayor Paul LaBine ran through the administrative report. He reported the new website for the city, a photo contest for upcoming city banners and sponsorship to Phi Kappa Tau for their Winter Carnival statue. Mayor LaBine quipped that “they always tend to do pretty well.”
The upcoming zoning ordinance, which promises some sweeping effects to the way the city is currently zoned, is currently in front of the Planning Commission and will next move to the desk of City Council. The Planning Commission is holding a public meeting on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m in the council chambers to discuss the zoning ordinance. Feb. 22 is the cutoff date for the submission of written comments on the zoning ordinance by the public.
The council moved to accept with regret the resignation of council member Will Lytle, who is accepting a position elsewhere. Council members each shared glowing remarks about Lytle before passing the motion. His final comments to the council were thankful and retrospective on the progress the city and the Keweenaw at large has made.
