Rickard and McKenzie Retain Roles with Hancock City Council

Hancock’s newest mayor has a familiar name. Kurt Rickard will hold the title of mayor of Hancock for a one-year term. Rickard retained his role with the city council during last night’s organizational meeting. Rickard took over the role earlier in the year after the departure of Mayor Paul LaBine. Labine had left at the time to take a position in the Houghton County prosecutor’s office. Rickard’s mayor pro tem will also retain her role. Lisa McKenzie was unanimously decided upon by the city council. Each Rickard and McKenzine will hold the position for one year.

In addition to voting on mayoral positions on the council, members decided on committee assignments. McKenzie’s role as the city’s representative on the Houghton County Recreation Authority was replaced by councilor Rick Freeman. McKenzie would have a conflict of interest as the representative of the authority as she is also the representative for the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region. Freeman volunteered to replace her. Additionally, Rickard announced that he had talked before the meeting to Councilor Ron Blau about his committee assignments due to an excused absence at the meeting. Blau will have the most committee assignments with four.