Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Kristine Weidner is already paying dividends for the City of Hancock. Less than a month after she was brought on to aggressively market 13 undeveloped lots in the Spruce Haven neighborhood, one has sold and an offer is in on a second. Prior to this, it had been years since the last sale. Mayor Paul LaBine says the land is in a good spot, near the hospital and not far from the high school. Utility hookups already exist and in the raging housing market, LaBine says it’s a no-brainer to have the lots up for sale.
Manager Mary Babcock says the money from the sales will go into a fund that can be used for development elsewhere. Spruce Haven Lot One sold for $20,500, a slight discount to the asking price. The purchase agreement was approved by the council unanimously
Babcock also talked about plans for a spring clean-up with the Department of Public Works. That will allow residents to bring in unwanted household materials for safe disposal, and includes litter pick-up and general beautification work. Member John Haeussler asked about alley clean-up, something that had been in the works pre-COVID. Babcock says the goal is to continue with that on May 7th and 8th with the larger event.
The other item of business before the council related to the Open Meetings Act, now that in-person sessions are required again. Haeussler praised Babcock and her staff for the work they did on the resolution, stressing that he believed they should make the definitions as generous as possible for those who still felt they needed to appear virtually. Only one member took advantage of the option on Wednesday. Will Lytle said he had already received his first vaccine dose and once he had gotten the second Moderna shot, he would make plans to physically appear at council chambers.
