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Hancock residents last week approved all three ballot proposals dealing with Hancock Public School and the Hancock Police Department. The police millage passed through the election, with a vote of nearly two to one in favor of the proposed millage. The police millage is anticipated to raise 100,000 dollars for the department to add a new full time officer. With the soon to come arrival of the department’s new chief Tami Sleeman, the Hancock City Council approved the new bill. City tax payers will see the new police millage first appear as a part of the December tax bill.
“So it will go on the December bills, and it was authorized for 2022… We might for a while have two officers. Even if we do find a full time applicant right now, that’s good. We might. But we can still do the academy. We can go for the grant, so it would be paid, hopefully. And then we’d have another officer for a while.” – Mary Babcock, Hancock City Manager
The new police millage for the city of Hancock is a fifteen year millage, and will end in 2037. At that time the city’s residents will have the opportunity to renew the new 0.8 mill tax. Additionally Hancock hopes to apply for a grant, and bring on a new recruit out of the NMU Regional Police Academy. The city does have someone lined up, who is interested in working for the department, with the aid of the additional police grant.
Additionally, Hancock has also approved the purchase of a used 2004 ford f 550 bucket truck. The vehicle will cost the city 28,000 dollars from Industrial Graphics. Hancock plans to use the truck to help the department of public works hang signs throughout the year, change lightbulbs and take on projects from new heights.
“The other thing is on the capital improvment plan for the Houghton County Arena, there is a scissor lift. To change the lights. And so this is we’ll be able to use to at Houghton County Ice Arena. When and if it’s needed for that.” – Mary Babcock, Hancock City Manager
With the city’s recent purchase of the Hoguhton County arena, the bucket truck will also come in handy.
