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Laurium Village Council met on Tuesday night, dealing with openings on the council itself and the police force. Jaikob Djerf is stepping down from his seat, with his resignation being accepted with regret at the meeting. Applications are being taken for his replacement, with a posting already on the village’s website. The person chosen would serve until November, when they would have to successfully run for a new term in the general election.
Following the retirement of Police Chief Robert Kyllonen and the promotion of Kurt Erkkila as his replacement, the department is still exploring options to add a new member to the staff. They anticipate having a hire by fall. In expectation of that, Darron Olson was promoted to sergeant after 17 years on the force. Erkkila discussed a grant designed to help the recruitment process along.
A public hearing is set for March’s meeting to discuss the reinstatement of the Laurium Planning Commission. It will allow one non-resident to serve on the body. Sam Stonelake from the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance has agreed to the seat, but the council did not want to officially accept him until the ordinance (number 112) governing the commission has passed.
The council will meet on Friday, February 25th, for a budget meeting. Much of the meeting was a conversation on how to adjust to a village manager model. Member Krista Carlson suggested that each committee meet with recently hired Diana Lewitzke to hammer out responsibilities. She also suggested that village employees have a preapproved spending ceiling for equipment purchases, etc. Many of the buys are made through auction when there is little time to convene a special session of the council.
President John Sullivan said the body should do as much as possible to research costs, etc. associated with grants it is interested in.
Even if it is a year or more before the potential project can be applied for, it would create a roadmap for the council as it tries to allocate funds in future budgets. The skeleton created now could then be updated when a letter of intent is drafted. He hopes that will allow the village to be ready for grant opportunities, rather than missing the window in which proposals are being accepted.
