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Thanks to a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the City of Hancock’s Fire Hall will have a new generator soon. The council approved Erico Electric’s bid to install the potentially life saving power backup for a little over $42,000. Manager Mary Babcock says that the federal agency is not the easiest to secure grants from, and staff worked as hard on this particular application as any in the past five years. Mayor Paul LaBine says the generator will have uses outside of keeping the lights on at the municipal headquarters.
Hancock plans to turn the Fire Hall into a shelter during widespread power outages. If a winter storm keeps people without heat for days, they would have somewhere to go until service is restored.
Babcock gave an update on filling the administrative position being made possible by the Community Economic Development Alliance of Michigan (CEDAM), saying they have struggled to find willing applicants.
The position will exist for 15 months and help the city meet requirements to be recognized as a Redevelopment Ready Community from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and a Michigan Main Street member. Given its temporary nature, that make s the job harder to fill. Calumet has seen a lot of interest for its Village Manager opening while offering similar pay and benefits.
[CORRECTION: The article originally stated September 2nd.] There is a blood drive happening at the Farmers Market and Tori September 16th on Quincy Green, another activity to help drive traffic to the event as it grows in popularity. The city is looking for people to adopt fire hydrants and be willing to paint them a true red, rather than the lighter, pinkish hue seen throughout most of Hancock.
