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The city of Houghton has approved the city’s operating budget for 2024 -25. Houghton breaks the city budget into several departments for transparency. That includes department budgets for typical city operations as well as for the spring and fall clean up, tree trimming and replacement, security cameras, and School resource officer, and separates Dee Stadium from the Parks and Recreation department budget. In addition to the budget, the council approved the capital improvement plan for over the next five years. The capital improvement plan works as a sort of wish list for the city to track project progress and needs. Such as in 2029, Houghton has plans to put 4.5 million dollars toward relocating the city offices. Over the last couple of years, the city council has discussed on occasion the potential of moving the city offices from City Center, in order to free up a prime location in the downtown for economic growth.
Councilors also approved an amendment to the solid waste fee schedule. The amendment coincides with the city bringing recycling back to the downtown area, with recycling disposal located in certain areas of downtown.
Houghton has approved a purchase agreement to sell the property at 902 College Avenue for the development of a bank branch. The Portage Land Company, LLC has already purchased land adjacent to the Hodge Building previously owned by Greg Nominelli. The additional land was the site of an apartment explosion in March 2022. The proposal will plan to develop the entire combined lot area. Moving the Upper Peninsula State Bank location from M-26 to downtown, and construct a second building for mixed-use residential in the location. The purchase agreement sets the location’s appraised value at 440,000 dollars. Following due diligence by Portage the transaction will close in April 2025. The Portage Land Company will still need to complete site proposals and development work with city planning commission before construction can gain approval from the council.
Other action items approved by the city council included contract agreements with the city manager and city unions. Union and non union employees of the city will receive a 7 percent raise. City Manager Eric Waara will stay on with Houghton for another four years.
