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A modicum of civility returned to last night’s Houghton City Council meeting, as members dealt with fallout from the discord displayed at several previous sessions.
One of the communications read into the minutes at the beginning of the meeting by City Clerk Ann Vollrath was a letter from former Hancock Mayor John Haeussler, imploring the council to clean up its behavior…
Mayor Brian Irizarry introduced the resolution he had written to set general behavioral standards…
But the council wasn’t interested, and Irizarry’s request for a motion to open the resolution to discussion was met with an awkward silence.
In other action, councilors briefly discussed proposed changes to several city ordinances. Among the provisions would be a prohibition of beekeeping within the city, new rules for lawns and control of pets in public spaces, and a stronger procedure for dealing with abandoned properties. Council members elected to take no action last night, but will spend the next two weeks reviewing the changes, and collecting input from citizens. If the ordinance changes are introduced, public hearings will be held before the changes could be adopted.
Dennis Garver was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority/Tax Increment Finance Authority. He was the only applicant to fill an unexpired term.
City Manager Eric Waara noted that the mild winter has produced little threat for freezing pipes. Citizens who note abnormally cold water or reduced flow should contact the city office.
Waara also noted that the ice carver will be creating a statue downtown on Saturday, in conjunction with Winter Carnival. Amenities will be set up at the new pier to view the Winter Carnival fireworks Saturday evening…
The fireworks begin Saturday at 8:30.
