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Laurium approves hiring a part-time officer; chiefs outline fire equipment timeline and grant plans
Summary
The council authorized advertising to hire one part-time police officer after discussion of a candidate pool offered by Hancock City; Chief Kurt Erkkila and Manager Ian Lewis also updated the council on fire equipment procurement and a $133,000 heating-system grant application.
The Laurium Village Council voted Jan. 14 to authorize hiring one part-time police officer and to advertise the position immediately, following a presentation by Chief Kurt Erkkila and Village Manager Ian Lewis.
Erkkila said the Hancock City Police Department had offered access to a pool of part-time officers who could be sponsored by the village via an MColes grant, which could help fill weekend shifts and cover vacations. He said the village would hire an officer and send that person to the academy; recruitment advertising was to begin immediately.
Manager Ian Lewis reported the payment for a fire vehicle chassis is in process under state procurement rules and said a new fire equipment vehicle is on schedule to be ready in about a year. Lewis added the fire department’s aerial truck (a 2001 model) has costly electrical issues and the department is considering replacement options. Lewis also is pursuing a grant to replace the firehall heating system, estimating the project at $133,000.
The council approved the hiring authorization with four votes in favor and one abstention by A. Erickson. No final hiring decision was made at the meeting; staff were directed to advertise and proceed with screening.
The meeting also included routine public-safety coordination items, including plans for a Firemen’s Tournament the village will host on June 21, 2025, and discussion of logistics for a potential part-time officer pool arrangement with Hancock.
