By the Daily News

KINGSFORD — The City of Kingsford will again ask voters to decide whether the city needs a Civil Service Commission.

The city council approved a resolution to allow the city to bring a civil service ballot initiative to a vote by residents, possibly in the Nov. 7 election.

The Civil Service Act of 1935 was approved by city residents and put in place in 1951 to ensure police officers and firefighters were hired, promoted and managed based on merit and fitness.

City Manager Mike Stelmaszek told the council he believes the commission is no longer needed and actually makes it harder to find and hire public safety officers. Other communities have done away with civil service commissions.

In a memo to the council, Stelmaszek explained the commission is only used to select entry-level employees and for administrative matters.

“Minimum hiring and employment standards are now regulated by the Michigan Coalition of Law Enforcement Standards and the Fire Fighters Training Council respectively for police officers and firefighters; and the city’s personal committee can handle matters involving the public safety administration, as it is their responsibility to work with the other city administrators,” he said.

The city last requested a vote on the issue in 2003 and it was defeated. “Circumstances have worsened since then, necessitating the need to, once again, bring the issue to the citizens of Kingsford,” Stelmaszek said.

In other business, the council July 3:

— Approved a bid from Midwest Asphalt & Gravel of Iron Mountain for 750 tons of road gravel for $7,155. A second bid was received from Morin Excavating in Niagara, Wis., for $10,125.

— Will pay $4,550 to have the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission complete the city’s Capital Improvement Plan for 2025-2030. Stelmaszek said that the current plan only goes through 2024 and is needed for grant applications. Additionally, the city will receive extra points toward its current State Revolving Fund requests for water and sewer improvements. “The state and federal governments depend heavily on these plans in making grant decisions,” he said.

— Heard that a request for a Community Development Block Grant loan of $140,000 to Kingsford Broach and Tool was approved by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Stelmaszek said that the city was on the verge of losing CDBG revolving fund monies because they hadn’t made a loan in quite a while.

— Approved training for the new Breitung Township Schools resource officer Ryan Pericolosi to attend a five-day training program in Hartford, Wis. The cost will be refunded by the school district. He will start at the school at the end of August as the second officer.

— Learned that the city’s Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grant applications that were denied last year have been revised and resubmitted. The city is seeking funding to create a disabilities-accessible, all-paved nature trail with two river overlook platforms along the Menominee River. Also, a new boat launch, floating dock, fishing pier and playground equipment are requested at Menominee River Park.