GLADSTONE — The newest member of the Gladstone Public Safety Department was introduced to city commissioners Monday. Public Safety Officer Nadeau-Enright presented K-9 Bico, Gladstone’s new, already-successful police dog, before the floor returned to the Gladstone City Commission and other city matters.

Handler PSO Nadeau-Enright said that two-and-a-half-year-old Bico — who specializes in tracking, detection, and apprehension — was certified in February and the two have been “working the road together” since the spring.

“We recently assisted Michigan State Police on a complaint in Rapid River where about three-quarters of a pound of narcotics was seized. For reference, Bico — just getting him, training and purchasing the dog — was roughly $20,000. … From this one case, this one stop, where he sniffed out those narcotics, he seized about $30,000 worth of drugs.”

PSO Nadeau-Enright emphasized how intelligent the dog is, performed a demonstration wherein the dog searched city hall to find something that had been planted before the meeting began, and expressed a belief that the canine may be the most valuable tool in the department.

Also during the Gladstone City Commission meeting:

≤ City Clerk Kim Berry said that absentee ballots may now be collected in person from city hall. People who have already requested absentee ballots should receive them in the mail this week.

≤ Melissa Silta was appointed to the DDA Board.

≤ Commissioners agreed to purchase a subscription to budgeting software Waterworth, which is already in use by Traverse City and communities elsewhere in the nation. The expectation/hope is that it will simplify work for city employees, take out some guesswork associated with hiring a rate consultant periodically, and save money.

≤ During a closed session, commissioners discussed steps that will be taken regarding a dispute between the city and the Caddy Shack Golf Club, formerly known as Irish Oaks.

≤ Zoning Administrator Renee Barron said Gladstone has seen “significant growth” this year and that six new homes have been built.

≤ A notice on demolition requirements from Delta County Landfill was reviewed. “Any structure that will be torn down and brought into the Delta County Landfill either by yourself or a hauler must be inspected by the landfill operations manager before it can be torn down,” it reads.