NEGAUNEE — A new rental code will take effect in the city of Negaunee within the next year.

The Negaunee City Council unanimously adopted its rental code ordinance on Thursday. No one spoke during a public hearing on the matter prior to the council vote.

City Manager Nate Heffron said landlords have six months from the date of adoption to register their rental units free of charge.

Following that six-month window, the city will charge a fee for rental registration, Heffron said.

The code applies to single-family dwellings, multiple-family dwellings, bed-and-breakfast establishments and short-term rentals.

Nursing homes, hotels, motels and jails are excluded from the rental ordinance.

Heffron said the public would be informed about how to register properties soon through a variety of platforms.

“The whole ordinance will go into effect after a year, but we will have some stuff out here by the end of the month so folks can register in a timely manner,” Heffron said. He later added: “We will be notifying on Facebook, the paper, the press. We also have a list of folks that already register in a way because they want to know if a renter’s water or electricity has been shut off, or if there are problems.”

The council also approved a bid for two new snowplows for the Negaunee Department of Public Works. The trucks will cost about $165,000 each and will be purchased using funds from the city’s equipment millage capital outlay.

Another DPW equipment millage capital outlay expenditure of roughly $29,500 for a new dump truck box was also approved unanimously.

Councilors also unanimously OK’d a motion to accept a nearly $158,000 bid from Associated Constructors to remove and replace about 430 feet of water main on Peck Street from Kanter Street to Pioneer Avenue.

A $28,900 bid from Lake State Roofing Inc. for fire hall roof repairs was also approved by the council.

According to an agenda supplement, $20,000 was initially budgeted for the project. The additional $8,900 will be transferred from the city’s electric fund to cover the cost.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.