KINGSFORD — A grant from a Chicago-based non-profit group will help the city of Kingsford enhance election safety.

At its Oct. 5 meeting, the city council discussed the $5,000 grant from the Center for Tech and Civil Life. The city plans to use the funds for more laptops and for hazard pay for election workers.

Founded in 2015, CTCL describes itself as “a team of civic technologists, trainers, researchers, election administration and data experts working to foster a more informed and engaged democracy, and helping to modernize U.S. elections.”

Aided by recent funding from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, CTCL has been awarding grants to local election jurisdictions to support administration of the November 2020 elections.

The CTCL COVID-19 Response Grant Program is an open call to every local election office in the country

In other action, the council:

— Set trick or treat hours as 4 to 7 p.m. on Halloween. The city will coordinate with the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department and potentially Iron Mountain to create guidelines.

— Approved hiring the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission to assist in updating the city’s recreation plan.The city must have an updated five-year plan by Feb. 1 in order to apply for grants, according to City Manager Anthony Edlebeck. The cost is $1,000.

— Agreed to hire, for $800, the Superior Alliance for Independent Living in Marquette to evaluate the city’s parks and facilities for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

— Learned Edlebeck has submitted more information for the state’s Recreation Passport Grant application for Lodal Park, including more photos of the park entrance and facilities, and additional information about the Safer Routes to Schools access to the park.

— Approved a request to seek bids to cut 13 trees and remove 25 stumps, and remove additional debris from alleys as needed.

— Learned five people initially registered for the city’s managed archery deer hunt, which opened Oct. 1 and continues through the end of the year.

— Learned the planning commission didn’t meet as planned to discuss creating an ordinance in regard to using shipping containers for storage on property within the city limits. Edlebeck said they found a couple of sample ordinances the city can draw upon. The commission didn’t have a quorum.

— Learned a PowerPoint presentation on the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Wastewater Treatment Plant’s $5.4 million upgrade project will be created and made available on the city’s website, instead of having an open house due to the continuing COVID-19 restrictions.

— Scheduled a Nov. 2 public hearing to discuss a variance for a garage at 429 Dickinson Blvd.

— Noted the city fall compost collection has begun. Loose leaf collection will start Monday. Bagged leaves will be collected until Nov. 7.