CONTAINERS LIKE THESE would hold residential trash once Iron Mountain switches to automated collection. (Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Residents who will be satisfied with a 95-gallon garbage container when automated collection begins in Iron Mountain do not need to contact the city, but those who want a smaller 65-gallon container or an additional 95-gallon container need to request it, officials said.

The city is reaching out to residents on their preferences so that fewer changes will be needed once GFL Environmental delivers its wheeled carts, said City Manager Jordan Stanchina. A 95-gallon cart holds about as much as three typical garbage cans.

The city council was updated Monday on the conversion to automated collections, but a starting date has yet to be set.

Any customer may request an additional 95-gallon container at an extra cost of $1.50 per month. The additional container may also be added later if a customer finds that one is not enough.

Those who would like a 65-gallon container in lieu of a 95-gallon one — or an additional 95-gallon container — can email their name, address, and preference to cityhall@cityofironmountain.com or call 906-774-8530.

GFL, which took over trash collections last year after acquiring Great American Environmental Services of Kingsford, introduced the idea of automated collections to hold down costs and prevent damage to alleys. Truck operators are able to control the lifting, emptying and return of a cart without leaving the cab.

In offering the switch, GFL proposed no increased cost to the final years of the existing trash contract, which runs through Sept. 14, 2024. Also, the contract can be extended three years, through Sept. 14, 2027, at an annual price increase of 4%.

The city began contracting with Great American for garbage collection in 2004. Before that, it had its own vehicles and staff to provide the service.

The city might mail letters to customers regarding container preferences, or drop off notices. Information is also available on the city’s Facebook page.

In other action, the council:

— Adopted criteria for a special use permit to allow up to two livestock animals in a general business zoning district. The action accommodates an attraction at the Ice Cream Barn at 606 N. Stephenson Ave., where two cows were ordered removed last June after they were displayed in violation of a city ordinance. It’s now anticipated the shop will apply for a permit through the Iron Mountain Planning Commission, which will make a recommendation to the council. The permit, subject to annual review, would run from May 1 through the Friday after Labor Day. Among other issues, it addresses fencing, overnight shelter, waste management, video monitoring and consultation with the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department. The next meeting of the planning commission is Monday, May 8.

— Will solicit bids for a new excavator. Currently, the city has two 2001 backhoes, but adding a mid-size excavator will bring improved capabilities to the equipment fleet, Stanchina said. A drawback is that a trailer will be needed to move the unit from site to site. The city has budgeted $170,000 and may adjust its plans, depending on the bids.

— Approved the purchase of a computer server through Teck Solutions at a cost of $14,490. The city’s main server is out of warranty and at capacity, Stanchina said. The Dell PowerEdge R550 rack server can replace that server, along with two others that are out of warranty. The new server also provides 10 additional bays to add hard drives if capacity becomes an issue in the future.

— Approved a service agreement with Colligo GIS to provide a cloud-based platform for the city’s geographic information system mapping. This eliminates the need for a dedicated server that’s required with MPower as the GIS host, and puts the city under the same system used by other Dickinson County communities, Stanchina explained. The initial cost is $4,500, and then $3,000 annually after the first year. Although MPower may have some advantages, the annual cost is $5,000, Stanchina said. Colligo GIS is a mapping product created by Coleman Engineering.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500 ext. 226 or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.