DETECTIVE LT. ADAM RAY of the Iron Mountain Police Department works with K-9 officer Falcon in 2018. (Photo posted on Facebook)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Falcon, a K-9 officer who has served Iron Mountain Police Department since 2015, is now retired.

The city approved the move Monday as Dickinson County prepares to add a K-9 officer to its sheriff’s patrols. Edwin Mattson, Iron Mountain’s director of police and fire services, had recommended the city either drop its program or create a stand-alone position for a K-9 handler.

“We can’t afford to have a stand-alone position on that,” Mayor Dale Alessandrini said. “Let’s retire Falcon and move on.”

For more than eight years Falcon, a Belgian malinois, has been handled by Detective Lt. Adam Ray, who is being promoted within IMPD. The city’s K-9 program was funded through private donations.

Ray told the council last week that Falcon hasn’t been “utilized to the fullest of his ability” because IMPD is stretched too thin to allow strictly K-9 assignments. Also, K-9 units are available through Michigan State Police and Florence County, Wis.

Ray and Mattson at that time agreed the sheriff’s department is better suited to make full use of a K-9 officer, although both said they’re proud of what’s been accomplished with Falcon.

The council’s vote Monday on Falcon’s retirement was unanimous and the K-9 officer will remain under Ray’s care.

Meanwhile, City Attorney Gerry Pirkola will look into potential uses of the nearly $15,000 remaining in the city’s K-9 fund. Also, the city has a 2021 Dodge Durango equipped for K-9 use that might be sold to the county.

City Manager Jordan Stanchina noted the Durango was purchased with the aid of a U.S. Rural Development grant and an inquiry is pending on whether there are resale restrictions.

Dickinson County may introduce a K-9 officer by summer or fall, also supported by donations.

In other action, the council:

— Accepted a $41,000 grant from the Michigan Urban and Community Forestry Program to remove 15 to 17 large and mostly dead trees within Cemetery Park. These are trees that city staff and equipment would not be capable of removing, Stanchina said. A tree will be planted for each one removed and the only cost to the city is in-kind work. A second application submitted through the Iron Mountain Tree Board for $37,000 to remove and replace 15 trees on East A Street was unsuccessful.

— Agreed to publish a notice of intent for an upcoming water service line replacement program. The notice, which informs voters of their right to seek a referendum, is a requirement of the bonding process. The city was awarded nearly $4.6 million through Michigan’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with 51% of the amount a 2% loan and the rest a grant given as principal forgiveness. On the advice of the city’s bond counsel Steven Mann, the notice will be for a maximum of $6 million, which provides a cushion in case more state funding becomes available.

— Selected Bendzinski & Co. of Grosse Pointe as financial advisor for the bond issuance at a quoted fee of $12,500.

— Heard Stanchina report that a Source Water Protection Program document has been prepared at no cost through the Michigan Rural Water Association. The program is aimed at informing residents about steps they can take to prevent water pollution and improve water quality. It also describes other actions the city should take to protect its wells, Stanchina said. Having such a plan on file provides additional grant points in project applications submitted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

— Accepted a bid of $16,100 from Superior Steel of Iron Mountain to replace and install seven insulated steel service doors at the public works building, provided the bid meets specifications.

— Authorized the purchase of four ballistic police vests with carriers at a total cost of $5,300 through On Duty Gear LLC of Clinton Township.

— Approved a request from Tim Cauley, Downtown Development Authority manager, to close a portion of the city parking lot behind Downtown Plaza from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday from June 1 through Oct. 12 for the Farmers and Artisans Market.

— At the request of Alessandrini, passed a motion backing the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District’s request for a new property tax levy of 0.5206 mills, or about 52 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, to support vocational-technical education programs. The voice vote was unanimous, with council member Pam Maule absent and council member Kyle Blomquist abstaining due to a potential business interest. More information on the millage proposal, which will be on the Feb. 27 ballot, is available at https://www.diisd.org/.

— Approved a $2,000 contribution to the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools summer recreation program.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.