NORWAY — The city of Norway has renewed its Energy Innovations Collaborative agreement with WPPI Energy, offering incentives for residents and business owners to save energy.

Under the agreement, the electric department sets aside a portion of its revenue and allows customers to receive rebates on Energy Star rated products as well as rebates for a number of other energy-saving investments.

The city’s funding of the program will not exceed $76,072.

The agreement will run from May 1, 2024 until Dec. 31, 2025. More information is available at https://upeic.com/.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s Public Act 229 establishes new energy waste reduction targets for electric and natural gas providers. According to the Michigan Public Service Commission, it requires the filing of new customer energy optimization plans beginning Jan. 1, 2025, which are to include energy waste reduction plans as well as optional efficient electrification measures plans.

In other council action Wednesday:

— Norway Chief of Police Patrick Wilkey was on hand to request the purchase of a radio. The officer that will use the Motorola APX 6000 is a part of Dickinson County’s Critical Incident Response Team and due to the sensitive nature of the work, the radio requires a special level of encryption that adds to the cost. According to Wilkey, the police department has been replacing radios at the rate of one per year and has $6,000 in the budget for the purchase, which the council approved.

— A pump at a wastewater lift station will be replaced at cost of $5,234. According to Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Brock Johnson, the pump failed on March 13 and the lift station has been operating with one pump since.

Johnson said that there is money budgeted for the repair.

— Mayor Candy Brew thanked the Toro Company Foundation and its equipment donation program for the donation of a work utility vehicle. The vehicle will be used by the Downtown Development Authority and Debbie Hood for the downtown beautification program. Brew also thanked Brock Johnson for pursuing the opportunity.

— Brew also noted that Knight’s Kingdom at Strawberry Lake Park is in a state of disrepair and something should be done. Brew said that the park is a high point of the town and said maybe they could recruit some volunteers to help stain it for the time being. City Manager Dan Stoltman reported the city had missed out on a grant that would have been used at the park but he continues to seek out other grant opportunities.

— A resolution recognizing April 18 as National Lineman Appreciation Day was approved. The resolution states in part, electrical “lineman put their lives on the line every day with little recognition or appreciation from the community regarding the danger of their work.”

— A resolution recognizing April 24 as Administrative Professionals Day was approved. “Every day in the city of Norway administrative professionals work behind the scenes to ensure bills are paid, questions are answered, payroll is processed and a host of other critical functions.”

— A resolution recognizing April 26 as National Arbor Day was approved as citizens were urged to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect trees and woodlands and to plant trees.