KINGSFORD — The Kingsford City Council authorized the Public Safety Department to purchase a new radio system.

In a memo, Public Safety Director Brandon Rutter explained the current radio system is being phased out, as the FBI and State of Michigan will require all agencies utilize Law Enforcement Information Network, or LEIN, encrypted radio channels by fall 2026.

The purchase includes 13 Motorola portable radios for $71,050.07 and two Motorola mobile squad radios for $13,612.60. The money will come from the public safety department budget next year.

The memo further explained it could take six to 10 months for the radios to arrive due to supply chain issues and manufacturing lead times.

Elcom, the department’s authorized regional Motorola representative and current service provider, will facilitate the purchase and maintenance of the equipment.

The radios should serve the department for 15 to 20 years, Rutter indicated.

In other business, the council:

— Gave Lake Antoine Park Partners permission to conduct the annual Fourth of July Parade that starts in Kingsford and ends in Iron Mountain. City Manager Mike Stelmaszek said the group was not aware they needed to have the city give formal consent. Approval is contingent on LAPP getting insurance.

— Approved $11,500 to help replace the fence around Spigarelli baseball field. The project is being coordinated by Dan Brown, with the total cost expected to be $27,500. Kingsford Little League and Breitung Township Schools are each donating $8,000 toward the project, which would be completed in August after baseball is done for the season. The city will repurpose the old fencing.

— Learned a ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, for the new pavilion in Ford Addition Park. The pavilion was built using donates from Rick and Marty Lagina, former Kingsford residents, in honor of their parents. The city will provide food and beverages for the event. The Laginas, stars of the History Channel’s series “The Curse of Oak Island,” grew up in Ford Addition and each donated $50,000 during the Kingsford Centennial celebration in 2024. The 20-by-28 foot pavilion has electricity and is handicapped accessible.