QUINNESEC — Complaints about nails and other metal debris on East Breen Avenue in East Kingsford may lead to increased traffic enforcement as Breitung Township officials look to solve the issue.

During a township board meeting Monday, Superintendent Steve Mulka said he met recently with a representative of Alter Metal Recycling at 100 Superior Ave. to share concerns over metal spilled on streets.

“Alter Metal will send out a notice to their customers with accounts, reminding them to clean their trailers after unloading and secure loads when in transit,” Mulka said in a written report, adding, “Increased patrols for unsecured loads were made this last spring, and I have requested this again.”

Mulka said the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office has been asked to put out a reminder on its messaging app. Signage notifying drivers of unsecured load statutes and fines might be an option as well, he said.

During public comment, East Kingsford resident Heather Strong presented handfuls of large nails and other metal she’d collected near the township’s fire station at 525 E. Breen Ave. The problem has gotten worse in recent months, she told the board, leading to nails getting into vehicle tires.

Supervisor Denny Olson said anyone hauling scrap, whether to Alter or another location, must be careful to secure the load and clean up completely after a dropoff.

“They’re going to have to fix the problem or they’re going to get a ticket,” he warned.

Railroad crossings add to the problem, Olson continued. “Roofing nails and everything else can bounce out so easily,” he said. “Most of the time, it comes off when they’re empty.”

In other action, the township board:

— Opened five bids for a new fire truck, with prices ranging from $510,757 to $555,954. The township’s three fire station chiefs will be asked to make a recommendation by Thursday, at which time the board might schedule a special meeting or wait until its Aug. 11 session to act on the pumper truck purchase. The proposals, which in some cases include potential discounts or adjustments, come from Rosenbauer Firefighting Technology of Freeland; R&R Truck Repair Inc. of Belleville; Reliant Fire Apparatus of Slinger, Wis.; US Fire Apparatus of Holden, La.; and Midwest Fire of Luverne, Minn.

— Commended James D. Rose for his service the past four years as township fire chief. Rose, who received a framed resolution of appreciation, will stay on as a firefighter at Station 2 in East Kingsford. The township has yet to name a successor.

— Approved contributions of $3,000 to the Lake Antoine Association and $1,500 to the Bass Lake Milfoil Association for Eurasian watermilfoil control. Trustee Ben Peterson voted no, citing potential risks associated with herbicide treatments. Olson said milfoil has the potential to destroy a lake and the treatments are regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. “If they allow it, I feel it’s a good thing,” he said.

The Lake Antoine group this year is having some patches of weeds pulled out manually.

— Ruled out building a walking path in East Kingsford this year, due to ongoing water service line replacements. The project will be reevaluated in 2026. The board also agreed that if a walking path project in Quinnesec goes forward, it will stop on Menominee Street at Quinnesec Avenue, and not go north.

— Approved the purchase of a second trench box for the public works department at a cost of up to $13,000. The equipment is needed to meet safety requirements during water service line replacements.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.