KINGSFORD — City employees in Kingsford will have a new health insurance option to possibly help keep costs down.

The city’s insurance rates are projected to increase 15% through their carrier Michigan Education Special Services Association, City Manager Mike Stelmaszek indicated at a previous meeting. The previous year, the cost increased nearly 13%.

If they choose, employees can opt for a $2,500 deductible for single, or $5,000 deductible for family or two-person, and pay a lower premium. The options currently available have a $2,000 deductible for single or a $4,000 deductible for family or two-person.

The city pays 80% of the cost with employees paying 20%. The new plan would also offer a slight savings to the city.

In other business, the council:

— Learned the city is trying to increase the number of signups for a new curbside recycling program that will be offered jointly with the city of Norway. The cost will be $8.50 per month and those who participate will receive a 96-gallon container that will be collected twice a month by Green for Life of Kingsford. Garbage collection will still be done by the city. The program will start in January. Residents will only be able to sign up on a quarterly basis — January, April, July and September — after Oct. 31.

— Approved a request from Todd Dooley of Spread Eagle Fireworks to have fireworks at the Oct. 17 varsity football game. It is an annual event that takes place during the final home game of the season.

— Learned from City Assessor Kyle Mulka that a dangerous building hearing was conducted by program officer Ken Wood on Sept. 24, with four of eight property owners in attendance. Two others couldn’t attend. There are abatement plans for five of the structures and one is being made safe. A Nov. 15 deadline has been set for structures to be demolished or made safe. They will be adding more properties as current ones are taken care of, Mulka said.

— Heard from Stelmaszek that he approved a request from the Kingsford youth football organization to allow them to construct a moveable shed adjacent to the football field at Lodal Park. They are in need of more storage space.

— Approved payment of $771,643.23 to GEI Associates for the second Heights water and sewer project. The project is about 95% complete.

— Was informed the Michigan Department of Transportation has approved the city’s request to make Evergreen Court and Moroni Drive into major streets, which will result in additional street funding for the city.

— Learned a bid was accepted from Midwest Gravel Inc. in the amount of $7,200 for 750 tons of 23A gravel. Public Works Superintendent Jeff DeMuri also reported the purchase of a used bucket truck from Wisconsin Surplus for $12,182, which will be used for hanging banners, trimming trees and other maintenance work.

— Noted that city crews will begin picking up brush and garden waste on Monday, Oct. 20, starting in the Ford Addition continuing to Garden Village, the Breitung Area and the Heights. Loose leaves must be piled at the street edge behind the curb, not in the alley, for collection slated to begin soon.

— Heard that a Dickinson Area Economic Development task force has invited council members to tour the Sturgeon Falls Dam in Vulcan at noon Friday, Oct. 17.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.