KINGSFORD — Only 141 households in Kingsford have signed up for a voluntary curbside recycling program, leading City Manager Michael Stelmaszek to propose the city join with Iron Mountain to apply for a state grant that might call for a mandatory program.

Michigan’s benchmark recycling standards require that 90% of single-family dwellings in urban areas have access to curbside recycling by Jan. 1, although there’s no immediate penalty for non-compliance. Kingsford and Norway plan to offer voluntary recycling, but so far they’re well short of the 1,000 households needed to obtain a price of $8.50 per month from GFL Environmental Inc. Only 68 households in Norway have signed up.

With mandatory recycling, Iron Mountain estimates a cost per household of $6.35 per month, also through GFL.

To implement a program, Iron Mountain is eyeing a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy grant that would pay 80% of the cost to acquire wheeled carts. City Manager Jordan Stanchina has contacted officials in both Kingsford and Norway, as well as Breitung Township, to gauge interest in participating in a joint application. EGLE grant proposals are due Jan. 28.

Kingsford City Council expects to gather input from citizens at its Jan. 5 meeting, while Norway City Council had its regular meeting Wednesday.

Stanchina has pointed out that the state will likely award grants to recipients that are able to divert the most waste from landfills, which makes voluntary programs less viable.

In other business Monday, the Kingsford council:

— Learned that 10 hunters participating in a managed archery hunt have culled 31 deer from the city herd.

— Approved the purchase of a used water department service truck at a cost not to exceed $18,000. Council member Michael Flaminio complimented Public Works Supervisor Jeff DeMuri for finding used vehicles online and saving the city money.

— Approved a financial advisory engagement letter from Bendzinski & Company for Clean Water State Revolving Fund monies for project No. 4 at a cost of $17,850, which will be reimbursed by the project funds. “It’s frustrating that the program makes you have an outside person come and basically give it a rubber stamp,” Stelmaszek said. Bendzinski & Company has been used on previous sewer and water projects as well.

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News Editor Jim Anderson contributed to this report.