Kingsford Public Safety K-9 Officer Scout and his handler, Officer Rodney Woodward, will have a new training area thanks to an Eagle Scout project planned by Jacob Marutz. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

KINGSFORD — The Hometown Heroes Banner Program underway in Kingsford has reached more than a third of its goal.

Ken Wood of the Citizens Advisory Committee and Jennifer Castro, the city’s administrative assistant/accounts payable clerk, are helping organize the program. They told the city council Tuesday that so far 11 of the 30 banners have been sold.

They have been working to increase awareness by placing flyers advertising the program at local businesses, attending events and with posts on Facebook.

The program is open to all current, previous or deceased members of the military who call Kingsford home. They can be purchased by family members, friends or veterans themselves.

Wood said a lot of veterans are reluctant to purchase a banner for themselves, but organizers have emphasized the banners would be something their families can have to remember them.

They cost $225 for a 30-by-60-inch, full-color banner and brackets for placing it on a pole. They will be displayed from Memorial Day to Labor Day for three years and then will go to the veteran, family or other sponsor.

They would like to order the banners by March so they will arrive in time to be installed by Memorial Day weekend. They are considering displaying them in Lodal Park, with any extra banners being placed along Breitung Avenue near the park.

Applications and requirements are available online at kingsfordmi.gov or at Kingsford City Hall.

In other business, the council —

— Learned Boy Scout Jacob Marutz of Kingsford has altered his planned Eagle Scout project and will now construct an exercise and training area at the city’s public safety building for Scout, the department’s K-9. According to information provided by City Manager Mike Stelmaszek, an area from the corner of the police garage to the corner of the locker room on the other end of the building will be enclosed with an 8-foot wooden fence. The fence will be adjacent to the sidewalk that goes through the field on the north side of the facility. It will have a main door on the side near the locker room and a gate to bring in a lawn mower.

— Approved a Sewer Fund Deficit Elimination Plan resolution required by the state after the city had a $44,011 deficit at the end of the fiscal year. The city decided to borrow money from the general fund to pay for the costs associated with the shortfall, rather than borrow and pay interest, Stelmaszek said. The shortfall occurred because of many additional sewer costs associated with the water projects and the sewer work also done on Carpenter Avenue, where the state reconstructed a section just south of Woodward Avenue. Sewer fund revenues have already been paid back from the general fund and there is no longer a deficit. Because the deficit did happen, the state required the resolution.

— Approved buying 30 banners celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The 30-by-60 inch banners will include new brackets, replacing aging ones that are currently on poles. The cost will be $6,414, with a portion coming from the general fund. Employees from the department of public works will install the banners when they arrive.

— Heard Stelmaszek report that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has completed its report on the city and found no work-related injuries involving city employees in 2025.

— Authorized Treasurer Holly Palmer to attend Michigan Municipal Treasurers Association virtual treasurer-to-treasurer sessions. The cost will be $99 for eight virtual sessions, each one-hour long.

— Agreed to send Assistant Clerk Tonya Hiltonen to Upper Peninsula Human Resources Association training April 23 in Marquette. The cost of the one-day training is $70, plus expenses.

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