A Ford Motor Co. computer-generated image shows a Ford Explorer Interceptor police vehicle.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Recruitment has been challenging as Iron Mountain looks to fill what will soon be two police officer vacancies, according to City Manager Jordan Stanchina.

Unable to yet find a suitable candidate for police academy training, the city has learned that a current officer will be moving out of the area and leaving law enforcement, Stanchina told the city council Monday.

“We are exploring new avenues for advertising job openings,” he said in a memo. The departing officer has informed Police and Fire Services Director Jeff Solka he’ll relocate within the next three weeks.

The city budget calls for 13 full-time police employees, plus a clerical position. A year-end amendment approved by the council Monday provides an additional $25,000 for police department overtime, due to being short-staffed.

Fire department part-time wages, meanwhile, were increased by $15,000. The budget lists nine full-time fire department employees and six part-time.

In another public safety matter, the council accepted a quote from Tele-Rad of Champion to equip two new squad cars for road patrol use at a cost of $17,027 each.

The city is acquiring two 2026 Ford Explorer Interceptors under the state’s MiDEAL purchasing program from Gorno Ford in downstate Woodhaven. With the updates, the total cost per car will be about $64,500 each, Stanchina noted.

The city bought two Dodge Charger Pursuits in 2023, which is when production of police sedans ended. The cost for those vehicles was about $42,000 fully equipped, Stanchina said.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant covered about 35% of the cost of one of the Chargers, but that funding has ended. The Explorers are now the cheapest option available to meet the city’s needs, Stanchina said.

Higher price quotes for equipping the Explorers were received from Superior Upfitting of Sault Ste. Marie and N.E.W. Vehicle Solutions of Marinette, Wis.

At Solka’s request, the council also approved buying new police vehicle dash cameras. The four new cameras can be integrated with the department’s body camera system from Axon, which features automatic upload and cloud storage.

Total cost of the dash camera system is $54,049 spread out over five years or $10,810 annually. Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, the city’s liability insurance carrier, will provide a grant to cover half that cost.

Two years ago, the city entered a five-year contract with Axon for 10 body cameras and Evidence.com cloud storage at a cost of $37,717, offset by a grant of $9,429 from MMRMA. Previously, the department downloaded camera footage onto hard drives. Axon is based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In other action, the city council:

— Adopted administrative salaries for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to include increases of 3.5% consistent with contracts negotiated with union employees entering the final year of three-year pacts. Stanchina, who is at the highest step of the city’s eight-step schedule, will see a salary of $111,542. Others at the top step of the schedule are Chief Financial Officer Heather Lieburn, $85,700; Clerk-Treasurer Isaac Micheau, $70,826, plus $4,310 for zoning administrator duties; Department of Public Works Director Scott Thomas, $84,679; and Assessor Abbey Taylor, $74,197. Solka will advance to the eighth step, earning a salary of $100,504 in the next fiscal year. The hourly wage for the police department administrative assistant will be $24.51.

— Approved a seasonal employee wage rate increase of 3.5%. Stanchina noted rates now start at a base level of $15 per hour, which will be Michigan’s minimum wage effective Jan. 1. The current Michigan minimum wage is $13.73.

— Noted the Downtown Development Authority will host a Summer Roll Out event Saturday. Admission is $5 and free for children 12 and younger. More information can be found at https://downtownironmountain.com/summer-roll-out/.

— Approved a fireworks display permit for Spielbaurer Fireworks Co. of Green Bay, Wis., for an estimated 25-minute show from Millie Hill, at about 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, sponsored by Sons of the American Legion Post 50.

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