by Geoff Fox
Town officials unanimously approved their 2026 fiscal year budget during the June town meeting last Tuesday evening, June 10.
There weren’t many changes to the $2.49 million budget that was introduced during a public hearing prior to the May town meeting.
The only real change was the addition of the Flock police cameras.
That cost would add another $18,000 to the budget.
Parking kiosks
Hancock’s downtown parking kiosks were brought up during citizens comments at the council meeting, asking if they are still in operation.
Sean Haart made the inquiry to town officials, according to notes taken by Town Manager Mike Faith.
Faith said he has been in contact with the kiosk company, Pango, but so far they haven’t been real responsive.
When the kiosks were installed in 2022, Faith said they might not have been put in the most ideal spots.
Some aren’t even working, Faith said, and a few other issues remain.
“The solution can’t be, when I tell them the ‘hey the screen’s broken,’ they mail me the screen,” Faith said.
The machines belong to Pango and they should have the technicians come to Hancock and fix them instead of having the town or Faith fix them, he added.
Faith said Haart brought up the kiosks concerned because he’s used to paying for parking.
Faith also added he’s been to various places this year and each time he’s had to pay for parking.
“Whenever I go someplace, you pay to park,” he said. Some places he’s had to download the app for those kiosks.
Faith admitted he has had a lot on his plate recently and needs to get on the company to help rectify the situation or come and get the kiosks.
The maintenance of the kiosks is written in the contract, Faith said. He said the town could possibly file a lawsuit against the company after review from the town’s attorney, but he’d rather find a solution than go the lawsuit route.
Cabins’ electric upgrades
Back in April, town officials said the former Boy Scouts cabins in Widmeyer Park were sitting empty and the electric to the cabins had been turned off after an inspection found the lines going to the cabins weren’t safe.
Officials unanimously approved $7,500 for upgrades and repairs to those lines.
The inspection came after the electrical systems at the flag football field across the stream from the cabins were upgraded.
Faith said the upgrades were needed for the concession stand at the field.
“Who knows how old those wires were?” Faith said. “For safety purposes, were going to have people in there, we’re going to make sure it’s all up to code.”
Moving forward, the Hancock Girl Scouts program is going to be using the cabins with “first dibs” on use.
Faith said if the Girl Scouts aren’t using the cabins one weekend, then another scout group could possibly use them.