City staff briefed the Ishpeming City Council on a recently announced halt in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments and the potential local impacts, and the council voted to treat the loss of SNAP benefits as a qualifying financial hardship.

City staff member Gray said the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced there would be no SNAP payments issued on Nov. 1 and outlined how that could increase demands on local aid and push more residents into arrears. "We have been notified by some agencies that they are currently unable to process new aid applications," Gray said, noting local agencies are strained by a concurrent funding disruption.

Given that context, council approved a motion authorizing the city manager to suspend penalties, interest and utility disconnections for customers who submit a hardship request form with documentation of current SNAP participation. The motion also directed staff to report the situation back to council monthly under unfinished business until SNAP benefits are restored or council modifies the action.

City staff emphasized that the suspension applies to penalties and enforcement while account balances remain; customers are still responsible for charges for utility service received. A finance staff member described staff estimates that a universal pause on penalties and interest could reduce monthly penalty income across water, sewer and refuse funds by roughly $5,000–$7,000 as an upper-end estimate, and noted not all residents who lose SNAP would seek the utility relief.

Council members said the targeted-suspension approach felt fairer than universal relief because it requires individuals to document need while recognizing the disruption is outside many residents' control. The council did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript beyond verbal assent; the motion passed following voice vote.

Staff will bring a hardship-request form back for finalization and will update council monthly on uptake and fiscal impacts.