[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6250816,"mediaKeyId","3198270-482775bf7e7c5f8142d1dd4c46022d08","parentId",3198270,"title","Council presses Consumers Energy over road damage from gas-main work; staff says city has limited control","audioSeconds",252,"startMs",1292000,"endMs",1544000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198270-482775bf7e7c5f8142d1dd4c46022d08&start=1292&end=1544","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198270-482775bf7e7c5f8142d1dd4c46022d08/thumbnail_1292000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250816/Burton/Genesee-County/Michigan/Council-presses-Consumers-Energy-over-road-damage-from-gas-main-work-staff-says-city-has-limited-control","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250816-9e709a558a0043301b86bd15500b9dc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445681&Signature=fTbbJ5eIPH3zh6m9BbjPBcTA1A6dR95xNk7u7v3xYQ8wXMGZmF20w7sy~n~sn7OPpVtwsBy1r6sq1dWyrSwEm0SHoNYFBrHi6pvD1F2HKF0o6BDaGsLzZWbmeuVy4NVybhFvPQS3iC9Y~LqnfHwjVRvmFSnGhbFoOynaWdmcgVanod2h6Xi8Hhinummn-lRbhLgieq2VeK94DkiAwqNFrjd5xw87Vho7PdOQdGFjnUbo2j3eoJ7YIm0RANe2rhpwvR0W~N7mFR5Yo4LNd2lbNaV7Ig-lQ4cAlneppNlnctm96CcFKnxOJRPQZfgJ7SgclALPavwDNAJu-CuoPuvWHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burton, MI ","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","Burton City Council members raised complaints about damage and traffic disruptions from Consumers Energy’s gas-main work on Center Road, Bristol Road and other corridors, and asked city staff to press the utility for better repairs.

The concern matters because repeated utility trenching and temporary patches can accelerate pavement deterioration after recent city paving projects, potentially shifting repair costs to the city and motorists.

Councilman Heffner said the utility work has “destroyed our road” in places and pushed the city toward recurring maintenance costs. Heffner told the council, “We don't have to accept a bumpy road back though,” while urging staff to demand higher restoration standards.

City staff, represented at the meeting by Mr. Abbe, said the repairs are difficult to control when utilities perform directional drilling and must place pits and temporary patches to locate underground leads. “It's an ongoing issue. We stay on it,” Abbe said, adding that the city holds regular meetings with Consumers Energy staff and continues to press restoration standards.

Council members and a business-owner representative said local businesses suffered during paving and subsequent utility work. One council member advised that complaints to the state Public Service Commission can prompt the utility to step up response and repairs.

Council members cited large past paving investments for road sections (one councilor referenced roughly $3,400,000 for work from Lippincott to Atherton) and asked whether the city can force full-lane replacements instead of temporary patches. City staff acknowledged the city can insist on better restoration quality but said coordination with the utility’s project timing and methods is challenging.

Councilors also raised an ongoing problem with mud and truck runoff at Country Oaks on Dort Highway near Atherton Road; staff said they will follow up with enforcement and consider gravel-mat or other erosion-control measures.

No formal motions or votes were taken at this meeting specifically to compel Consumers Energy to change its work methods; staff reported continued engagement, periodic meetings with the utility and site inspections. Council members said they would pursue further escalation if repairs do not meet the city’s restoration standards.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council\tMay 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and residents said Consumers Energy’s gas-main replacement work has left several local roads damaged and disrupted businesses. City staff said they meet regularly with the utility but have limited authority to stop directional-drilling operations; a council member urged possible escalation to the Public Service Commission.","taxTitle","Burton, Genesee County, Michigan","taxId",55651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250821,"Residents ask for monthly accounting as council discusses DNR grant and purchase of 4312 Dort Highway",238,1033000,1271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198270-482775bf7e7c5f8142d1dd4c46022d08&start=1033&end=1271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198270-482775bf7e7c5f8142d1dd4c46022d08/thumbnail_1033000.jpg","/articles/6250821/Burton/Genesee-County/Michigan/Residents-ask-for-monthly-accounting-as-council-discusses-DNR-grant-and-purchase-of-4312-Dort-Highway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250821-1b4b590250977ef81d36d9e2c0e35b97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445681&Signature=DSi7N0V89hY0dFya1NJQkuA~J~VvfyBNaMWk-Z4AkeBWhy1vgx6Sut9HVcMPYHBarrQd8JrrcRbc9FZ~-lDBI4wXbnK06N6omKfSVA8EtGy6QOeS-idjDC~jgWvcRCl-kcRMSBrqmFNSNi~InpCJUsnwwkd~h26Q2u8tfoo81SpcyOZvjvDaa0XdwIuca2PE4QAO5h-qpoktY4BPnMPrEDYE-CdrAWsHh0akIdNYtHzEgMr8U2kvTZXfQxZB1LyscPd~b9rnfxu2ZSIokoeeriBHsyN1cAihBYM~5mh86o9pN8a8BUlSmaqtVPRxgca0hXyFD7PMSzkIR4~bWpHDKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burton City Council members and residents discussed a previously approved purchase agreement for 4312 Dort Highway and details of a Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant tied to that purchase.

The discussion matters because the purchase and cleanup plan would rely heavily on a DNR grant and a local match, meaning ongoing costs and monthly operational activity could affect city finances and resident services.

Patrick Dargo, a Burton resident, told the council he wants regular, itemized monthly updates on costs and law-enforcement or maintenance activity at 4312 Dort Highway. “The residents of Burton should know and understand the burden about the replaced upon their shoulders,” Dargo said during public comment and asked the administration to publish amounts and monthly transaction reports.

Mayor (name not specified) told the council the city has been approved for a $1,275,000 DNR grant and that the council agreed to provide a 25% local match depending on final costs. The mayor also said a purchase agreement was previously signed for about $1,475,000 and that the city “has not paid a dime for anything yet,” adding the DNR disbursement “might not even happen till September, October.”

Council members asked whether the administration could put payment information online and respond to Dargo’s request for transparency. The administration pointed to the DNR grants website for grant documentation and repeated that the city will not spend funds until DNR disbursement and final invoicing occur.

At this meeting councilors did not take a new vote on the property or spending; the purchase agreement and related agenda item were discussed as already approved in an earlier meeting on April 21, according to a public comment and council remarks. No new funds were authorized at this session.

Residents and at least one councilmember requested monthly statements listing dates, dispatched officers or work crews, durations and costs related to 4312 Dort Highway. The administration acknowledged the request but reiterated that significant spending is contingent on the DNR grant approval and the timing of that disbursement.

If the DNR grant is disbursed, the city will be required to provide the agreed local match; exact match amounts will depend on project scope and final invoices. Council members did not identify a schedule for publishing monthly reports but discussed transparency as a priority going forward.

Clarifying details raised at the meeting included the $1,275,000 DNR grant figure, a referenced purchase agreement price of roughly $1,475,000, and the council’s prior approval of the agenda item on April 21. The administration said no funds have been spent to date and that the DNR approval and grant disbursement timeline could push work into September or October.

The council did not adopt additional requirements or a formal reporting schedule during this meeting; residents may follow up at the city’s finance or future council sessions for more detail.

","Burton residents pressed the council for detailed, ongoing cost reporting after the city signed a purchase agreement for 4312 Dort Highway tied to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trust Fund grant. City officials said the grant is approved but disbursement and spending are pending DNR procedures.","actionData","errors"]

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Council presses Consumers Energy over road damage from gas-main work; staff says city has limited control

Residents ask for monthly accounting as council discusses DNR grant and purchase of 4312 Dort Highway