Ishpeming '025: Two residents raised concerns during public comment about the timing for water-bill assistance and the city's communication during an ongoing water and road reconstruction project.

Michael Jennings, listing his address in Ishpeming, told council he has experience using public-assistance programs for water bills and said the city's current billing schedule does not allow reliable time for outside aid to process payments. "With the way the city system is set up, the due date is the fifth. They by the fifteenth give us a shutoff notice. By the 25th, they shut off the water," Jennings said. He said assistance approvals and mailing delays can take two weeks or more and asked whether the city could provide PDF bills online and allow more time for assistance providers to deliver payments.

Jeremy Johnson, a resident of North Third Street, told the council that the multi-million-dollar road-and-water project felt "unorganized, inefficient" and that crews have dug and refilled his block multiple times. He said his water has been shut off without notice at least three times and described the experience as disruptive to work-from-home schedules. "This project has felt unorganized, inefficient, and in my opinion, has suffered, in perception from a lack of communication," Johnson said.

City staff and contractors responded during the meeting. Christopher (staff) explained why there are multiple digs in the same block: storm sewer work is deepest and typically must be installed before water and sanitary mains, which requires staged excavation rather than a single trench. He also acknowledged the need for better communication and said staff discuss communications routinely.

Council members and staff did not adopt a policy change at the meeting but acknowledged the issues. The mayor reminded the public that council does not respond during public comment but that remarks will be taken into consideration.

Key resident requests and staff responses

- Request: Provide PDF or online copies of water bills so residents or assistance programs can receive bills promptly (Michael Jennings).
- Request: Allow longer or more flexible timelines for payment when assistance has been requested (Michael Jennings).
- Concern: Multiple trenching operations and repeated short-term service interruptions without adequate notification (Jeremy Johnson).
- Staff response: Construction sequencing (storm sewer first, then water, then sanitary) can require multiple digs; staff acknowledged communications need improvement and said the issue will be raised with contractors and project managers.

No formal council directive was recorded during the meeting; staff said the comments will be considered and that further follow-up can occur through staff channels.