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Riverview approves $225,774 gas-well drilling contract as residents press for continued landfill oversight
Summary
The Riverview City Council awarded a $215,022.48 contract (plus 5% contingency) to DNR Earthmoving for gas-collection well drilling and control work and faced public comment pressing to retain landfill oversight after council members said committee meetings had been cancelled.
Riverview — The Riverview City Council voted unanimously April 21 to award a bid for gas collection and control well drilling to DNR Earthmoving for $215,022.48, with a 5% contingency that brings the total to $225,773.60.
The item, identified on the agenda as a spring 2025 gas-collection and control systems well-drilling construction project, drew public comment and council discussion about whether routine landfill matters should continue to be vetted by a dedicated landfill committee or addressed in full council study sessions.
Resident Ken Keilman urged the council to keep the landfill committee in place, saying the panel provided “access to important information and insight” and that the landfill is “the single most visible and controversial thing that our city deals with.” Keilman told the council that cancellation of committee meetings had meant routine landfill items have repeatedly appeared on consent agendas or study sessions instead of first being reviewed by the committee.
Council members and staff said many landfill items are recurring and that bringing them to the full council in study sessions increases transparency because study sessions are televised while the ad hoc committee meetings are not. Mayor Swift said the city maintains partnerships with other Downriver communities for mutual aid and noted large landfill projects are sometimes better handled at study sessions so all councilors see the same information at the same time.
Council member Webb pressed city staff about negotiation with DTE for cost-sharing on gas-related improvements after councilors discussed revenues the city expects from a renewable natural gas (RNG) plant. Jeff Webb, the city's director of public works, told council the current contract language does not require DTE to reimburse the city for well-drilling projects without renegotiation: “The contract was written in the past that does not include these gas well drilling projects to be covered. That was out of our royalties and operation of the landfill.” He added that royalties are recorded as revenue and operating expenses as operating expense, and that the city could net the two but would still face the drilling costs regardless of royalties.
City staff also said the well drilling helps both gas collection for a potential RNG plant and odor control; the landfill director, Kugelman, has indicated an aim to keep drilling costs near $500,000 annually in the budget, and the city has currently been below that amount.
The motion to award the contract was made and seconded by council members as noted on the record and passed by roll call. No council member voted against the award.
