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Harper Woods approves multiple public-works contracts and progress payments for sewer, water and equipment
Summary
Harper Woods council approved a series of public-works contract actions, including a sanitary sewer-rehabilitation contract extension, an awarded sewer-lining bid using a state grant, multiple progress payments for sewer and lead-service projects, and the purchase of a new John Deere loader.
The Harper Woods City Council approved several public-works items covering sewer rehabilitation, sewer lining, sanitary cleaning and CCTV work, lead service-line replacements, and the purchase of a new loader — actions the city manager recommended and the city engineer supported.
Key actions passed by resolution included a contract extension with InstaForm Technology USA LLC to continue critical sanitary-sewer rehabilitation work at an amount not to exceed $111,575.10, and an award of a bid to DVM Utilities Inc. for a 2025 sewer-lining project in the amount of $101,596 funded by a Michigan Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and Townships (FDCBT) grant that requires no local match.
The council approved progress payments for ongoing projects: payment to L Anthony Construction Inc. for concrete pavement repair (progress payment #23, total $174,486.43), payment to Duke’s Root Control for sanitary-sewer cleaning and CCTV investigation (progress payment #1, $63,253.86), and payment to Super Construction LLC for the DWSRF lead water service replacement program (progress payment #4, $112,040.19). Council members asked whether resident water testing refusal would jeopardize funding; an engineer on the record said EPA water testing requirements and the state-led lead service replacement program are separate and that resident nonresponse would not forfeit replacement funding.
Public-works procurement also included approval to purchase a John Deere 544 loader from AIS Construction Equipment for $228,453, payable in six annual installments, with payment to be made from the capital-improvement fund approved earlier by council. DPW staff told the council the current loader dates from 1998 and has required roughly $54,000 in repairs over the last five to seven years; additional immediate repairs were estimated at roughly $16,000.
The council discussed whether rebidding the sewer rehabilitation would yield cost savings; staff and city engineers recommended the contract extension, noting rebidding a widely distributed project often draws higher bids and the extension avoids additional solicitation costs and schedule delays. The city manager said recent bids did not indicate likely savings and concurred with the engineer’s recommendation.
Outcome: Each consent and resolution item passed on roll-call votes recorded in the meeting minutes. Recorded votes for contract- and payment-related resolutions consistently showed council approval across the items.
Next steps: Contractors will continue sanitary sewer repairs, lining, CCTV inspections, and lead-service-line replacements as scheduled; staff will work with the selected firms to schedule work, process invoices, and report progress to council in subsequent meetings. The DPW will take delivery and place the new loader into service under the capital-improvement fund arrangement.
