Council approves surveying contract, MDOT cost‑share for Harrison Road bridge deck, and issues notice of intent for $51M WRRF/sewer bonds

The East Lansing City Council on March 4 approved a set of infrastructure and capital finance actions: a professional surveying services contract, a state cost‑sharing agreement for a bridge deck project, and the city's notice of intent to issue revenue bonds for sewer and water resource recovery facility work.

Surveying contract: The council authorized a contract with ENG (E & G) for as‑needed professional surveying services not to exceed $100,000. DPW staff said the contract covers mid‑sized projects where the city lacks surveying capacity and that funds will be charged to major street, local street, water and sewer project accounts. The contract award followed a Request for Proposals process in which ENG was the top‑rated firm.

Harrison Road bridge deck reconstruction: Council approved a cost‑sharing agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the Harrison Road bridge deck rehabilitation project. The project was awarded through the local bridge program and is eligible for 95% state/federal funding; the city's local share plus associated utility reimbursements and a 15% construction contingency total about $289,000 to be charged to the major street fund (staff described $251,103 as the immediate local share and explained portions will be reimbursed by Consumers Energy for utility work).

Notice of intent to issue bonds for WRRF and sewer collection improvements: The council adopted a resolution announcing its intent to issue revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $51,000,000 to finance capital improvements at the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) and sewer collection system projects (river/water's edge, Gunson, Milford, Woodmere relief projects and the Wharf facility upgrades). Staff said the sewer project has a large eligible cost component; certain ineligible portions (water/local/streets) will be covered by a separate capital improvement bond, and Meridian Township will contribute for a portion of sewer work in its jurisdiction. Payments for the Wharf facility contract are shared by MSU and other partners per existing agreements; staff described the project as the final major piece needed to modernize the control and administrative building at the Wharf.

Each of these items was approved by unanimous vote. Staff indicated the surveying contract is intended to be used as projects arise; the Harrison Road work is scheduled for construction this summer; and the bond notice starts the municipal financing process required for large capital projects.