City OKs Cost‑Sharing, Budget Transfers for Division Avenue and Maple Lawn Water Main Work

The Kentwood City Commission on June 3 authorized the mayor to enter an interlocal construction and cost‑sharing agreement with the city of Wyoming for street restoration on Division Avenue and water‑main improvements on Maple Lawn Street, and approved budget transfers to fund the city’s share.

Public works staff said the commission authorized $319,532 (including a 10% contingency) from the FY 2025-26 major street fund for Division Avenue restoration and $140,826 (including a 10% contingency) from the FY 2025-26 water fund for Maple Lawn water‑main improvements, a combined total of $460,358.

Jim Kirkwood, presenting the item, said Wyoming is installing a 20‑inch transmission main on its side of Division Avenue and noted Kentwood’s side of the street has not been rebuilt since 1994. Kirkwood told the commission: "We're recommending that we approve the 319,000 to pave and get our street side of the street up to the standards they'll have when they're done with their water main." He also described a water‑system separation project on Maple Lawn: residents who had been served by Wyoming’s system will be moved onto Kentwood’s parallel main, improving pressure for those customers and eliminating the cross‑system billing arrangement Kirkwood described.

Commissioners asked about customer notification and expected interruptions. Kirkwood said most customers will experience little disruption: construction will install a parallel main and only three or four houses may be interrupted for about an hour during the switch to Kentwood’s system. The commission moved and supported the contract authorization and budget allocations and approved the motion by voice vote.

The decision includes a contingency allowance and directs staff to execute an agreement with Wyoming and proceed with street restoration and water main work funded from the specified FY 2025-26 budgets.