Commission approves water‑well contract, downtown NEZ and Westnedge paving engineering; several consent contracts authorized

The Kalamazoo City Commission on Feb. 17 approved several infrastructure and economic‑development measures: a professional services agreement for new drinking‑water production wells, adoption of a neighborhood enterprise zone (NEZ) for a central downtown block, and construction engineering for mill‑and‑overlay work on Westnedge Avenue. The commission also approved multiple consent‑agenda contracts and an appointment.

Water wells: The commission authorized a professional services agreement with Peerless Midwest for installation of drinking‑water production wells at Water Pumping Stations No. 5 and No. 14 for $1,100,000.0292750, funding to support the Station 5/14 consolidation project. Director James Baker described the contract as a separate piece of a larger multi‑year consolidation effort that will add about nine new wells and requires permitting cycles prior to construction.

Neighborhood Enterprise Zone: The commission adopted a resolution establishing an NEZ bounded by East Michigan Avenue, South Edward Street, East South Street and Portage Street — the central downtown block that includes 234 and 238 East Michigan Avenue (the old Peninsula Brewery area). Assistant city planner Bobby Durkee said the parcel meets the city’s NEZ policy and could qualify for up to 15 years of tax abatement for…