The Petoskey City Council voted Jan. 6 to award a $288,434.15 contract to Tri County Excavating of Harbor Springs to reconstruct the Seville parking lot and to remove visual obstructions, add stormwater infrastructure and new pay stations.

The project: Public Works Director Jason Fay told the council the Seville work is a complete reconstruction that will remove guardrails, replace the pavement structure, relocate and screen electrical equipment and include landscaping, added sidewalks and stormwater infiltration under the parking area. Fay said the work is scheduled to begin in spring with a targeted completion in late May and that the project will reduce on-site stormwater sheet flow into adjacent Bay Street.

Procurement and local preference: Council members discussed that the award did not go to the lowest bidder because the city’s purchasing policy includes a 3% local preference. The staff report indicates the low bid was from Dry County Excavating of Harbor Springs versus an out-of-county bidder; the council approved the higher-ranked local bidder under the adopted policy.

Parking enforcement resolution: The council also adopted an updated resolution clarifying the Downtown Parking Services Authority’s responsibilities, aligning an older 1999 resolution with current practice and adding Exhibit A that lists the range of enforcement activities. Amy Carr (Downtown Management Board) and staff said 97% of citations in 2024 were for expired meters; the amended resolution clarifies administrative fees, enforcement responsibilities and referral processes to public safety when appropriate.

Why it matters: The reconstruction is intended to improve downtown circulation, create additional bicycle and motorcycle parking, and reduce localized stormwater runoff. The parking resolution update formalizes actions parking enforcement staff can already take and is intended to provide legal clarity if citations are contested.

Ending: Council members praised the approach to minimize downtown disruption and to balance contractor selection with local preference.