Lapeer commission approves budget amendments and multiple public-works contracts; sewer camera purchase tabled

The Lapeer City Commission approved a series of budget and public-works actions at its July 21 meeting, voting to carry fiscal-year 2025–26 budget amendments and to authorize several contracts for public-works projects. The commission also voted to table a high-cost sewer-inspection camera purchase for further questions.

Commissioners voted to approve the bill listing for July 21, 2025, totaling $246,115.89. The commission then approved a resolution changing bank signatories to remove Tracy Russell and add Heather Bowman as a signatory for city accounts.

On budget matters, the commission approved amendments to the 2025–26 fiscal-year budget. Discussion included a proposed increase in a downtown mural allocation (grant funding covering $11,045, with the city increasing its contribution to $12,000 from an original $5,000 allocation) and a carryover for a water-tower project. Staff said demolition quotes were difficult to obtain and that the Department of Public Works would present an alternative proposal to repair the tower — estimated concrete and ladder repairs were described in the meeting as in the “$50,000 to $70,000” range — before the council decides whether to move ahead with demolition.

The commission approved several public-works contracts: - Wastewater treatment plant stair work: approval to demolish deteriorated concrete stairs at the wastewater treatment plant and to install seven steel staircases with Lapeer Steel Inc., with contract amounts described in the meeting as not to exceed $18,554 for demolition and $34,610 for the steel staircases. - Boiler replacement at the wastewater plant: the commission authorized a contract with Johnson and Wood Mechanical for demolition and disposal of existing boilers and installation of two new boilers, for an amount described in the meeting as not to exceed $198,900. Staff said the boilers are about 40 years old and that one had experienced a fire. - Fire suppression at the Department of Public Works lean-to: the commission approved a contract with D & H Fire Suppression for installation of fire suppression on a DPW lean-to structure for an amount not to exceed $39,446 and amended the budget accordingly. - Cross-connection services: the commission approved a two-year contract with HydroCorp for cross-connection services not to exceed $52,093.44 and authorized the DPW director to sign the agreement.

The commission approved several smaller purchases and administrative items, including two toolboxes for DPW from Mac Tools not to exceed $22,000 and a resolution authorizing the city manager, the director of financial services and the HR professional to be signatories for the City of Lapeer Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS). Staff clarified that the MERS resolution authorizes any one of the three named officials to sign routine personnel forms (for example, hiring or termination forms) and that substantive program changes to MERS would still require commission resolution.

A proposed purchase of a QC550 sewer-inspection system from Emtek Co. for an amount not to exceed $98,919 was discussed but removed from the agenda for additional questions. Commissioners expressed concern about whether the quoted price included a new trailer or a retrofit of the city’s existing trailer and asked staff to return with written answers; the commission voted to table the item to the next meeting (first meeting in September, per the motion).

Most motions passed by roll call vote after brief discussion. Where specific roll-call names were given in the transcript, the record shows commissioners responding “yes” on the official roll calls for carried motions.