Council approves SRF pay requests and large change orders; staff update on paving schedule

The Ishpeming City Council approved multiple contractor pay requests under state revolving fund programs and adopted combined change orders related to the city’s water, sewer and street construction projects.

Project staff reviewed a CWSRF reimbursement request (invoice drawing number 9 and pay request 10) totaling $476,162.73 and explained the draw covers the units installed to date and underground work completed. For the drinking-water project, the DWSRF package included contractor invoices and stored-materials requests: Lindbergh’s request of $1,028,123.77 and Payne & Dolan’s request of $810,472.67 for a combined DWSRF package of $1,994,622.44. Staff explained the stored-materials practice (insured storage with subsequent draws as materials are installed).

Council approved a combined change-order package presented by the project engineer; the staff-corrected total adopted by council was approximately $1,520,000 (council was told the earlier arithmetic omitted certain items). Project staff said most underground work is complete, with the remaining work at a sewer crossing and some slip-lining.

On paving, engineering staff clarified that crews frequently place a base course that may be driven on for days or weeks before the final leveling (top) course is applied; base-course edges can create temporary lips but crews will return with final paving to smooth surfaces. Staff provided an anticipated paving window for Deer Lake (week of Aug. 14) and noted coordination with contractors and state agencies for traffic control and event impacts. Council was advised that Wednesday contractor/engineer check-ins are used to review daily progress and catch deficiencies prior to final asphalt placement.

Council approved all pay requests, the change-order package and asked staff to submit the supporting documentation to the state funders.