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Votes at a glance: Ishpeming council approves contracts, grant payments, fund consolidations and event permits
Summary
The Ishpeming City Council approved a series of contract, grant and administrative measures including authorization of a utility-rate management contract, adoption of an Amtrak-support resolution, payments tied to CWSRF/DWSRF projects, several construction change orders, and approvals for community events.
The Ishpeming City Council voted on a slate of motions and resolutions covering utility contracting, grant reimbursements, construction change orders, fund consolidation and special-event permits.
Key votes and actions
- Waterworth engagement: Authorized the manager and attorney to proceed with Waterworth’s continuous utility rate-management service, funding to come from the water and sewer funds; council waived competitive bidding. (Voice vote; motion passed.)
- Resolution supporting Amtrak to the Upper Peninsula: Adopted Resolution 20‑2025 urging state and federal partners to study and pursue Amtrak passenger-rail service to the Upper Peninsula and to consider routes serving Ishpeming. The resolution directs the clerk to forward the measure to the Michigan Department of Transportation and other officials. (Voice vote; motion passed.)
- Construction and grant payments (CWSRF/DWSRF): The council approved a payment to a contractor (Payne & Dolan) for CWSRF-related work of $140,428.43 and approved a drinking-water drawdown package totaling $2,036,713.52 that included invoices to UPEA, Lindbergh & Sons, and Payne & Dolan. (Motion and roll calls taken; motions passed.)
- Change orders: The council authorized several contract adjustments to keep water and storm work aligned with street projects, including a Lindbergh change order of roughly $27,000 and a Payne & Dolan change order request (presented at a $271,745.29 figure) for streets D and E; council authorized staff to proceed up to $300,000 to finalize exact pricing to avoid re‑digging streets. A separate Payne & Dolan contract amendment of about $38,000 for additional water-job work was also approved.
- Deficit-elimination / fund consolidations: The council approved integrating the Brass Wire Campground fund into the General Fund for 2026 (removing the separate fund and treating operations as a department in the General Fund). The Partridge Creek Compost grant fund was reported closed and not in deficit; the Teal Lake/Perks Construction project remains open with additional reimbursements and a plan to close the fund when remaining grant proceeds are received.
- Zoning position: Council approved changing the part-time zoning/planning administrator role to full time (title to be updated to reflect zoning and planning director duties) with the estimated annual fiscal impact covered in the general fund.
- Cleveland-Cliffs property: Council authorized staff to pursue an agreement to purchase land from Cleveland-Cliffs (approx. 11.07 acres) at a proposed purchase price of $239,753, pending legal, manager and funding reviews; council authorized staff to seek financing and proceed with contingency planning.
- Equipment and other: The council authorized emergency repair of an aerial fire truck (approximately $3,340) and approved multiple contract payments and change orders tied to the city’s water and sewer projects.
- Special events: The council approved a public overdose-awareness event (Superior Connections, Aug. 31, 1–5 p.m.) and approved a powwow at Lake Bancroft on Sept. 21 with a requested temporary road closure (Euclid), subject to submission of a site sketch and required insurance.
Ending
City staff will implement the approved contract and funding steps under manager and attorney review, transmit the Amtrak resolution to state/federal partners, finalize construction change-order accounting, and return to council with any required documents or agreements for signature.
