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Walker commission approves consent agenda including DTE easement near Harmon Park and pump‑station easement
Summary
The City Commission approved a consent agenda that included a 50‑foot DTE easement on city property adjacent to Harmon Park (parcel at 144 Sunset Hills) to accommodate gas‑main upgrades and an easement for the Collendale pump station with Grand Rapids; commissioners voted to approve the consent package totaling $1,100,000.033444.79 (verbatim).
The Walker City Commission voted Nov. 10 to approve a consent agenda that included two easements related to utility infrastructure and a listed expenditures total of $1,100,000.033444.79 (as read on the agenda).
Public Services Director Scott Connors described the first item as a DTE request for a 50‑foot‑wide easement at the back of 144 Sunset Hills — city property acquired through a tax sale and adjacent to Harmon Park — to support a multi‑year DTE gas transmission main upgrade. "We don't really see any harm in this easement," Connors said, adding that upgrading gas infrastructure "seems fairly important" and the city did not want to decline the opportunity.
Connors also explained a second easement request for the Collendale (Collendale/ O'Brien) sanitary lift station. Although the pump station sits on Walker property, Grand Rapids maintains it as part of the joint utility arrangement. Connors said Grand Rapids drafted the easement, the language is the same the city has accepted in the past, and Walker staff are comfortable with moving forward as partners in the utility district.
Commissioner Chase moved approval of the consent agenda; Commissioner Babcock supported the motion. Mayor Carey called the vote and the commission responded "aye," approving the items.
City Manager commentary: the city manager noted earlier that DTE had communicated about South Walker pipeline upgrades and indicated the presented DTE easement likely forms part of that package.
What’s next: the easements and the consent items were approved on the consent agenda; staff indicated similar easement requests for other pump stations may follow as Grand Rapids updates infrastructure.
Attribution: Scott Connors, Public Services Director; City Manager (unnamed); motion and vote recorded on the consent agenda.
