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Council tables $300,000 sewer change order, asks staff to investigate
Summary
Council voted to table Resolution 35-2025 after staff said field conditions forced a contractor to take both lanes on East Division, producing an unplanned roughly $300,000 cost; council directed the manager and staff to investigate before authorizing payment.
The Ishpeming City Council on Monday voted to table Resolution 35-2025 and ordered additional staff investigation into an unplanned increase of roughly $300,000 on a recent street/sewer contract.
Engineering staff told the council that unforeseen site conditions at East Division required crews to remove both lanes to repair a collapsed sewer line; a project representative said, “we can't dig unless we take both lanes” when describing the field decision. Several council members said they learned of the extra costs only recently and declined to approve payment without a clearer explanation and documentation of who authorized the work.
Mayor Pat Scanlon said he would not authorize the payment as presented, and other council members echoed concerns about the lack of timely communication to the manager, finance and counsel. Council moved to table the resolution and directed the manager and staff to report back with a formal change order and a full account of authorizations and cost breakdowns.
Why it matters: The question touches city financial controls, emergency authorization procedures and project communication. Staff indicated the work might be payable from water and sewer funds rather than the general fund, but council majority said the payment should not proceed without review.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a formal change order and an investigative summary for council review at a future meeting; the resolution remains tabled until the manager returns with findings.
