Committee refers expansion of Ox Creek debris-removal contract to full commission

The Benton Harbor Parks and Recreation Committee voted to refer to the full commission a proposal to expand the Davie Resource Group contract for debris removal in the Ox Creek valley, saying the work should continue now while crews remain on site.

Dane Rieselson, Ox Creek project manager, told the committee the project is funded by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant and is roughly halfway through its grant period. “120,000 pounds of material has been pulled out already, from the original 4 units that we identified,” Rieselson said, and he asked the committee to approve additional scope so crews can finish on the same March timeline instead of delaying work until fall.

Why it matters: committee members and staff said acting quickly will reduce costs and make hazardous containers easier to access before plants leaf out. They also flagged contamination and liability issues that limit immediate volunteer involvement and complicate hiring local residents for the hazardous pickup phases.

Committee discussion and details: staff described the expansion areas on packet maps, noting yellow sites are new and red sites are existing units. Rieselson said crews will enter wetlands only as permitted and that several blue 55‑gallon barrels and smaller, unlabeled containers were found; those containers must be treated as hazardous materials and increase disposal costs. “Most of that area is on the slope of the valley…there’s a handful of them,” he said, referring to barrels and mystery jugs, and added the March window is important to access steep slopes.

Enforcement and theft: city staff reported instances of vehicle-based dumping and even theft of city walnut trees; Mr. Little said the city has photos but often lacks license-plate detail. “We can impound those vehicles when they get caught doing that kind of stuff,” he said, as a deterrent and enforcement option.

Funding and scope: when Commissioner Edwards asked whether the grant would cover cost increases, Rieselson said additional scope would go through city review but that some grant funds remain to cover needed changes. Staff described the project as phased: hazardous debris pickup is being done by a specialized contractor because of safety, while outreach, education and later habitat-restoration phases could create opportunities for local organizations and workers.

Local hiring, apprenticeships and liability: committee members repeatedly urged that Benton Harbor residents benefit from the work. Staff cautioned that immediate hiring for hazardous pickup is constrained by liability, insurance and Department of Labor apprenticeship rules; Mr. Little said insurance does not cover negligent hiring claims if an employee with disqualifying records causes harm. He and others said outreach-funded elements could create paid local roles, and staff committed to publicizing opportunities via RFPs, flyers and commission channels when appropriate.

Contamination and long-term work: staff noted historical industrial contamination (companies such as Harbor Plating were cited) that has deposited chromium and arsenic in places in the valley; a local water‑treatment station operated by Eagle draws valley water for treatment, but land remediation will be a longer-term, more complex effort.

Action and next step: the committee agreed, by no objection, to move the Davie Resource Group work-area expansion to the full commission for approval. The chair then closed the meeting.

Quotes (selected): “120,000 pounds of material has been pulled out already, from the original 4 units that we identified,” — Dane Rieselson, Ox Creek project manager. “We can impound those vehicles when they get caught doing that kind of stuff,” — Mr. Little.

What to watch for: the full commission will consider the contract expansion and any budget adjustments; staff said they will announce outreach and application opportunities for non‑hazard roles once details are finalized.