Escanaba council approves Water Department storage building amid location questions

The Escanaba City Council voted to authorize construction of an 80-by-120 storage building for the city’s Water Department, with administration citing a total not-to-exceed cost of $454,144 and available budgeted funds.

Administration told the council the building is needed to store materials and vehicles and to improve operational efficiency. “Administration is requesting City Council approval to build an 80 by 120 storage building for the City Of Escanaba Water Department in the amount not to exceed $450,644 plus $4,000 in contingencies for a total amount of $454,144,” a city administration representative said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Water and public-works staff said many repair parts and equipment must be kept on-site for timely response. In answering council questions about citizen concerns over placement, city staff said the structure will be sited at the wastewater plant behind existing garages, not in a park. Water Department staff described the value of items kept on site: “We’re gonna be housing well over $1,000,000 in inventory in there on a daily basis,” a Water Department official said, noting that covered, secure storage protects costly parts and keeps crews and equipment available for work.

Council discussion also recorded a minor discrepancy in figures offered during debate: one councilor moved to approve a figure stated as $454,006.44 while the administration’s presentation listed a total of $454,144. The motion to approve the project as a budgeted item passed on roll call.

The council did not record any votes opposing the motion in the meeting transcript. The administration said additional site work for parking and earthwork will be required and that when those costs are included the final project cost should be close to original budget expectations.

The decision authorizes the project to proceed; council members did not set additional conditions or request further study during the meeting.