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Commission approves pavilion name, sidewalk contract, interlocal snow‑maintenance deal and culvert engineering fees
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Summary
The commission approved naming 'Pavilion 3' at North End Park, awarded a grant‑funded sidewalk contract to Griffiths Construction, authorized an interlocal sidewalk/snow‑removal agreement with Big Rapids Township (approved with one dissent), approved construction‑phase engineering fees for a DOT culvert project, and authorized a Consumers Energy light change.
At its April 6 meeting, the city commission approved a set of routine municipal measures including facility naming, public‑works contracting, an interlocal maintenance agreement and construction engineering fees for a state‑funded culvert project.
The commission adopted a parks board recommendation to name the new structure in North End Park "Pavilion 3" and set the pavilion rental fees at $80 for residents and $100 for nonresidents. The resolution passed on roll call.
Staff recommended awarding the remaining grant funds for a "safe sidewalks" project (the segment from Rust to the pool) to Griffiths Construction. Commissioners said the remaining budget and the lone bid lined up (staff said one bidder, Logan Griffiths) and then approved the award by roll call.
Commissioners also considered an interlocal agreement with Big Rapids Township for MDOT to add sidewalk along Northland Drive while the township would assume long‑term maintenance; the city would initially perform snow removal. The commission debated whether the agreement should be worded as a $1‑per‑year formal transfer or a billed‑at‑cost recurring arrangement. The resolution passed with one recorded no vote: Rhodes (yes), Simmons (no), Gunther (yes), James (yes), Johnson (yes).
On the Woodward (referred to in discussion as Woodburn/Woodward) culvert project, staff and the city engineer said federal and MDOT funding require detailed construction administration and fabrication inspection (including inspection at the Ohio plant where the culvert is fabricated). Commissioners discussed project accounting: STP funds of about $385,000 plus a roughly $159,000 city match yield a construction total near $500,900; the commission approved an $86,800 request for construction‑phase engineering services to support documentation and inspection requirements.
The commission also authorized a Consumers Energy lighting change at Gilbertson and Elm (at no cost to the city) through the required contract resolution.
Votes taken at the meeting were recorded at roll calls during each motion; commissioners recorded by name in the transcript included Johnson, Rhodes, Simmons, Gunther and James. No formal action was taken on the developer's Hanchette proposal at this meeting; staff and developers will return with follow‑up materials as needed.
