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Coldwater council approves prefabricated downtown fountain and accepts $150,000 DNR grant for Optimist Park
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Summary
The Coldwater City Council on March 30 approved purchase of a prefabricated fountain for 4 Corners Park, confirmed the fountain will sit at the library corner behind a low barrier, and accepted a $150,000 Michigan DNR grant toward an estimated $300,000 Optimist Park renovation. Council directed staff to bid general-construction work.
Coldwater’s City Council voted March 30 to buy a prefabricated fountain kit for the 4 Corners Park and to move forward with bids for construction, while accepting a $150,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Optimist Park.
The purchase approved by the council covers the fountain system — described by staff as a prefabricated kit that includes a prepackaged underground vault, pumps, controls and basic design — while the city will solicit bids for general construction and installation. Pam Blau, who presented the fountain plan, said the packaged approach reduces the need for a separate equipment building and simplifies long-term maintenance: “They really put together a wonderful underground prepackaged vault,” Blau said, noting the system comes preprogrammed and includes design and manufacturing in the kit price.
Mayor Kramer told the council the city has roughly $70,000–$80,000 already set aside toward a fountain but still needs more funding to complete the overall park project; staff described the total park project cost as approximately $250,000–$300,000 depending on final scope. “We have saved 70 to $80,000 for it, but we’re still at 250,000,” Mayor Kramer said during discussion.
Council members questioned likely operational costs (water, treatment and electricity) and warranty/maintenance arrangements. Staff and Blau said the prefabricated system includes a warranty and a treatment/filtration component intended to reduce water replacement and green-water issues; staff noted a closed-loop holding tank will limit ongoing water costs compared with a flow-through design.
Council approved the related resolution (26-29) by roll call and directed staff to hire a general contractor through the normal bidding process once the equipment purchase is complete. Staff said, if the timeline holds, construction work would target next summer for major site work and installation.
The decision follows broad downtown planning work: staff said the fountain completes a planned feature for the intersection by the library and that funds from the prior sale of the Kerr Building were earmarked to help cover part of project costs. The council’s action also coincided with separate approval of a $150,000 DNR grant and associated development agreement to renovate Optimist Park (see related coverage).
