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Alma City to pilot riverbank vegetation treatment as dam feasibility study advances
Summary
City staff and the Healthy Pine River group described a State Street dam feasibility study and a county-funded pilot to treat vegetation at three riverbank sites (pilot quote ~$9,400 for three seasonal treatments) while engineering work proceeds on longer-term river health projects.
Commissioners heard an update on the State Street dam feasibility study and a related pilot program to manage vegetation along the Pine River riverbank.
Staff said consultants are completing front-end engineering and community engagement for the dam feasibility effort and that Healthy Pine River volunteers and biologists have participated in planning. As a short-term measure to improve aesthetics and test vegetation-control approaches, staff presented a quote for approximately $9,400 to treat three pilot sites with three applications per season (spring, summer, fall). The county committed to cover the initial pilot cost so Alma City and two neighboring townships could evaluate effects before any broader program or private homeowner special assessments were considered.
Commissioners asked about the chemical agent and environmental safeguards. Staff said the contractor’s scope includes permitting and regulatory compliance and that the product and application must meet state environmental agency approval; staff emphasized the pilot’s limited scope and invited additional technical review from local biologists before scaling up.
Separately, staff reported progress on securing SRF (State Revolving Fund) financing for drinking-water projects; commissioners were told that the project budget and bonding size must be set soon to stay on the SRF schedule and that final bond sizing may change based on bid results and available SRF allocations.
