City manager outlines permit-fee plan and private fundraising pledge to repair Black River Canal; residents raise funding and management concerns

City Manager presented a multi-part plan to finance repairs to the Black River Canal, saying the city will pursue federal funding and a user-fee structure to cover local matching requirements and bond payments.

The manager said the city has asked state and federal legislators to include the project in funding requests, and noted Representative Joe Pavlov and Congresswoman Lisa McClain had supported inclusion of the canal in congressional funding requests. He described a likely federal award requiring a roughly 25% local match (about $2 million) and warned that meeting federal requirements (prevailing wage, rebidding) could raise the project's cost 20% to 30% beyond current estimates.

Why it matters: The canal has been closed for roughly three years and local business owners and marinas report economic losses tied to limited boat access. Restoring the canal affects adjacent municipalities (Port Huron Township, Fort Gratiot) and marina-dependent businesses downtown.

Details of the plan: The manager said the preferred financing path is a 30-year municipal bond backed by a recurring user-permit fee distributed regionally. Under the proposal, townships would sell permits and remit revenue to cover bond-service costs; the city estimates annual permits priced in the $150—175 range, with a projected residual annual cost to the city of about $100,000—120,000 absorbed into the general fund if neighboring jurisdictions do not sell enough permits. The manager also announced a private fundraising pledge: "I am confident that I will raise $1 million within 30 days," he said, pledging to solicit donors, businesses and philanthropy to reduce borrowing needs.

Public reaction and alternatives: At public comment, Aaron Cryner urged the council to reject a canal gate approach in favor of structural alternatives such as a seawall and a kayak portage that would, he argued, be cheaper and better support nonmotorized recreation. Other residents described economic harm to small businesses along the Black River, urged timely action to preserve anticipated grants, and raised concerns about who should shoulder costs.

Technical limits and dredging risk: City staff summarized historical engineering reviews and Army Corps of Engineers input, saying jetties or seawalls interact with natural sand cycles in the Great Lakes and can shift where sand accumulates—potentially increasing the frequency and distance of future dredging rather than eliminating it. Staff noted previous jetties built decades ago have filled and that any structural fix must account for long-term sand transport.

Decisions and next steps: Council did not authorize final bond issuance or a fee ordinance at this meeting. The manager said townships have been receptive in preliminary discussions and that staff will return with finalized bid figures, formal interlocal agreements and bond documents if township partners commit. The manager also said federal funding timelines and potential rebids under prevailing-wage rules mean construction (if funded) would likely begin no sooner than a subsequent construction season.

Attribution: Quotes in this article come from the City Manager and public commenters recorded in the council transcript. The manager's pledge to raise $1 million and the 25% matching estimate were stated on the record.

What remains open: The council has not yet adopted an ordinance to establish permits or a finalized cost-sharing agreement with Fort Gratiot and Port Huron Township. The manager flagged uncertainty about federal appropriations timing and recommended continued regional coordination before formal bond issuance.