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Council authorizes up to $32,000 for stormwater investigation after inventory finds 22 detention basins
Summary
Gibraltar council approved up to $32,000 for Banesha to survey detention basins and prepare required reporting for Wayne County after staff and consultants identified about 22 basins and gaps in recordkeeping; officials said larger capital and maintenance costs are likely to follow.
The Gibraltar City Council voted to authorize up to $32,000 for engineering work to inventory detention basins and prepare stormwater documentation requested by Wayne County.
Mayor (speaker 1) told council staff had transitioned engineering services and discovered deficiencies in stormwater recordkeeping during a county-driven review. Treasurer Fonti (speaker 12) said consultants and staff identified roughly 22 detention basins in and near the city and described the request as “not to exceed” an investigation budget that would survey basins, in- and out-falls, and produce a report for the county. He told council some basins are city-owned while others are the responsibility of property owners.
Finance Director McEwen (speaker 14) said the cost is likely a general-fund expense rather than something the city can absorb from water-fund savings. Councilman Wood (speaker 9) moved to authorize up to $32,000 for Banesha’s work; the motion passed on a roll call vote.
Council members pressed on whether the previous engineering firm (REINS) or the city’s internal controls bore responsibility for the missing records. Treasurer Fonti and other speakers said the legal onus for reporting generally rests with the city, even when consultants prepared plans, and that their review uncovered gaps in centralized recordkeeping.
Officials repeatedly warned the immediate investigation is likely the first step in larger costs: the council heard references to a 2017 capital-improvement program that previously estimated roughly $25 million in drainage and infrastructure needs. Multiple speakers said maintenance, surveying and potential repairs to island-estate ponds, school-owned basins and other facilities could produce expenses well above the initial $32,000 investigation.
Wayne Brennan, a resident who addressed the council during public comment, urged the city to review whether prior engineers were responsible for lapses before spending the $32,000. The meeting closed with the council directing staff to proceed with the investigation and to return with more detailed cost and scope information.
The authorization covers the engineering investigation only; council members said any further work or larger capital projects would return for additional review, budgeting and public discussion.
