St. James Township approves Freesoil and Maple Street repaving contracts, parking-lot design, fiber easements and a marina pump purchase

The St. James Township board on Feb. 11 approved several public-works actions including two road contracts with the Charlevoix County Road Commission, design work for a government-center parking lot, fiber easements for the township campground, Road Fund amendments and an emergency marina pump purchase.

The board authorized a CCRC contract to remove and replace 530 feet of pavement on Freesoil Avenue (new 18-foot width) at a bid price of $75,432.20; the minutes record an even split of funding with the township covering $37,716.10 and CCRC covering $37,715.10. The board separately authorized CCRC to add 22-foot pavement along 845 feet of Maple Street at a bid price of $90,536.40; the board also authorized executing an agreement for adjacent property owners to fund the Maple Street improvements including a 2% administrative fee and estimated township attorney costs (estimated at $300), yielding a total estimate of $92,647.14.

The board approved a $14,500 contract with Fleis and Vanderbrink to design and prepare bid documents for the Government Center parking lot. It also approved Road Fund amendments discussed in the meeting, including correcting to add the 2% administrative fee.

For telecommunications infrastructure, the board authorized the supervisor to approve both a Temporary Right-of-Way Easement and an Exclusive Telephone Company Right-of-Way Easement with Peninsula Fiber Network for work at the St. James Township Campground. The board also approved purchasing a replacement pump for a failed bubbler at Marina South at a cost not to exceed $3,500 (pump cost $2,774; remainder budgeted for delivery and supplies from Kerr Pump and Supply).