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Hillman council approves culvert replacement, moves to pursue water and streets grants
Summary
The Hillman Village Council approved replacing two failing culverts at an estimated $44,700 and directed staff to pursue state grants to fund water-well replacement and street projects, with Huron Engineering reporting planned well drilling and upcoming water testing.
President Dave Hornbacher and the Hillman Village Council approved a plan to replace two failing culverts and discussed parallel applications for state grants to fund water and local street work.
Becky Rivard of Huron Engineering told the Council on May 6 that drilling for water wells is scheduled for the week of May 19, with chemical and bacteria testing the week of May 17. She said Huron Engineering will drill one shallow and one deep well at the high school and a secondary well adjacent to well 7 on First Street as part of the village’s effort to secure a reliable water source. "Hoping to find good water and no bacteria," Rivard said.
Rivard also outlined a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administered through EGLE for water improvements and a separate Category B streets grant reserved for small cities and villages. She said the CDBG application emphasizes low-income service areas and imminent-threat repairs; the grant requires no local match but awards extra points for a local match in the 11%–25% range. The Category B program covers reconstruction and rehabilitation at 50% funding up to $250,000 per project.
For a failing culvert pair on Second and Third Streets, Rivard presented three options: fully replace two culverts (estimated about $31,000), replace with shorter squelch pipe, or replace with longer squelch pipe (about 9–10 feet) and add sidewalks at an estimated $44,700. After discussion, the Council approved proceeding with option #3. Trustee Jonathan Smith moved to proceed, Trustee Velma Brown supported the motion, and the measure passed "all in favor." The Council asked Rivard and Huron Engineering to return with detailed pricing and a resolution ahead of the Category B grant deadline (noted as June 15).
Rivard reported Huron Engineering has made roughly 75% progress on the village’s five-year water study and on the Consumer Confidence Report; she said her team will bring cost estimates and the required resolution to a future meeting so the village can finalize grant applications.
The council’s decisions create a near-term procurement and grant-application timetable: drilling and testing in mid-May, culvert replacement under a $45,000 budget estimate, and staff follow-up to draft and approve grant paperwork ahead of mid-June filing deadlines.
