Boyne City officials flag water‑system repairs, delayed equipment startup and fire‑suppression shortfalls

City staff updated commissioners on multiple water, wastewater and facility safety issues at the commission’s short December meeting. The updates covered missing filter media in treatment tanks, completion of production‑well testing, delayed equipment calibration at a screening/HBAC building, and a recent underground pipe fire that required emergency response and further inspection.

The details matter for operations and timing. Public works staff member Doug reported that two of three sand filter tanks currently lack anthracite media and that parts and replacement media have been ordered. “We’re looking at kind of belt and suspenders approach on this and not just throw all this media back in and see what happens,” he said, describing upcoming meetings with FHC (the contractor who built the tanks) and the city’s engineers to scope repairs and decide whether more than the bare minimum should be replaced.

Why it matters: the missing media and aging components affect filtration performance and may require more extensive parts replacement; Doug said stainless internal components are specialized and will require factory sourcing. He also said the HBAC screening building’s startup has been delayed for equipment calibration and that staff expect the contractor to request a schedule extension; the contract completion date was previously stated as Dec. 31.

Staff also reported progress on wells. A replacement production well (referred to as “Well 7”) finished a 72‑hour pump test and samples were sent for analysis; staff said the project will require finishing the wellhouse and tying the new pump into the system. A suspected failure on Well 4 was investigated and ruled to be a failed pump part; Peerless technicians determined the motor starter was not the cause and the well is now functioning, avoiding an estimated $10,000 repair.

Commissioners raised facility maintenance and insurance recovery after staff described a recent pipe fire that burned up through grade near a fused pipe joint. Staff said the damaged section already was planned for replacement and that the city will seek recovery; engineers and the contractor’s safety team will camera‑inspect pipe runs in both directions to identify further damage. A commissioner urged staff to quantify the city’s expenses for fire, police and DPW labor so the city can pursue reimbursement.

The meeting produced no formal actions on the infrastructure items; staff said they will meet with contractors and engineers this week and anticipate returning to the commission with specific contract extension requests and cost estimates.