Council Hears Promising News on Waterline Project

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – The Aug. 3 Harrison City Council meeting began with roll call which saw Council member Dina Woods absent. Adoption of the July 20 minutes was followed by Mayor Dan Sullivan’s report, in which he extended his hope that everybody have a good, safe time at the fair.

With the previous meeting’s minutes already having been adopted, adoption of the day’s bills was next, along with the Budget v. Actuals as of July 31, and a note that the report would be added to the day’s meeting packet following completion the July month-end reporting period.

Visitor Vikki Paulus informed Council that the recent Lily Bud Garden Club’s first garden tour in July went really well, with 45 people purchasing tickets and attending. She said the event would likely be repeated next year, and urged anyone knowing of great gardens or yards in the area to let the group know so they can inquire about homeowner interest in participating.

Department Head reports began with the fire department and Remi Lipovsky, fire operations coordinator, noting 293 runs year-to-date. He said the department had a calm weekend; completing First Aid training with MMR on the new equipment bags which had been put them to use on a couple vehicle accidents/medical calls; and that his department would be cutting a car apart at Harrison Street Fair. Lipovsky also affirmed that the department would be observing 9/11 with its annual walk at the high school track.

Sam Russell, DPW superintendent, reported maintaining the town; and that a bid opening for road replacement on the other side of the lake was conducted; that some service line replacement had gone well; an EGLE inspection of the city’s compost facility went well; and the sprinkler system at the old Remi lot is going well. Russell also noted having a $4,405 bid from I-Deal Asphalt Sealcoating for sealcoating and striping the new parking lot at the library [20,566 square feet]. That bid was tabled until the next meeting after Russell inquires about getting a package price if multiple projects are done in the same year.

Mike Freeman, code enforcement officer, noted having an upcoming court case, but otherwise things have been quiet.

Kathy Maharas offered a plea to residents to sign up for Eye on Water, citing an incident when a homeowner had left a hose running then went home downstate. In her office that very morning she noticed a large leak and called DPW to check on it, but the homeowner could have known immediately that water was being consumed in their absence. Maharas also offered her quip, saying, “Tomorrow’s going to be a great day to make a splash; water’s flowing and polls will be open.”

Treasurer Tracy Wheeler-Clay reported that while taxes are due Friday, Aug. 14, she is giving them until Monday, Aug. 17 without penalty because she would not be staffing the office on Friday.

Justin Cavanaugh, city manager, pointed out law enforcement data he had provided, showing what the City is receiving for the $13,000-$17,000 being paid monthly for law enforcement. One way to look at it is a cost of $30 each time an officer is dispatched.

Cavanaugh said he looked for the contract with the Sheriff Department, but the most recent he could find was from 2019, and a folder marked 2022 was empty. He will reach out to the county administrator for the most recent contract.

He also spoke of the need to do some budget adjustments which will include work done at The Venue which had not been budgeted, as well as increased fuel prices. Fortunately, there was an increased Fund Balance which will help offset any increased expenditures.

Cavanaugh also spoke of attending the Michigan Municipal Executives Conference, which he found very productive. He heard about city and village government becoming hostile, particularly about data centers, etc.

“We’re not there, and I hope we won’t be,” he said. “Darned if you do; darned if you don’t. No matter what you do you’re not going to keep everyone happy – it was a real eye opener.”

Cavanaugh also spoke of Harrison Planning Commission work on a new solar/wind/battery ordinance; corner lots; Building Code Authority; a noise ordinance from 1962. He said he’s been fielding a lot of I.T. calls for RFPs, so would be extending that deadline by two weeks. He also was working with departments for the Capital Improvement Plan. That is aimed at making guidance more encompassing that it was before. He then noted having identified an ordinance that was never certified – the one that authorized his own position – and that he’s looking for others as well.

Under New Business, Council heard from Bryan Rowley, engineer with Fleis & VandenBrink, regarding the grant applied for which was intended to help defray costs of the EGLE-mandated lead water service line replacement of 214 lines in the city.

Rowley explained that application had been made for a State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Application to Replace Lead Service Lines. Original estimates saw the City on the hook for vast sums of money to do the work, as well as continued utility cost increases to city residents. However, Rowley dropped the happiest bombshell imaginable when he informed Council that Harrison is on the Preliminary Funded List at 100% grant. This would mean nearly $2.5 million to cover the project cost, and getting the entire project done in one shot rather than stretching the replacements out over many years. That is a substantial weight lifted from the city and its residents. Rowley said the final list would be issued in the next month or two, and he didn’t anticipate any changes or that Harrison would fall off, as it sits pretty high on the list.

He urged Council to move quickly on his firm’s plan proposal, as many communities would be seeking out the same contractors, urged being one of the first to go to bid.

Council then moved to approve the Fleis & VandenBrink Lead Service Line Engineering proposal for $19,500. It was explained that the remainder of the contract would happen after the funding happens, and listed additional work that would be getting done in conjunction with the lead line work.

Cavanaugh then conducted the first reading of Ordinance 2026-04 defining the fire department cost recovery, a document which he said had been reviewed and approved by the city’s attorney.

Council then moved to approve the Category B Contract Grant, going with the low bid of $267,777 which will provide a thicker road and more road on Byfield Drive. Rowley counted this as “more good news,” and it was discussed that two layers of 1.5 inches will provide better long-term durability, which he estimated to have a 20-year longevity. The contractor is D.J. McQuiston & Sons, Inc., and the work is expected to start Aug. 17.

Russell listed paving work for four roads: two primary and two local, to include Wilson to Lakeview, Lakeview to Grant, Wilson to Lansing, and Wilson to Matilda.

Council meets next at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 at Harrison City Hall, 2105 Sullivan Drive.