City Council Meeting - 2023-10-02

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs City Council Meeting — October 2, 2023 • Council approved the consent agenda and awarded the Judd Hill retaining-wall replacement contract to Sperling Truck and Excavating for $509,882. Staff said the cost will be paid from street funds, with no general-fund money needed. Five bids were received, ranging from about $509,000 to about $765,000; Sperling was both the low bidder and highest-scoring bidder under the city purchasing policy. • The Judd Hill project could begin staging as early as March 18, with construction expected around early April and completion targeted by June 15 or earlier, depending on weather. Judd Street is expected to close during the work. Staff said the sidewalk will likely close for safety and may be substantially replaced because rainwater has undermined parts of it. Some scrub vegetation will be removed for excavation. • Council agreed that staff should explore a private-property option off Hoyt Road for the proposed electric substation. The property was previously considered, but a new owner has now expressed interest in discussing it. Staff said the site could avoid roughly $700,000 in 46 kV-line construction and reduce underground-line work, but property price, access easements, permitting, township and Planning Commission review, and the total comparative cost are still unknown. • Staff will pause engineering design work while it investigates the newly available substation option, but will continue pursuing transformer acquisition. The transformer has an estimated 18-month lead time and could be used at either proposed location. No substation location was selected at this meeting. • Public comments called for a more detailed, side-by-side substation cost comparison. Staff said the Deer Park/Lake Street option was estimated at about $450,000 more than the alternative discussed on an apples-to-apples basis, excluding a brick wall, extra vegetation removal, and minimal relocation-related costs. Another commenter asked that any substation near town be brick-screened rather than landscaped with cedar trees. • Lakeview Cemetery reported that its audit found operations were doing well. The cemetery is preparing to recruit and train a successor for its sexton, who plans to retire at the end of 2024. The board is also considering cremation-only burial space and replacement fencing. Worth watching: • Staff is to report back by the next meeting or November on whether the Hoyt Road substation property is a viable option. • The city manager reported possible progress, but no agreement, in discussions with the county over the TIF issue; the stated goal is resolution before 2024. • Judd Street and potentially its sidewalk are expected to close during retaining-wall construction. Upcoming: Fall Fest is scheduled for October 7, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Marina Park; Planning Commission zoning-code information sessions are scheduled for October 9, 10, and 12. Why it matters: The substation decision and Judd Hill construction involve major infrastructure costs, access impacts, and long-term city planning.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.