Bessemer gets grant funds

By CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Bessemer — The city of Bessemer was awarded a $459,000 grant to put together an asset management plan for its water system.

“This is exciting,” said city manager Charly Loper during the council meeting on Monday. “If you remember, we got the funding to do it for the sewer side, so this is for the water side.”

The grant monies are funded by the Drinking Water Asset Management grant program through the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy. The program invests in infrastructure around the state. The grant has been available to communities since October 2020 and offers communities up to $1 million in funds. It will remain available until the $36.5 million of funding for the program is depleted.

Darren Pionk, project manager with C2AE, said he was very happy and relieved that they were able to obtain the funding. He admitted he had some concerns as to whether or not they would be able to. He said the city has three years to complete the project now that the monies have been awarded. C2AE, which helped to obtain the funding will be conducting the engineering on the project.

The council accepted the contract with the DWAM as well as one with C2AE with a vote of 4-0. Rob Coleman was absent. “Sounds like a no brainer to me,” said Mayor Adam Zak of the decision.

Those who desire to rent either the city auditorium or the pavilion at Bluff Valley Park and intend to have alcohol use/sales will now have a increase in rental expenses. The council voted 4-1 to increase the cost of the rental of either location to $150 for residents and $200-300 for non-residents who want to conduct alcohol sales through a licensed caterer at their events. The price for non-residents will be less expensive on weekdays. Those wishing to use the facilities without alcohol use/sales will still pay $35 for the rental.

Loper said the reason the city charges more for weekends is because the city has to pay overtime to have the venues cleaned, as city workers are generally off on weekends.

Councilman Bill McDonald expressed his concern that they would be opening up a “bag of worms.” He cited concern for Marty’s Goldenaires who will be using the park for their annual fundraiser on Aug. 21. Loper and Zak said they can work out something for organizations.

The council also:

—Approved a request to close Colby Street from City Hall to Clayburg Street on Oct. 9 for the Gary Engstrom Memorial 5K Race which will start at the Bessemer City Hall and finish at Ramsay Park.

—Voted to return grant monies to the state if Loper cannot obtain an affordable bid to tear down a house at 407 Longyear St. The city was granted $24,000 to tear down the house; however the only bid was received was for more than double that amount. Loper said the city does not have the funds to cover the difference.

—Tabled a request to abandon an alley north of U.S. 2 near Peck Street.