Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
The Bessemer City Council listens to Steve Cadeau of the Michigan Department of Transportation he makes an online presentation of the detour routes for the continuation of the U.S. 2 project scheduled to begin on May 30. Pictured from left are Councilwoman Linda Nelson, Mayor Adam Zak, Councilman Charlie Turpik, Councilman Rob Coleman, and City Manager Charly Loper.
By CHARITY SMITH
Bessemer - The city of Bessemer is considering a less expensive storm sewer layout for the Galena Street and South State Street areas which tie into storm sewer along Mill Street and near the city garage. According to project manager Darren Pionk of C2AE, the storm sewer infrastructure in that area is aging out and needs to be replaced.
"It's a major storm interceptor for the city. The work is not included or fundable through the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development) project but is a concern to the city because of the old storm system in the city," Pionk said.
C2AE engineers have estimated the cost to repair the storm sewer to be $143,300 and the project could be broken down over two phases, according to a press release. The cost does include an estimated $14,900 to engineer and bid out the work. The city only has $75,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funds set aside for the project. However Neal Nelson, lead man for the city's Department of Public Works, has developed a less expensive plan, according to city manager Charly Loper.
According to Pionk the project cannot be included in the USDA project because the funding only covers water and sanitary sewer projects. He said although the storm sewer in the Galena and State street areas does border other utility sewer lines, the utility lines don't connect to that particular storm sewer.
"It's not in conflict with water and sewer work, so it is hard to get funding," Pionk said.
He said C2AE and the city have been looking into several different scenarios including digging an open ditch for part of the project instead of installing pipe. According to Loper, Pionk pointed out that they could place a 20-foot-wide ditch along the city garage which could drop the costs "a little bit."
"At first I was like, a 20-foot-wide ditch, I don't know how I feel about that, because the guys would have to change how they park around there," said Loper during the city council meeting on Monday. "Because that is a really wide ditch."
It also depends on available funding, Pionk told the Daily Globe. "We are still in the preliminary stage," he said, adding this project has been on the city's list for quite some time. He said they looked into it when they were in the design phase of the USDA water-sanitary sewer project.
"We're just really struggling with the funding," said Loper. "We have about half saved up at this point."
Mayor Adam Zak said he thinks they have to explore the option of a ditch. He said he knows it would put the DPW workers in a bind for space, but he thinks they should see if they can work with it for the time being.
"I know it sucks. We don't want to do it, but we also don't want to spend what the cost is either," he said. "At least see what the cost is by going with that ditch. If it is only going to save $5,000, is it worth it? Probably not."
Councilman Terry Kryshak said the city needs to keep being persistent with the state and federal government, asking for infrastructure money.
The council tabled a decision on the issue until the next meeting and decided to have Loper request C2AE to give a cost estimate with the ditch and without.
