Bessemer Council votes to hire advisor for new reservoir

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — Members of the Bessemer City Council voted to approve the hiring of an East Lansing company to serve as advisor in relation to the city’s Phase 3 project on the pending new Bluff Reservoir.

The city agreed to pay Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC its requested fee of $18,600, specifically to address issues in relation to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund’s bond/loan process.

Company Director Andy Campbell outlined Baker Tilly’s perceived role in a March 11 letter to city representatives.

“As part of the process, we would complete the rate study processes SRF requires (taking the information from the DWAM analysis), Part 1 in its entirety, provide financial input guidance for C2AE to complete Parts 2 and 3 for the project cost estimates and project cost final and all of the other financial processes to complete the SRF process,” wrote Campbell.

“I have reservations about the reservoir,” said councilman Mark Movrich before the vote was taken.

He pointed out an uphill region leading to the reservoir “that possibly may be why the reservoir doesn’t get the water pressure it needs.”

He wondered whether that could be corrected rather than paying for an entire new reservoir.

Councilman Adam Zak said that the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy mandates that the reservoir tank be inspected every five years and that every diver has refused to do it for fear of “losing assets.”

Meanwhile, he said EGLE has pressured the city to resolve the issue.

Councilwoman Linda Nelson said that the city now has funding to help resolve the issue, whereas that may not be the case in the future.

Council members also:

—Voted to authorize the city’s Executive Committee to work with legal counsel in relation to property designated for the proposed Iron Belle Apartments.

—Voted to authorize Lake to sign a First National Bank loan in relation to the purchase of a dump truck, reported to cost $138,590 upon delivery.

—Voted to advertise sealed bids for a new loader.

—Voted to designate the mayor as the authorized representative of the city’s water project and wastewater project, both financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as the city’s representative for its Drinking Water Asset Management project with the state.

—Voted to post openings for four summer employees at $15 per hour, three for 90 days and one for 120 days.

—Voted to authorize staff to pursue a survey to include the easement for a sewer line going through the property of Richard and Cara Matrella and to grant the funding to retype the deed to include the survey.

The council will meet next on April 3 at 7 p.m. for a budget workshop. The council’s next regular meeting will be on April 8 at 6 p.m. Both sessions will be in the council chamber of the Bessemer City Hall.