Bessemer City Council to vote on $4.2 million budget

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

BESSSEMER — A Monday public hearing on the 2024-25 fiscal year budget drew no comments at the start of the Bessemer City Council meeting in Bessemer.

A council vote on the budget is expected at the next regular meeting on May 13 at 6 p.m.

In a Tuesday email, Interim City Manager Mandy Lake, who is also the clerk/treasurer, reported that estimated revenue and expenses for all 2024-25 funds total more than $4.2 million.

Specifically, revenue is estimated at $4,226,653, whereas expenses are estimated at $4,211,574.

According to Lake, other estimations are as follows:

General fund revenues are listed at $1,609,450, with corresponding expenses at $1,608,763.

Revenues and expenses each total $404,700 for the major street fund and $311,550 for the local street fund.

For the Downtown Development Authority, revenues total $77,850 and expenses total $67,100.

Sewer Fund revenues total $684,000, whereas related expenses total $680,468.

Water Fund revenues and expenses each total $938,193.

Trash Disposal Fund revenues total $192,010, and related expenses total $191,900.

In other news, council members voted approved a resolution as a notice of intent to issue revenue bonds, not to exceed $4.5 million, for water system improvements.

The resolution states that the bonds’ purpose will cover “all or part of the cost of acquiring and constructing improvements to the city’s water supply system, consisting generally of (i) the installation and/or replacement of water mains, water service lines, hydrant assemblies and gate values, and related site restoration work; (ii) the acquisition and installation of a new water storage reservoir and related improvements, including a prefabricated control and electrical building, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) instrumentation, and site improvements including security fencing, (iii) the acquisition and installation of a water transmission main to the new water storage reservoir; and (iv) related improvements, structures, equipment and appurtenances.”

The resolution further states that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has assured that the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund will provide financial assistance for the project.

In related news, the city also voted to hire, at a cost of $28,500, Miller Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PIC of Detroit — which drew up the notice of intent — as bond counsel for the water project.

Council members also:

—Voted to approve the reappointment of Kathleen “Bella” Contratto to the board of the Bessemer Public Library. In an April 15 letter to the council, Contratto said she has been a board member for many years and regards the library as “a wonderful asset to our city.”

—Voted to accept and file a quarterly report from Gogebic County Sheriff Ross Solberg in relation to the city’s contract with that office. For the period of January-March, Solberg reported 231 calls for service/criminal incidents, 55 citations/warnings issues, 11 arrests and 11 traffic crashes. In relation to the sheriff’s pending retirement at the end of this year, Nelson hailed him for “a fabulous job” and the mayor and Zak also thanked and commended him.

—Approved an agreement for the DDA to reimburse the city for $3,500 for the cost of its share toward a summer worker to water flowers, collect garbage and perform routine maintenance. The council also voted separately for Ben Tucker, head of the Department of Public Works, to recommend summer workers for the interim city manager to hire.

—Approved a payment plan for Sylvia Ferrari-Miller in relation to what Deputy Clerk Samantha Dorr characterized as an “exorbitantly high” water bill that resulted after a basement pipe burst. Dorr said that city staff turned off the water as quickly as possible but that more than 100,000 gallons of water still escaped.

—Accepted a bid of $284,560 for a new Caterpillar loader. Lake said that she is exploring related loan options.

—Learned from Tucker that the city’s new dump truck was expected this week.

—Voted to approve from C2AE, the city’s engineering firm, a change order of $1,500 and a draw of $22,549 in relation to the city’s DWAM fund. The council also approved a water draw request of $4,814 and a wastewater draw request $5,016 from the city’s USDA fund.

During the public comment session, Richard Gheller complained of unresolved blight, including condemned housing, within city limits. Mayor Peter Tacconelli, Zak and Nelson explained that the city is bound to time-consuming state rulings in relation to processing such issues.

At the end of the meeting, the council entered a closed session to discuss a 6-month performance evaluation of Lake.