'Life After the Deck', Waste Management contract renewed, construction updates
Houghton City Council, Sept. 8, 2021
Meeting Highlights
(click the underlined headlines to be taken to the video)
Triathlon organizer proposes winter triathlon “fun-raiser”
The organizer of the Verna Mize Triathlon from this summer is looking at also organizing a winter triathlon that would include running, biking, and skiing. The event would be slightly more expensive to host, but sponsors seem to be enthusiastic, according to the organizer. The same person is also working on a proposal for waterfront-facing signage representing the City of Houghton.
City manager update on construction work around the city
City Manager Eric Waara updated the council about work around the city, including the new roof on the pavilion at Kestner Park, leaks found in the water system during work on College Avenue, the building of a long-stay hotel next to Goodwill, and paving projects around the city.
Work on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge continues, but both northbound lanes should be open for a couple of weeks starting at the end of this week. When they start working on the two yet unfinished lanes, the plan is to only close one of four lanes at a time.
Work on the new pier is progressing with sewer, water, and storm sewer work in September, and then pilings will be driven until the weather shuts down the site.
Waara pointed out that for all the headaches around the city, the construction represents about $20 million in investments, with only a fraction of it coming from the city’s bank accounts.
‘Life After the Deck’ facilitated public engagement planned
Working with a consultant, a public engagement session is being scheduled for Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. That’s an off-week for the council. An agenda and location have yet to be set. Remote access is not currently planned.
One-year Waste Management contract approved with 4% increase
The contract was extended as-is with the intention of possibly re-bidding the service or changing the contract during that time. The contract originally had a 3% increase per year in it. Councilor Brian Irizarry asked if there was a viable alternative to Waste Management, and City Manager Eric Waara said there wasn’t at this time. The vote to extend was unanimously in favor.
Public hearing set for rural development grant for patrol vehicle
The hearing will take place at the Sept. 22 council meeting. The grant will cover a little more than half the cost of a new patrol vehicle for the police department, leaving the rest of the cost to the city.
Other Houghton news:
Fall clean-up dates will be Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.
Parade of Nations will take place Sept. 18, with an altered parade route from Franklin Square to Kestner Park, due to bridge construction.
Sharon Avenue reopens, PLLB work continues to snarl traffic, councilor comments on social media posts
Houghton City Council, Aug. 11, 2021
Meeting Highlights
During public comment, the organizer of the Verna Mize Triathlon gave a wrap-up report and said that support was still growing for next year’s event.
During City Manager Eric Waara’s report, he updated the board on a variety of happenings in the city. Repaving activity is ramping up, and Sharon Avenue should be reopened as of today. The bridge in NARA park is all but open. However, the lift bridge maintenance work is dragging on and traffic continues to lag and snarl. Waara and Police Chief John Donnelly have been trying different things to keep traffic flowing through the city.
A Community Night Out event is now officially happening on Sept. 4 between Hancock and Houghton, which will include live music, fireworks, and more. Public works employees and some other residents have donated shrubs that are being placed around the city, too.
Chief Donnelly reported that they’re still fielding a lot of calls from people about traffic resulting from the bridge work. They’ve had some limited success limiting leisure vessel crossings under the lift bridge, but not enough to prevent long rush-hour backups.
After the payment of bills—including some change orders for ongoing and completed projects—and the approval of a bid for environmental engineering of an infrastructure grant paid for by the MEDC, Waara shared some thoughts on the parking deck redevelopment and public engagement. He recapped the situation before saying he would be happy to talk to individuals about realities, numbers, and possibilities, particularly for funding other than city tax dollars. He said despite all the commentary online he’s been shown, nobody has called him or visited his office to ask questions or offer ideas.
Following Waara’s comments, the council approved up to $10,000 toward hiring a consultant to begin the public engagement process. Waara said he hopes to start that process as soon as reasonably possible.
During closing comments, Councilor Mike Needham addressed some comments he’d seen on social media. He said he was particularly concerned because the people commenting were downtown business owners, and it didn’t seem like they were very well informed on the situation, and that their negativity was unreasonable. Commissioner Dan Salo added that they’re doing the best they can for the city.
Houghton's parking deck is coming down, only question is when
Houghton City Council, July 29, 2021
Houghton City Council, July 29, 2021
(I was able to get a hard copy of the documents for this meeting, but they weren’t digitized. Normally, I believe City Clerk Ann Vollrath usually posts the already digitized version, but she was absent this week. Let me know if there’s anything you want to see. I don’t have a scanner, so digitizing them myself is a bit of a process that I don’t want to undertake unless it will be helpful for someone. Alternatively, you can request them from the city.)
Meeting Highlights
During public comment, another update on the Verna Mize Triathlon was given to the board, including businesses who have signed on as promoters, changes in start times, and other new developments.
During the city manager’s report, Eric Waara updated the board on Department of Public Works projects and other ongoing and upcoming construction, redevelopment, and maintenance in the city. The city center will likely be listed on the real estate market soon.
Police Chief John Donnelly updated the council on the number of calls and crashes the department responded to, and ongoing talks to address the congested traffic crossing the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. The road over the bridge (and the bridge itself) is managed by the state of Michigan, but the water underneath is a federal waterway, which creates jurisdictional problems for both Hancock and Houghton when it comes to controlling traffic over and under the bridge.
There was some extensive discussion surrounding the decision to take the downtown parking deck down. While there was no timetable (or any other details) included with the decision, the council voted 6-1 to commence the planning to tear down the deck. Councilor Jan Cole voted against the decision after requesting two weeks to speak with constituents and hear from the public. Councilor Mike Needham said the public had plenty of chances to comment during the planning commission’s meetings, and that waiting wouldn’t change the decision.
Rezoning on Canal Road, construction and triathlon updates, and the saving of a tortoise
Houghton City Council, July 14, 2021
Houghton City Council, July 14, 2021
Meeting Highlights
During City Manager Eric Waara’s report, he highlighted ditching, beach cleanup, and other work done by the Department of Public Works. The work on the water plant’s roof has begun, as has trimming of some low-hanging tree branches. A grant proposal through MEDC is moving forward. Work on the lift bridge is going to resume next week. The box culvert for Huron Creek, under Sharon Avenue, has been placed, now the work to rebuild the grade and road on top of it can start. Waara said the material that has been falling off of the downtown parking deck is almost entirely from patches done 5-6 years ago, and that an inspection of what remains would be done, for safety. The dog park planning is continuing, looking at a phased development. There is also some planning for an end-of-summer event hosted cooperatively between Hancock and Houghton, likely to include fireworks.
(The sounds of incredible flatulence in the video are from the council’s leather chairs. Not much I can do about it, but the timing is sometimes hilarious.)
During Police Chief John Donnelly’s report, he covered arrests and accidents, and the story of a stray tortoise, saved by a passerby on U.S. 41 and whose owners Lt. Nick Roberts found (you should really hear it for yourself). He said calls to the department are back to about what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proposed Rezoning Ordinance 2021-321
By U.P. Engineers and Architects
The zoning ordinance came up twice during the meeting, first during the public hearing, and again when the council took it up to vote.
During the public hearing, two people spoke in favor of the rezoning, and none were against it. One of those who spoke was the attorney for Derek Bradway, the developer applying for the rezoning. She highlighted the work the developer had done with the neighbors and his plan’s compatibility with the city’s master plan.
During the council’s discussion, Waara reminded the council of the 17 factors the council is supposed to consider in the case of a rezoning ordinance. Councilor Brian Irizarry recognized the potential for increased traffic because of the development but expressed his belief the city could adapt in the future if that occurs. The council voted unanimously in favor of the rezoning.
During public comment, the board got a brief update on the organization of the triathlon to honor Verna Mize. Businesses are signing up as sponsors, and information is being distributed to racers at the Canal Run.