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Houghton gets patrol car grant

HOUGHTON — Houghton will get a new patrol car.

The city received a 55% grant from USDA Rural Development to purchase a Dodge Charger. The total purchase price will be $46,870, including $19,800 for equipment. The $21,170 remaining after the grant will come from the city’s equipment fund, Clerk Ann Vollrath said at Wednesday’s city council meeting.

“We apply for these every year or two to make sure that they always have one new one to replace the oldest one,” she said.

The police department’s previous Dodge Charger did not have the police package, Chief John Donnelly said. Officers liked how the all-wheel drive handled on icy roads. He is hoping the police package will have fewer maintenance issues.

The department will go through MyDeal to find a low price, Donnelly said. Because of the length of the grant process, the price may be higher to account for the new 2022 models.

There was no public comment during a public hearing Wednesday.

In other action, the council:

• heard comment from a resident who lives near the site of a proposed dog park on Sharon Avenue at the city’s snow dump site. She said she and other residents had not received notice of the park from the city or seen media coverage of the plans for the park. She said she was concerned about noise from dogs and potential impact on property values.

• increased its grant match from $30,000 to $38,000 for a Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) grant for an electric vehicle charging station. The extra $8,000 will enable the city to get two DC fast chargers. The money will come from civic betterment in the general fund.

• received a written report from City Manager Eric Waara. The Cliff Drive detour on U.S. 41 will end next week, as Bacco Construction plans to reopen the section of U.S. 41 between Pearl Street and MacInnes Drive to two-way traffic. They will work on the Cliff-to-Pearl westbound lane and a short detour with two opposing lanes on the south side as they complete this year’s work on the westbound lane on the north side of the road. Bacco is also pulling and pouring sidewalks on Houghton Avenue east of Pearl Street as part of a Small Urban Paving grant. The rest of the street will be milled out for paving in October.

• approved discharging Paul Gemignani’s mortgage on 127 Quincy St. in Hancock, which he is planning on selling. He has instead provided a mortgage on the Gemignani’s Restaurant property at 512 Quincy St. The mortgage is collateral for a $98,000 revolving loan fund for The Den on Shelden Avenue.

• approved a $245,747 payment for the Phase 3 sewer project. The work is part of the Michigan Department of Transportation project on U.S. 41 near Michigan Technological University.

• approved a $466,869 payment for the Phase 3 water project.

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