HANCOCK — At it’s regular meeting Wednesday, the Hancock City Council approved a contract for televising and cleaning the city’s sanitary sewers, despite a bid protest from the company with the second lowest bid.

During public comment period, Gabe Kloet of U.P. Rubber Company of Escanaba, told the council his company was protesting the $307,300 bid of Pipetek Infrastructure Services in Plymouth, Michigan. U.P. Rubber’s bid was $354,660.

Kloet said Pipetek is actually owned by a Canadian company, and he didn’t think it’s workers would have the proper permits to work in the United States.

Kyle Dehne of Pipetek said the company which will be doing the televising and cleaning of the sewer pipes is an American company, which is part of a Canadian company.

Glenn Anderson, Hancock city manager, said the city’s engineering firm, OHM Advisors, worked with Pipetek on a project in Southfield and are satisfied with the company’s qualities, and that the company can operate in Michigan.

“They are a Michigan and U.S. firm,” he said. “Pipetek has met all of our specifications.”

City Attorney Kevin Mackey is also satisfied Pipetek can legally operate in the United States, Anderson said.

For the job in Hancock, Anderson said Pipetek will use American workers, but Canadian managers will oversee them.

Anderson said Pipetek will televise and clean about 120,000 feet of sanitary sewer line starting about May 1 and finish in June.

A bid protest has never happened in the city, Anderson said.