Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton High School Senior Lucy Anderson addressed the Houghton City Council at its meeting Wednesday. The council will continue the tradition of contributing to the senior class which will provide volunteers to plant flowers and clean up the downtown.

HOUGHTON — The City of Houghton has awarded a nearly $2.7 million construction bid for improvements to the city’s existing water and wastewater system. In April of 2024, the city formally approved the system improvement project which will be funded through the Michigan Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program.

At the regular meeting of the City Council Wednesday, City Manager Eric Waara said the city had requested bids for the project and the low bid of $2,681,975 was submitted by Danielson Contracting Inc. Project engineer Andrew Keranen of UP Engineers and Architects recommended awarding the bid to the low bidder, Danielson.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Waara told the council he had expected multiple bids, however, the Danielson bid was the only one received. “But that single bid was close to the estimate,” he said. The council unanimously awarded the bid to Danielson.

Waara said of the total construction cost, the CWSRF portion is %540,944.54, a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Fund will cover $1,762,34.03 and the city wastewater portion of the bid amounts to $378,296.43. Previously the City had committed to covering the costs exceeding the grants which is expected to amount to to $14,734.03.

Following the awarding of the bid, the council unanimously adopted a bond ordinance which set up the financing for the project. Waara said the project could begin as early as late summer and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2027 construction season. Waara said the project will replace some of the oldest water and sewer lines in the city. It will include both East Houghton Avenue and East South Avenue from Franklin Street to Dodge Street.

In his report to the council, Waara said the public works department will begin the process of sweeping city streets next week. He said the DPW is completing maintenance on rest rooms on the waterfront.

The council approved request from the Houghton High School senior class. Senior Lucy Anderson approached the council about continuing the tradition of contributing to the senior class in exchange for seniors volunteering to clean up and plant flowers throughout the downtown. Under the agreement, members of the class will meet with Community and Business Manager Danielle Perkowitz to set up the date. In the past, if 25 seniors showed up the class would receive $500. If 35 volunteers attended the class is to receive $750. The measure passed unanimously.

The council also unanimously passed a motion proclaiming May as Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month.

Council member Brian Irizarry introduced three motions that would change some procedures in future council meetings. The motions as presented were to be placed on the agenda for the first meeting in May. The first resolution would amend the city’s Rule of Procedure to remove the item “Miscellaneous” from the Order of Business. The second would allow the mayor to not only debate and vote on motions before the council, as is currently the case, but to make motions as well. The third would remove “Future Agenda Items” from the Rules of Procedure in order to expand the council members opportunities to place items on the agenda and “to expand the public’s opportunity to hear items discussed at an open and public meeting.” All three motion items failed for lack a second and were not voted on by the council.

Finally, it was announced that the Spring Clean Up begins today. The drop off that allows resident to drop off some items at the Public works Garage will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from today through Sunday, May 31. Senior Citizen and handicapped debris pick ups are scheduled for Mondays May 4, 18 and June 1. Seniors and handicapped individuals living in a single family home in the city can call 906-482-1700 to be put on the list for one of the dates.