The Munising City Commission approved two ordinances on Monday, Sept. 18 that will have direct impacts on local water and garbage pick up.

The first ordinance clarifies an existing problem in the water ordinance. Chalked up to a clerical error by city staff, the ordinance previously described data analysis for watering periods through a 12-month period. The watering period is only four months, according to other parts of the ordinance. The change brings the data analysis period to match the length of the watering period.

The second ordinance is an update of the garbage ordinance. According to City Manager Devin Olson, the ordinance clarifies some existing definitions and adds new ones. He said the changes were necessary as the new garbage contract requires further clarification as the city shifts away from the bag-and-tag method.

“With us replacing the tag system, this had to be amended. It will allow us to add some definitions like a city hauler, based on the contract with GFL, but it clarifies everything we need and gets us ready to go,” Olson said.

The votes for both new ordinances were unanimous in a 4-0 roll call vote. Mayor Pro Tem Johanna Bogater was excused absent from the meeting.

It was also a unanimous decision to accept the contract with GFL for residential garbage and recycling pick up. The bid had previously been awarded to GFL, but the contract language had to be developed before another vote. The contract will guarantee weekly garbage pickup, recycling pick up every other week, and a set day where bulk item pickups could occur with prior notification to GFL. Since the larger bins can be too heavy or awkward to maneuver for some city residents, a form is available for those needing assistance that would allow the GFL workers to bring the bins down the driveway and back up to the property as well.

The contract will also include increase reporting guidelines for recycling to stay concurrent with state recycling reporting guidelines.