The City Commission met on January 15, 2024. Most of the meeting was taken up with the report from the recent audit. Overall, the audit proved favorable, showing a slow but steady increase in the city’s funding.
The Police Report was then provided with a total of 41 Offenses having occurred in the month of December. This included:
• 1 CSC Fourth degree – forcible contact.
• 1 Health and safety violation
• 1 Motor vehicle accident – failed to stop and identify
• 1 Traffic – violation of basic speed (too slow)
• 1 Civil custody – insanity (mental)
• 2 Traffic, non-criminal – accident
• 1 Inspections/investigations – property
• 6 Inspections/investigations – suspicious situations
• 1 natural death
• 20 general assistance
• 3 assists to EMS
• 3 assists to other police agencies. The City Manager’s Report reviewed several capital projects, showing progress in the boat launch project and strides being made regarding Washington Street funding applications. The Vactor truck was also recently brought into service and was already at work this last week on a backed-up sewer main. Other projects such as the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER)/ Inventory Based Rating (IBR) will prioritize future projects through analysis of what needs the most urgent attention. Also on the report was a return to seeking out EGLE funding to support mandated service line replacement projects. Finally, the city manager met with the regional representative for Penchura Playground Equipment to “discuss a possible rehabilitation of the play equipment at both the Lynn St. and Browns Addition Tot Lots.
Under administrative functions of this report, was the USFS Community Forest Application, and the Superior Watershed Partnership which addresses a grant fund to help qualified individuals pay for their utilities.
The City Attorney Report reviewed the topic of blight in 2023. They reported that the police department “addressed blight aggressively this year with dozens of blight notices.”As most of those citizens complied, citations were not needed with the exception of a half dozen situations which were taken to court. At this time, all but one of these situations has been resolved.
Under new business, the Commission then accepted Laura Waller’s resignation from the Planning Committee with thanks for her service. Ms. Waller will be moving to accept a position as a Superintendent of a park in the southeast.
Next, the commission approved a lift station to replace old equipment that is part of existing water and sewer lines. According to the summary provided by Devin Olson, “The City of Munising operates 4 sanitary lift stations throughout the City to allow sanitary sewer to reach the treatment plant. The Prospect St. lift station is the largest of the stations as it handles sewer from the industrial park and the southern portion of the City. As a preventative maintenance and efficiency upgrade, we are proactively replacing one of the station pumps.” The new station pump costs $6,445.77. The amount budgeted for this project was $12,000. Award of the purchase was given to Crane Engineering.
Finally, an extension request for the Tourist Park Concessionaire was considered. The request was granted. As a side note, it was brought up the land involved in this grant was purchased for $1 in 1924.
The meeting was adjourned with the next meeting set for February 7, 2024.
