Sewer contractor completes crossings of M-211

The contractor working on Phase II of the sewer project in Onaway will continue well into January, if the weather allows, which is about the same time some city residents will need to be connected to the system. City manager Joe Hefele provided an update on the project at Monday’s Onaway City Commission meeting. Glawe Inc., of Alpena completed the seven open-cut crossings of M-211 on November 11, which meets requirements of the Michigan Department of Transportation.

When Phase II came in nearly $300,000 over budget, there was a concern among city decision makers that the next phase of construction, if there was to be a long-term extension, would substantially boost costs further. The project included utility crossings of M-211, but the city’s plans to dig up the road were in conjunction with MDOT’s resurfacing of M-211. The crossings needed to be completed before MDOT’s contractor could begin their project. If the resurfacing would have occurred before the crossings were done, Glawe would have been forced to bore under the road.

Glawe is currently completing its punch list on the Phase I collection system, wrapping up the plant, and working on the pump station at M-211 and Cedar Street, and the sewer main on M-211. The company has until October to complete Phase II. AS FOR the hook-ups, 74 customers are connected to the sewer system, including the school. That leaves 29 customers that could be hooked in but are not, Hefele told the board. “Some we can not do because of existing plumbing problems, including the location of tanks under buildings or right up against buildings,” Hefele stated in his report.

Hefele said another reason some customers have not been hooked up by city crews is because they haven’t turned in permission slips. City customers have until mid-January to get connected, and they have been sent a second letter, notifying the residents that if they want the city to connect them, they’d better get the form in to city hall in as-soon-as-possible. After 90 days, whether the customers are hooked up or not, the city will begin charging the residents the readiness-to-serve charge, which will be $25.50 per month. “The

hook-ups have been going extremely well, in large part because our crew is doing a fantastic job,” Hefele said.

All the inspections have passed, though the city was still attempting to work on the process with the state plumbing department. IN OTHER matters to come before the commission: o Phase III plans and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, United States Department of Agriculture, and MDOT are reviewing specifications. That review should be completed soon. That leaves the easements as the last hurdle to clear before going to bid. o Restoration of the Onaway Courthouse has gone smoothly.

The roof is done. The electrical, heating, and cooling should be complete next week, if crews are not already finished. The masonry restoration and window installation should be done by the end of the month, putting a cap on the job, other than the extras the city decide to have the contractor perform to spend the rest of the money.