Sewer project enters new stage as Glawe begins work on North First Street
Glawe, Inc. of Alpena, contractor for Phase III of the Onaway wastewater collection system project, started work Tuesday on North First Street.
According to city manager Joe Hefele, Glawe started working on North First Street beginning at Cedar Street, and would proceed south.
“After that there is a piece of Spruce Street that they are going to be putting pipe under, that extends from North First over to North Lynn (Street),” said Hefele. “Once they get to the south end of North First, they will pick up the northernmost alley that connects North First and North Second, and then continue south along North Second Street.”
The work area affected by Phase III will consist of the remaining areas of town. The cost of Phase III is just short of $4.1 million.
THE PROJECT may be completed by the end of the 2006 construction season. Glawe crews will continue installing sewer lines in the coming months, before wrapping up the 2005 schedule, at or around December 1, and then continue work in the spring.
Glawe conducted a public informational meeting on August 8 in council chambers to discuss how businesses and residents would be impacted. Further information is available at the office site location at 3677 North Third Street.
There is still some work that needs to be completed on Phase II, the city manager said. Hefele said a pair of pump stations need to be put into working order on West M-68, as well as a significant amount of restoration work.
The repaving of M-211 may be completed sometime in September, and city crews continue to help connect customers to the main sewer line, as permission forms are returned to the city offices at the courthouse.
Hefele updated the Onaway City Commission on the sewer project at Monday’s commission meeting.
IN MATTERS to come before the board:
o Owners and employees of Northern Great Lakes Auto appeared before the commission to allege that commissioner Mel Perkins threatened to use his power to put them out of business — allegations which were denied by Perkins.
Northern Great Lakes Auto was recently given six months by the commission to correct a zoning ordinance violation by purchasing a piece of property to the south of the Washington Avenue business. If the violation is not corrected, the business faces daily fines.
“At no point at a meeting was the matter brought up, and neither did commissioner Perkins attempt to sway the commission…by polling commission members individually,” said Hefele. “What I found out is that he hadn’t even discussed the matter with any of them.”
The commission took the matter under advisement and is aware of the situation, Hefele said. Perkins did not vote on the six-month extension because he is part owner of another used car lot in Onaway.
Hefele said Perkins is not expected to participate or vote in future discussions involving Northern Great Lakes Auto.
o The most lengthy debate from Monday’s meeting revolved around a citizen requesting a matter be placed on the agenda for discussion, rather than bringing up an issue during the three minutes allotted for citizens to appear before the commission.
It was city attorney Mike Vogler’s opinion that the city manager sets the agenda and makes the decisions as to what will appear on the agenda prior to the meeting.
“My opinion is, we should not be voting on issues unless they are items on the agenda,” said Hefele. He said, if an issue being discussed during the public comment period exceeds three minutes, mayor Gary Wregglesworth, if he sees fi
The commission also has the opportunity to vote on amendments to the agenda at the beginning of each session.
o An update was provided on the inspection of the city water tower. Hefele said some residents in higher elevations were still dealing with low water pressure, mainly because the tower has been out of commission since a water valve that fills the tank broke.
“In filling the water tower a second time the valve broke, which has caused the tower to be out of service for a much longer period of time than we would have anticipated,” said Hefele.
The replacement part was to be delivered on Thursday and installed today.