IRON MOUNTAIN - Iron Mountain City Council was in agreement at Monday's meeting to move two city projects forward.

Items were on the agenda relating to the S2 State Revolving Loan Fund Infrastructure Improvement Project as well as the Millie Hill Bat Trail.

The Infrastructure Improvement Project includes replacing sanitary sewer on East A Street and replacing the B Street lift station.

The city has received money through the State Revolving Loan Fund for the S2 project and a portion of the principal from stimulus funds through the American Recovery Act of 2009.

On July 14, the council held a special meeting to open bids for the S2 project with the low bid received from James Peterson Sons Inc. of Medford, Wis. The city's engineer for the project, AECOM of Iron River, reviewed the six bids and said the low bid was both "reasonable and responsible."

The engineer's estimate was $1,275,596.50 for the total project, and the low bid came in at $978,800.

The council unanimously approved the resolution to tentatively award the construction contract for the Infrastructure Improvements Project to the low bidder.

City Manager Jordan Stanchina noted that the resolution was required to release funds from the State Revolving Loan Fund, which will be used to finance the sewer portion of the project.

He added that the estimated final project cost is $489,000 after the 40 percent principal forgiveness stimulus credit. This will result in an annual debt payment of $31,368.

A public hearing was also held at Monday's meeting on an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance dealing with industrial cost recovery system charges.

No comments were received.

The council unanimously approved the ordinance amendment. The sewer ordinance was reviewed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality prior to the S2 project bonding process, and it was determined that this section was no longer applicable since the state had eliminated the industrial cost recovery system, noted Stanchina.

Council approval was also given Monday for a project agreement for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund development project. The agreement details the purpose and scope of the Millie Hill Bat Cave Trail.

Both the trail and the road leading to the cave are committed as public outdoor recreation by the city in the agreement.

Stanchina noted that the agreement will start the construction of the project. He added that it is a standard agreement from the DNR Trust Fund.

Kevin Trevillian, engineer for the project, noted that the legal description in the agreement includes the road up to the viewing site and trail itself, which has to be kept for recreation in perpetuity.

In other action, the council:

- Approved the ballot language for the general election in November for the school liaison officer millage. The levy, which would be a maximum of 0.25 mills, would raise an estimated $53,557. Stanchina said that the city has historically not levied the maximum approved millage. The city and the school district split the cost of the liaison officer.

- Approved a resolution supporting a request from Laura Branz of the VA Medical Center for a military flyover as part of the POW Recognition Day to be held Sept. 18.

- Reappointed John (Tim) Elmer to the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) Board with the term expiring at the end of TIFA in 2012.

- Approved a request to hold a public hearing on Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. to vacate an alley. Al Dumais is the owner of a building at 1521 N. Stephenson Ave. and is looking to vacate the alley south of the property that is not paved and has never been used as an alley.

Linda Lobeck's e-mail address is llobeck@ironmountaindailynews.com.