IRON MOUNTAIN PLANS to pave Lehman Avenue from the city limits to about 1/3 mile west of North Milwaukee Avenue. State funding should cover $187,654 of the estimated $280,000 cost. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — About a mile of Lehman Avenue will be added to the city’s paving list this year, while work on Prospect Avenue and West Hughitt Street near Iron Mountain High School will have to wait.

The switch approved by Iron Mountain City Council on Monday is linked to a Small Urban Program grant, for which the Prospect /West Hughitt project recently was deemed ineligible.

“This needs to be turned around fairly quickly to make sure we get the funding,” City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

Only roads eligible for federal aid are covered by the Small Urban Program, Stanchina explained. The Michigan Department of Transportation has informed the city that while Prospect Avenue and Hughitt Street are major roads, they don’t qualify.

To resubmit the project on time, the solution was to find a section of road that was eligible, but with no sidewalks, curbs or utilities, Stanchina said. The paving on Lehman, which is north of Timberstone Golf Course, met the criteria.

The Lehman work will run from the city limits to about 1/3 mile west of North Milwaukee Avenue. State funding should cover $187,654 of the estimated $280,000 cost.

A project on a portion of North Kimberly Avenue remains eligible and will be included in the estimated $344,000 Small Urban total, Stanchina added.

Meeting by teleconference, the council also approved an additional $12,200 in costs for Coleman Engineering for the Lehman project.

The council in January had approved a $42,712 contract with Coleman to provide services for the Small Urban improvements. Work already completed by the engineer on Prospect/Hughitt won’t go to waste, since it had to be done eventually, Stanchina said.

The council, in another matter, awarded a $313,220 bid to Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain for a separate 1.25 miles of street and alley paving. The only other bid was $419,600 from Payne & Dolan of Gladstone.

The work includes West Grant Street from North Milwaukee Avenue running west to its end, 1,460 feet; Crystal Lake Boulevard from Forest to West D streets, 1,320 feet; East A Street from Park Avenue east, 585 feet; and West J Street from Carpenter to Kimberly avenues, 900 feet.

The alley paving totals about 0.45 miles. The city parking lot on the 200 block of East Hughitt Street also is scheduled for paving.

The bid award is contingent on further review. At first glance, it is more than $30,000 above what was budgeted, Stanchina told the council.

The city also plans paving and utility work this year on five blocks of West C Street from Carpenter Avenue west to Lake Street. That project was designed last year.

In other action, the council:

— Adopted a coronavirus preparedness and response plan, as required by an executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The plan follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will serve as a reference for employees and supervisors. Among other things, it covers first responder procedures and guidelines for employees experiencing COVID-19 symptoms at work or at home. City Hall has been closed since March 17, with most office employees carrying out duties from home.

— Heard Mayor Dale Alessandrini compliment the community, for the most part, for complying with social distancing. Stanchina, meanwhile, said a lack of local active COVID-19 cases is good news but stressed, “Don’t get complacent.”

— Learned the Downtown Development Authority has canceled the Brewfest celebration scheduled for June 13. Evaluation continues in regards to Italian Fest and Oktoberfest.

— Agreed to waive late payment penalties for utility bills for April and May. Customers unable to pay the full amount due are encouraged to call City Hall and make arrangements.

— Approved the purchase of three portable Motorola radios and accessories for the police department from Elcom Systems at a cost of $14,738. The purchase price matches the state’s bid price and Motorola is the sole provider of these 800 MHz radios, Director of Police and Fire Services Ed Mattson said. The state also charges a one-time $250 fee per radio for programming. This is a budgeted purchase and there are currently no spares, Mattson noted.

— Threatened, for a second time, to terminate a tower property lease with broadcaster Sovereign Communications, which owes more than $12,000, including $6,000 dating to early 2019. Full payment is expected by May 1.

— Agreed to close a portion of the downtown city parking lot on East A Street for the Iron Mountain Farmers and Artisans Market each Saturday morning from May 30 through Oct. 17. The start date will depend on COVID-19 restrictions.

— Reported that city crews are conducting hydrant flushings and yard waste pickups.