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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Electronic scooters will be available for rent in Iron Mountain if Bird Rides Inc. can find a vendor to manage the fleet.
The city council on Monday approved a memorandum of understanding with Bird to permit rentals to riders over the age of 18. The standup scooters would be GPS-monitored and not allowed on highways, explained City Manager Jordan Stanchina.
With scooters becoming popular in cities, "they're trying these out now in smaller towns," he said.
The city would have no financial involvement. Rentals are processed through a cell phone app and there is no central dock for the vehicles, which are abandoned at an appropriate location for the next potential user.
"They're normally left on the sidewalk," Stanchina noted.
Hours would be from 4 a.m. to midnight.
The initial agreement, which extends only through this year, calls for a minimum of 50 scooters at launch. Either party could end the agreement with 30 days notice.
In other action, the council:
-- Heard Mayor Dale Alessandrini urge better compliance at the city's compost site at the Department of Public Works. Among other troubles, window shutters were dumped in a pile marked for tree branches. Such violations could jeopardize the availability of the site, which is open to residents only, Alessandrini said.
-- Received just one bid, from Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain, for proposed sewer repairs on Stanton Street in anticipation of a fall paving project on seven blocks from Stephenson Avenue east to Grant Street. Bacco's proposed $60,000 price was referred to staff for review.
-- Agreed to seek bids for water line service replacements on the 500 and 600 blocks of Detroit Avenue. The list includes 21 lines, some of which are lead from the main to the curb and are a priority for replacement. There are uncertainties, however, about the availability of both materials and contractors. "We'll take a stab at this and see where it comes in at," Stanchina said. Bids are due June 21.
-- Learned the city struggled in May to hire its normal complement of 10 temporary summer workers, which in some cases meant full-time staffers had to be assigned to grass-cutting. All of Cemetery Park was cut in advance of Memorial Day but not all areas were weed-trimmed, Public Works Supervisor Scott Thomas said.
More help has been hired, but the city is now dealing with tall grass violations on residential properties, Stanchina said. After issuing a notice, the city cuts the grass and the owner is cited. About 25 such properties were recently tagged. "I've never seen this many," Stanchina said.
-- Authorized seeking bids for crack filling at the City Park tennis courts and, separately, city parking lots behind City Hall and the police department.