CONTAINERS LIKE THESE would hold residential trash once Iron Mountain switches to automated collection. (Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Residents can expect automated trash collection to start near the end of July, completing a plan Iron Mountain launched a year ago.

“GFL (Solid Waste Midwest LLC) should be rolling out the carts in three to four weeks,” City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

Stanchina updated the city council Monday after a contract was finalized and approved during a June 26 special meeting. An announcement will be made when GFL is closer to a delivery date, he said.

The only significant change from earlier talks is that the cost for an additional 95-gallon wheeled container per household will rise in subsequent years. The first-year charge to the customer for an extra cart is $1.50, going to $2.50 in the second year and $4 in the third year, Stanchina said.

Otherwise, the city is extending its contract with GFL through Sept. 14, 2027, with annual consumer price index increases capped at 4%. Bidding for manual pickup was not an option, Stanchina said.

Collections will be moved permanently from alleys to the streets, except for a few areas where topography makes it necessary to continue alley pickups.

Stanchina acknowledged issues will arise once the carts are delivered, but he expects they can be resolved. Households were surveyed recently on whether a smaller 65-gallon container is preferred, or whether an additional 95-gallon can is needed.

GFL, which took over trash collections last year after acquiring Great American Environmental Services of Kingsford, introduced the idea of automated collections to hold down costs and prevent damage to alleys. Truck operators are able to control the lifting, emptying and return of a cart without leaving the cab.

Iron Mountain began contracting with Great American for garbage collection in 2004. Before that, it had its own vehicles and staff to provide the service.

After reviewing bids from GFL and Waste Management in March 2022, the city of Kingsford decided to stay with manual pickups by its own city crews.

Breitung Township introduced automated collections in April under a contract with Waste Management.

Once automated pickups begin in Iron Mountain, the council might explore adding a recycling component.

In other action Monday, the Iron Mountain City Council:

— Agreed to pay the Michigan Department of Transportation to replace the city’s clay tile sewer and install two manholes on Carpenter Avenue at the intersection of Woodward Avenue when the road is rebuilt next summer. Estimated cost is $44,000. MDOT, in cooperation with the city of Kingsford, plans to rebuild Carpenter from Hamilton Avenue north to Woodward, which is the Iron Mountain city limits. If the sewer isn’t replaced and fails at a later date, any repair under the highway will come at a much greater cost, Stanchina explained.

— Approved an access and demolition agreement to allow the Dickinson County Land Bank Authority to remove an abandoned water tank on city property on Bradley Street. Funding is expected through the Michigan State Land Bank Authority’s Blight Elimination Program. The tank is on the southeast side of Pine Mountain, adjacent to the Tall Pines subdivision. After the demolition, it’s expected the .69 acres will be listed for sale on the open market.

— Received bids from local firms GEI Consultants and Coleman Engineering for engineering services on a grant-aided 2024 paving project on North Milwaukee Avenue. Coleman’s proposal was the lowest at $36,052, but city staff will study the bids before making a recommendation for the council’s July 17 meeting.

— Reappointed Larry Walker to the Iron Mountain Planning Commission in a unanimous vote and named Jennifer Solka to fill a second vacancy in a 4-2 vote. Ryan Michaud was also a candidate and Ron Deuter did not seek reappointment. Council members Cathy Tomassoni and Ken Clawson voted no. Council member Nathan Zemar was absent because of travel.

— Reappointed Rob Barkle and Kim Recla to the Zoning Board of Appeals and reappointed Megan Blomquist to the Downtown Development Authority.

— Learned Jordan Sleeter has joined the police department as a patrol officer, filling a vacancy created with the retirement of Joe Dumais, the department’s deputy director. Sleeter spent the past year with the Iron County Sheriff’s Department. The deputy director position will be posted.

— Heard Stanchina report that its grant application for $16.5 million in sewer improvements received a relatively low score, mainly because the Clean Water State Revolving Fund gives higher priority to wastewater facilities, as opposed to the pipe replacements Iron Mountain is seeking. Meanwhile, the city’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund application for $13.2 million has not yet been scored. A preliminary notification from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy on any grant awards may come by August.